I have a ton of better-than-takeout recipes that I’ve shared over the last 15 years and they’re always a favorite with readers. They tend to be very easy, ready in less than 30 minutes, made in one skillet, and use common and easy-to-find ingredients. Which is exactly how I would describe this better-than-takeout Mongolian chicken, too! Similar to my other Asian-inspired chicken skillet recipes, this one is ready in just 20 minutes, and the sauce that coats every bite of chicken has a wonderful sweet and tangy flavor. Along with a hefty amount of honey for sweetness, there’s soy sauce, chicken broth, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil to really drive home that Asian flavor profile. I appreciate that cooking at home is usually healthier than eating out because I’m in control of all the ingredients and there’s very little oil in this recipe because the chicken just sears lightly and isn’t fried!
What Is Mongolian Chicken?
So many Asian chicken recipes, so little time. And I have a ton of them!
- P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef Copycat Recipe – Dare I say, it’s better than the restaurant? Yes, I do and I will!
- Mongolian Beef and Rice Bowls – Everything is stir fried together for a recipe that will just bowl you over!
- Honorable mentions to both Better-Than-Takeout Beef with Broccoli and 15-Minute Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli because they’re both fan favorites! I recently posted recipes for Teriyaki Chicken and Sesame Chicken and Sticky Chicken. And you may be wondering how this recipe and the others are different?
Teriyaki Chicken – Less sauce overall, and the overall flavor profile is more soy-dominant. It’s hardly sweet at all with only 1 tbsp of honey and a bit of brown sugar. If you like a saltier (not sweet) chicken dish, this is for you. Pretty sure most people know what this classic dish tastes like. Mongolian Chicken (this recipe) – More sauce volume (which is great if you want to spoon it over rice or just love really saucy chicken) and with 1/2 cup honey it’s much sweeter than teriyaki chicken but balanced. Sesame Chicken – Plenty of sauce, sweeter than the others from 3/4 cup honey. It also uses frozen popcorn chicken so the chicken is lightly breaded. I like to call this one ‘semi-homemade’ thanks to the convenience product used. Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken – This is a totally scratch version of above, and I prefer it (I may be the only one on the earth who prefers non-breaded chicken) and this one is saucy-saucy galore, and pretty sweet. General Tso’s Chicken or Kung Pao Chicken – My Kung Pao chicken recipe is close to General Tso’s but Kung Pao has red peppers, whereas General Tso’s is just the protein, no veggies. Both of these read spicy-yet-sweet, as savory dishes go. The heat level can vary from mild to hot depending on preference. Of all the previously mentioned chicken recipes, these are the only ‘spicy’ ones.
Ingredients in Mongolian Chicken
For this homemade rendition of a popular dish in Chinese-American restaurants, you’ll need the following common ingredients: Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Mongolian Chicken
A bed of white rice, brown rice, basmati, coconut rice, fried rice or cauliflower rice is a near must-have to soak up all the glorious sauce. Noodle dishes like Sweet-and-Sour Noodles or Chow Mein are great with this. In the Freezer: This recipe will keep airtight in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in fridge. To Reheat: I use my microwave for quickness and ease and reheat my leftovers for about 30 seconds on high, or as needed. But you can use your stove or whatever is best suited for you. Make Ahead: Like all recipes, this is amazing warm and fresh. But if you want to make it in advance as a meal-prep recipe, it’ll keep well for about 5 days. Place the chicken with rice alongside it in small microwave-safe containers and your workday (or work-from-home) lunches just went up to A+ style!
More Asian Chicken Recipes:
Better-Than-Takeout Teriyaki Chicken – 🥢🍚 Learn how to make the BEST teriyaki chicken at home in one skillet in just 20 minutes! Tender juicy chicken that’s full of rich Asian-inspired teriyaki flavor is a guaranteed family FAVORITE! Faster, healthier, and more budget-friendly than calling for takeout which is a triple WIN! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Kung Pao Chicken — 🌶️🍗 An easy, BETTER-THAN-TAKEOUT recipe with juicy chicken and such a flavorful sauce!! Don’t call for takeout when you can make this HEALTHIER version at home in 20 minutes! So AUTHENTIC tasting! Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken – Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! Healthier Orange Chicken – Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this HEALTHIER orange chicken at home in less than 10 minutes!! EASY, authentic, and so INCREDIBLE that you’ll never miss the fat and calories!! 15-Minute Skillet Sesame Chicken with Broccoli – Healthier sesame chicken that isn’t breaded or fried! You won’t miss the fat or calories in this fast and easy version that’s loaded with Asian-inspired flavors! You can happily skip takeout now! 15-Minute Spicy Orange Chili Chicken and Broccoli – The orange chili sauce is spicy, tangy, and sweet all in one!! The PERFECT sauce to jazz up chicken and broccoli! A FAST and EASY dinner with great Asian FLAVOR!! Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken — This sweet and sour chicken recipe takes just 15 minutes to make and tastes way better than takeout. Perfect for a weeknight dinner! Better-Than-Takeout Cashew Chicken – Juicy chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and crunchy cashews coated with the best garlicky soy sauce!! Skip takeout and make your own restaurant-quality meal that’s easy, ready in 20 minutes, and healthier!! Chicken and Green Bean Stir Fry — 🧡💚 Juicy pieces of chicken and crisp-tender green beans are coated in a sweet and savory stir fry sauce! It’s a simple yet flavorful stir fry that’s made with pantry staples you have on hand already! Best of all, it’s a QUICK and EASY one skillet recipe that’s ready in less than 30 minutes so it’s great for busy weeknights!
