panda express kung pao chicken nutrition

Instead, look for words like “grilled”, “sautéed”, or “lightly browned” for lighter fare.Īlso smart? Check out the Wok Smart menu selections, which contain 300 calories or less and at least eight grams of protein. “ 'crispy,' 'crunchy,' or 'coated' in the menu description for an appetizer or entrée is usually a dead giveaway that these choices contain a large amount of calories and fat-particularly saturated fat that can cause cholesterol levels to creep up,” says Georgia Rounder, R.D.N. When ordering, you might want to skip your beloved orange chicken and chow mien. Keep protein servings about the size of a palm and starch servings no bigger than the size of a fist. Veggies should be the main star of the meal. “ how the food is paired when it comes to other ingredients and side dishes.” Lastly, don’t forget about portion size. If it’s fried or drowning in sauce, put those items lower on your list,” says Enright. “First and foremost, be aware of how your food is being prepared. Before you hit the food court, registered dietitian nutritionist Mandy Enright suggests keeping the “3 Ps” in mind-preparation, pairing, and portioning. Thankfully, there is a way to indulge your craving without totally tanking your healthy-eating goals. You can always sprinkle with more at the end if you want more spice.While some may argue that Panda Express isn’t exactly authentic Chinese food or the healthiest choice, let’s face it-sometimes kung-pao chicken and lo mein just hits the spot. To make sure you don't get the chicken dish too spicy, add less red pepper flakes than called for initially. (This is NOT the time to check your email! -)) It gets mushy pretty quickly and is not as tasty (in my opinion).Ĭutting thick slices helps with this as well as watching your pan and the timing of the covered cooking. Let me know how hot you like yours in the comments below! More Tips It was still quite spicy, so I reduced the finished recipe down to one-half teaspoon or less depending on what your family likes. but then I realized - 'Hey, this is hot stuff - that's probably way too much!'įortunately for me and my boys, I reduced it to only 1 teaspoon (one third of the mistaken original) in time before mixing it all together.

One fun side note: I actually added 1 whole tablespoon initially to the marinade. Plus, this ingredient is easy to add more or less to your family's liking. I decided using red pepper flakes was a very reasonable substitute. I really try to make all my recipes approachable for the average cook and not use exotic or difficult-to-find ingredients if possible. The original recipe for Panda Express kung pao chicken uses hot dried red peppers in the recipe, but I don't have any of these (or know where to get them easily). You will then add the remaining marinade liquid during the last 5 minutes of cooking. This step will create a more flavorful base for your recipe. Make sure to marinate the chicken while the pan heats up. Plus, it's so quick to make - only 30 minutes from start to finish - you'll have it ready to serve before you would have gotten to the nearest restaurant (or have it delivered)! Tips for the Best Kung Pao Chicken It's more delicious (in my opinion), and, of course, it's cheaper to make at home.

If you love Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken, then you'll really love this copycat recipe of mine.

Panda express kung pao chicken nutrition