Description
Creamy Black Pepper Chicken is a Southeast Asian-inspired dish with tender chicken thighs, bold freshly ground black pepper, and a rich coconut milk sauce. The layers of umami, spice, and creaminess make this a standout comfort meal.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs chicken thighs, boneless & skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk
2–3 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
3 medium shallots, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 fresh red chili, sliced (optional)
Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
1. Pat chicken pieces dry and season with salt and 1 tbsp black pepper.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer; sear 6-8 minutes until golden. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add remaining oil to skillet. Sauté shallots 3 minutes until translucent, then garlic 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Pour in coconut milk, scraping browned bits. Add fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and remaining black pepper; stir to combine. Bring to gentle simmer.
5. Return chicken to skillet. Simmer uncovered 10-12 minutes until chicken is cooked and sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning.
6. Remove from heat, stir in half of cilantro. Transfer to serving dish; garnish with remaining cilantro and sliced chili. Serve with lime wedges.
Notes
Use freshly ground black pepper for best flavor.
Do not overcrowd pan when searing chicken.
Scrape browned bits from pan to enrich sauce.
Store leftovers up to 3 days in fridge or 2 months in freezer.
Reheat gently over low heat, adding water or coconut milk if sauce thickens.
Serve with jasmine rice and fresh vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course, Chicken
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southeast Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg