Panda Express String Bean Chicken breast stir-fry combines tender chicken with crisp and crunchy string beans all in a tasty ginger soy sauce. In just minutes you can have dinner ready – no need for takeout tonight!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
When it comes to Chinese-cuisine inspired dishes, Panda Express String Bean Chicken is a favorite. Now, with our fast and easy string bean chicken recipe you can have real restaurant quality, one-pot entrée in your own home at a fraction of the cost, even on a busy weeknight!
String Beans VS Green Beans - What's the Difference?
Snap beans, green beans, or string beans are one and the same, just different names! Green snap beans are categorized into two different groups, bush or pole beans, based on growth characteristics.
Many years ago before the Kentucky Wonder String beans were developed through hybridization, string beans had a fibrous string running the length of the pod.
When you snapped the tops off the string would pull away the length of the 'string' bean. Today both pole and bush beans have very little 'string' to them, and the name green bean, snap beans, and string beans are used interchangeably.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- String Beans VS Green Beans - What's the Difference?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Panda Express String Bean Chicken
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Ingredients
For the most authentic and flavorful string bean chicken, be sure to use fresh green beans for this recipe.
Chicken Marinade
- Hoisin Sauce - Any brand.
- Soy Sauce - Any brand.
- Toasted Sesame oil - Any brand.
- Cornstarch - Or arrowroot.
- Mirin - Or any dry, white wine.
- Chicken Breasts - Raw, chicken breasts, sliced thinly on the diagonal.
Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast Stir Fry
- Chicken Broth - Any brand.
- Soy Sauce - Any brand.
- Sesame oil - Any brand.
- Cornstarch - Or arrowroot.
- Vegetable oil - Neutral vegetable oil, divided.
- String beans - Fresh Green Beans, String Beans, or Pole beans, by whatever name you grew up calling them. Just fresh and raw.
- Garlic - minced
- Mirin - Or any dry, white wine.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Panda Express String Bean Chicken
You will have three easy steps for this copycat Panda Express sting bean chicken breast recipe. You will prepare the marinade, brown the marinated chicken, and then sauté the string or green beans.
This will let you have perfectly cooked string beans as well as juicy tender slices of chicken breast.
Prep Green Beans, Marinade, and Chicken
- Wash and trim the tops and tails from all the green beans and cut into 2" pieces. Set aside.
- Prepare the marinade by whisking the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, cornstarch, and Mirin together in a small bowl.
- Add the marinade to the bowl or bag of sliced chicken. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Sauté The Marinated Chicken Breast
- Using a wide skillet or a wok, bring 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to high heat. Sauté the marinated chicken until light golden brown on both sides of the slices, about 3 to 5 minutes tops. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate or bowl for later.
Stir Fry The String Beans
- Add the second 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the skillet or wok and bring to high heat. Add the cut string beans and minced garlic and stir fry for 2 minutes, then cover with a lid for 2 minutes on lowered heat.
- Uncover and add the slivered onion, chicken broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, and mirin. Cook for 1 minute stirring to mix and let the sauce thicken.
PRO TIP: The string beans are done when they are still bright green and still have a crunch to them. The string beans will continue to cook even after the wok is removed from the heat.
Toss String Beans With Chicken And Sauce
- Return the browned chicken slices back to the skillet or wok, and add the remaining toasted sesame oil. Stir fry on medium for 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
This Panda Express string bean chicken goes perfectly with our Easy Steamed White Rice recipe. If you want to continue the Chinese restaurant meal theme, add our Air Fryer Frozen Pot Stickers, or add our Won Ton Soup for a perfect at home take out meal.
Love Panda Express? We have a Panda Express Beef and Broccoli recipe also!
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
This Panda Express string bean chicken recipe is versatile! use it as a base to make all manner of Asian themed stir fries with these ideas:
- Add Mushrooms - Add a package of the exotic mushrooms that come as a blend. They are located in the produce section of the grocery store.
- Baby Corn - Drain a can of baby corn, the kind that is miniature ears of corn.
- Stir Fry Veggie Blend - You will see various combinations of pre cut veggies for stir frying in your produce department. Some have snow peas, broccoli, etc. Replace the string beans with one of these combos for variety.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are my two favorite stir fry pans when making this string bean chicken recipe.
Storage
Refrigerate any leftover stir fried string bean chicken breast in covered containers for up to 3 days.
Tips for Success
- Always add sesame oil very last, as a finishing. Heat can make it taste bitter.
- Don't over cook the chicken slices.
- Don't over steam the string beans, you want them to be bright green and with a tiny bit of crunch still, as they will continue to cook after removing from heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making Panda Express string bean chicken breast at home lets you control the ingredients so that they are the freshest. You can use gluten free ingredients also. As a rule, you can usually reduce the oil for stir frying by 50% and make it just a tiny bit 'lighter', but as the recipe is written it only packs 302 calories per serving.
While not a zero carb meal, this Panda Express String Bean Chicken recipe is very low carb, with each serving having only 19 grams of carbs. Panda Express's string bean chicken is a great option for a keto meal.
The stir fried string beans will lose their bit of crunch with freezing, but flavor will not be compromised. Freezing lunch portions for work is a delicious option. Cover leftovers in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Panda Express String Bean Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot
- 2 tablespoon Mirin or any dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon ginger fresh, grated
- 1½ lbs chicken breasts about 4 small, skinless, boneless, and cut into thin slices diagonally and marinated
Panda Express String Bean Stir Fry
- 1½ tablespoon vegetable oil to sauté the chicken
- 1½ tablespoon vegetable oil to stir fry string beans
- 1½ lbs string beans or green beans
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ medium onion slivered
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot
- 2 tablespoon Mirin or dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken Marinade
- Prepare the marinade by whisking the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, grated ginger, cornstarch, and Mirin together in a small bowl.2 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoon Mirin, 1 teaspoon ginger
- Slice the boneless, skinless chicken breasts diagonally into thin (¼") thick slices and add to a bowl or zipper bag. Add the marinade you mixed to the chicken and let chill for 30 minutes.
Panda Express String Bean Chicken Stir Fry
- Wash and trim the tops and tails from all the green beans and cut into 2" pieces. Set aside.
- Using a wide skillet or a wok, bring 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to high heat. Sauté the marinated chicken until light golden brown on both sides of the slices, about 3 to 5 minutes tops. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate or bowl for later.1½ tablespoon vegetable oil, 1½ lbs chicken breasts
- Add the second 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the skillet or wok and bring to high heat. Add the cut string beans and minced garlic and stir fry for 2 minutes, then cover for 2 minutes on lowered heat.1½ tablespoon vegetable oil, 1½ lbs string beans, 3 cloves garlic
- Uncover and add the slivered onion, chicken broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, and mirin. Cook for 1 minute stirring to mix and let the sauce thicken.½ medium onion, ¾ cup chicken broth, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoon Mirin
- Return the browned chicken slices back to the skillet or wok, and add the remaining toasted sesame oil. Stir fry on medium for 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve immediately.1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Notes
- Always add sesame oil very last, as a finishing. Heat can make it taste bitter.
- Don't over cook the chicken slices.
- Don't over steam the string beans, you want them to be bright green and with a tiny bit of crunch still, as they will continue to cook after removing from heat.
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