Thai Garlic Pepper Chicken Stir-Fry

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Thai garlic pepper chicken stir-fry on a banana leaf in a clay dish. Behind it is a portion of white rice, flowers, and a small wooden mortar.

Thai garlic pepper chicken stir-fry or gai pad gratiem prik Thai is a super easy to make one-pot recipe. This dish is a lifesaver on busy weeknights, and everything you need is most likely already in your kitchen pantry. Enjoying authentic Thai flavors without breaking a sweat is just a few simple steps away!

A Thai woman presenting a clay dish with stir-fried chicken while pretending to eat it.

What is Thai garlic pepper chicken

Cooked with simple ingredients such as oyster sauce, garlic, pepper, and sugar, this stir-fried chicken dish has a place on the menu of many Thai restaurants. It’s easy to make in the blink of an eye, and loved by many.

It’s also easy to customize, since you can substitute chicken for any protein you prefer. This Thai chicken recipe can be made with pork, beef, shrimp, seafood, and even tofu.

Stir-fried garlic chicken in a brown sauce, served in a traditional clay dish, adorned with vibrant flowers.

Imagine tender and juicy bite-sized chicken pieces wonderfully coated in a savory sauce, flavored with pepper and sugar, paired with a portion of steaming hot rice. This meal is a must-try for anyone who’s looking to get something flavorful on their plate quickly.

How to customize

Customizing this Thai garlic chicken is easy, you can make it spicier, extra garlicky, or use a different kind of meat. You can even customize the flavors to your preference or adapt this recipe and turn it into a spicy meal.

A wooden fork holding a chicken piece, with a blurred background of stir-fried chicken, white rice and flowers.
  • This recipe calls for chicken, but you can use something different, every protein works wonderfully with garlic and pepper. Use pork for a flavorful and tender alternative, thin slices of beef, shrimp, or vegetarian tofu. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
  • For vegetarian tofu garlic pepper, substitute oyster sauce for mushroom sauce or any other version of vegetarian oyster sauce. Omit flavor seasoning and add a pinch of salt.
  • Add some heat by adding fresh chilies to the stir-fry. Simply slice the chilies and add them at the beginning. If you don’t have fresh chilies, you can sprinkle red chili flakes on top of the dish before serving.
  • Make it healthier by adding a side of stir-fried veggies such as bell peppers, mushrooms, stir-fried morning glory, or stir-fried cabbage.
  • For an extra garlicky meal, simply add more garlic, or use lots of pepper for an extra peppery dish.
Stir-fried chicken with garlic in a clay dish, flowers, and a portion of white rice.

Chicken in Thai cuisine

In Thai cooking, chicken is often used to prepare massaman curry, Thai basil chicken, or any kind of grilled preparations. Although chicken is a protein commonly used in Thai food, especially in Western countries, I have to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of chicken breast. I think pork has a lot more flavor, that’s why I prefer pork garlic pepper.

Close-up of stir-fried pork with garlic and pepper in a blue-white bowl with a lime wedge. There's also a banana leaf with chili peppers and a purple flower.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love me some authentic marinated chicken wings or spicy fried chicken drumsticks, it’s just that regular chicken breast isn’t all as flavorful for me. But this recipe adds a delicious taste to it, and the tender meat does a great job at absorbing the flavors of the other ingredients.

So, whether you’re a fan of chicken or prefer pork, this recipe offers lots of options and is delicious either way!

Ingredients

Garlic, black pepper, dark soy sauce, flavor seasoning, raw chicken, white sugar, oyster sauce, water, flowers, and decoration items on a bamboo serving tray.
  • Chicken – Go for boneless chicken breast or thighs, you can use both skinless and skin-on.
  • Dark soy sauce – Dark soy sauce gives the meat a beautiful dark color and a slightly sweet flavor.
  • Oyster sauce – Oyster sauce is commonly using in Thai cooking for its savory and salty flavor profile.
  • White sugar – White sugar provides a touch of sweetness and can be substituted for brown sugar at a 1:1 ratio.
  • Black pepper – Both white pepper and black pepper work, but I prefer black pepper for this dish.
  • Flavor seasoning (RosDee) – This seasoning powder adds a depth of flavor. It’s basically a blend of seasonings to give extra flavor to your food. Other brands of seasonings are Golden Mountain and Knorr.
  • Garlic – Garlic is the key ingredients, and you can use as much as you like, you can even eat some raw garlic when serving. (Yep, that’s what some Thai people love!)
  • Water – A few tablespoons of water are needed to prevent burning and to create a sauce that coats the garlic chicken.

Step-by-step instructions

Total Time: 10 minutes

Preheat oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and black pepper, then stir-fry until the garlic turns golden.Close-up of fried garlic and black pepper in a wok.

Add the chicken to the pan and cook until it is nearly cooked through.Cooked through chicken with garlic and pepper in a wok.

Push everything to one side of the pan. In the other side add water, flavor seasoning, white sugar, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce.Close-up of a wok pan with chicken on one side and a sauce on the other.

Thoroughly combine the chicken with the sauce, ensuring that every piece is coated. Give it a good mix and ensure the chicken is fully cooked through now. Serve immediately.Close-up of stir-fried chicken coated with a dark sauce in a pan.

How to serve

Serve as a main-dish, white a portion of jasmine rice. You can choose to serve the garlic chicken pepper in a separate dish or on top of the rice. You can also combine this meal with other Thai food as a side-dish.

Optionally, you can serve with a side of fresh vegetables, stir-fried vegetables and sweet chili sauce. Sprinkle dried chili flakes on top for extra heat, or add fresh chili peppers while cooking.

How to store

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three days. To reheat, simply stir-fry in a wok or skillet until warm. If needed, you can add a few tablespoons of water to prevent drying out.

What to do with leftovers

Leftovers can be used to create a delicious new meal. Use the leftover chicken to make fried rice or use them as a filling for wraps or lettuce cups. Go creative and use them in a salad, like this spicy chicken salad.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)

Can I use a different protein?

Yes! Simply sub the chicken for any protein of your choice and adjust the cooking time.

Can I make this ahead of time?

For the best taste, it’s best to enjoy this meal straight from the stove top. When you make it in advance the chicken could dry out, but you can slice the chicken and prepare the other ingredients ahead of time, and cook them when you’re ready.

Is this meal spicy?

No, this is not a spicy meal. You can turn up the heat by incorporating fresh chilies or chili flakes.

More recipes you’ll love

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Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 5 min Cook Time 10 min Total Time 15 mins
Servings: 3 Calories: 373

Description

This easy recipe makes a delicious Thai garlic and pepper chicken stir-fry within 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and black pepper, then stir-fry until the garlic turns golden.

  2. Add the chicken to the pan and cook until it is nearly cooked through.

  3. Push everything to one side of the pan. In the other side add water, flavor seasoning, white sugar, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce.

  4. Thoroughly combine the chicken with the sauce, ensuring that every piece is coated. Give it a good mix and ensure the chicken is fully cooked through now. Serve immediately.

Tools you need

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Nutrition Facts

Servings 3


Amount Per Serving
Calories 373kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14.6g23%
Saturated Fat 2.6g13%
Total Carbohydrate 7.7g3%
Dietary Fiber 0.4g2%
Sugars 4g
Protein 50g100%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

  • Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
  • For extra spice, add fresh chilies or sprinkle with dried chili flakes.
  • Leftovers will last up to 3 days in your refrigerator.
  • Serve as a main-dish with white rice, or as a side-dish with other food.
Keywords: Thai garlic pepper chicken, Thai garlic pepper chicken stir-fry

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About Author

Praew

I owned my own Thai restaurant and have years of experience in various other Thai restaurants. I've been whipping up classic Thai dishes by my mother's and grandma's side since I was just a little girl. Now I'm sharing my deep-rooted passion with my authentic Thai recipes on this food blog.

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