Best Ever Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Copycat
This copycat Panda Express mushroom chicken recipe is based on the very popular mushroom chicken dish from Panda Express. A delicious stir fry of chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini in a savory sauce, perfect for weeknight meals!
Ingredients
Chicken & Vegetables
- - 1 pound 500 grams boneless, skinless chicken breast (thinly sliced, 1/4 inch thick)
- - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- - 2 cups mushrooms cleaned and quartered
- - 1 large zucchini cut into half circles
- - 3 garlic cloves minced
- - 1 teaspoon ginger minced
Chicken Marinade
- - 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Sauce
- - 1/2 cup water
- - 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- - 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- - 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for the marinade. Add the chicken and mix to coat. Allow to marinate for 20-30 minutes or overnight for better flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once the skillet is smoking, add the chicken in a single layer (don’t overcrowd). Cook until browned, flipping and mixing as needed. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add mushrooms and zucchini to the skillet. Cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender (about 2-3 minutes), mixing frequently.
- Combine Everything: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the chicken back to the skillet. Add garlic and ginger, cooking for 1 minute while stirring frequently.
- Add the Sauce: Pour the sauce into the skillet and mix everything to coat. Stir fry until the sauce thickens.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes for better flavor. Marinating overnight gives even softer, more flavorful chicken.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet when cooking the chicken to ensure a good sear.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, particularly the soy sauce for saltiness.