Ketchup Chicken is rich and savory and full of ketchup and garlic. Made in less than 15 minutes this chicken will become a family favorite. Even if you don't like ketchup, you will love this!
Ketchup chicken, where have you been all my life?
Honestly people, being a ketchup lover, I can't believe I haven't discovered this before now.
Truly Mark Bittman, from the New York Times, has been holding out on me!
I ate ketchup on everything as a child. It always held an important role on our table and was used recklessly on chicken, steak and even scrambled eggs.
Back then there wasn't such a thing as jarred salsa and who had ever heard of sriracha?
The closest we got to condiments was Heinz 57 or Worcestershire sauce for one's steak.
But I was simple. Ketchup floated my boat.
As a child my mother used to make ketchup sloppy joe.
She never made it for my father. She only made it before they abandoned us wee ones at home.
We didn't care because we had ketchup sloppy joe.
It wasn't really sloppy joe. I think all she did was brown the beef and add ketchup.
That was our bribe for not giving the babysitter a hard time when they departed.
My parents were the social type. They went out a lot.
If I recall there was always golf in the summer, theatre tickets once a month and numerous cocktail parties.
I think parents did a lot more socializing without kids back then.But what the heck?
We ate like kings when they were gone. Many times we were bribed with Swanson's TV dinners-the ones with the Salisbury steak, corn and brownie.
We also adored their chicken pot pies. And get out-who doesn't love Jeno's pizza rolls and Sara Lee brownies for dessert?
There was no powdered macaroni and cheese or spaghetti o's in our house, and I still don't know the reason why.
Nope. My mom preferred freezer meals!
But back to this ketchup chicken recipe.
Such a glorious dish certainly should bear a better name, but alas, this says it like it is. Ketchup chicken, I love you.
No need for ingredients like soy sauce or brown sugar. No tomato sauce either.
How to make ketchup chicken:
Start with a large boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs and cut them into big 1 ½ bite nuggets. Put some all-purpose flour in a plastic bag or a shallow bowl and throw your chicken cubes in. Toss it about until you have lightly dusted chicken nuggets.
Heat 2 Tablespoons oil, (canola or olive oil) on medium-high heat until oil smokes. Fry chicken nuggets in a large skillet on medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides. Remove from pan and place on a paper towel.
Take skillet off heat and let cool a few minutes. Then add minced garlic, (if you don't want to use fresh garlic, stir some garlic powder in with the ketchup) and slivered onion if you want. Let that soften a bit and then stir in your 1 cup ketchup and sriracha while scraping up all the little browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Once the ketchup bubbles, add back your nuggets and stir well.
While cooking the ketchup color deepens and sightly caramelizes. Make sure it's coated well and this chicken is ready to eat.
One could adjust this with other flavors and make this into a Chinese meal, Italian or perhaps stir in some chile powder and cumin to make some Mexican recipes.
How should I serve ketchup chicken?
I served my ketchup chicken over yakisoba noodles. I guess I still have a yearning for Chinese!
However, this chicken would also be great over potatoes, rice or spaghetti.
Kids love it. Adults love it, and it takes minutes to prepare.
Ketchup chicken may not be the most appetizing name but it certainly describes this dish to a T.
It is the simplicity of this dish that makes it so fun to make but it's the simple flavors that make this lip licking good.
And oh yeah. The peas are strictly for color. They do taste good, but the original recipe lacks veggies of any kind. So feel free to throw the peas on, if it makes you feel healthier!
These reasons are why I thought it time to repost this recipe.
It's hard to imagine how 6 basic ingredients can create such a perfect balance.
But they do which is why this chicken deserves to be chicken of the month!
Let me know what you think!
(This is an updated post from 2016.)
Need a Few More Made With Ketchup?
I'd Love it if You'd Follow Me and Pin and Share!
Recipe
Ketchup Chicken (My Favorite 15 Minute Meal)
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Description
Ketchup Chicken is rich and savory and full of ketchup and garlic. Made in less than 15 minutes this chicken will become a family favorite. Even if you don’t like ketchup, you will love this!
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs boneless chicken cut into 1″ chunks (I used white meat, but Mark Bittman prefers dark)
½ c flour or as needed
4 T canola oil
Salt and Pepper
2 T slivered garlic
¼ teaspoon cayenne or sriracha mixed with 1 c ketchup
Peas, onions. and cilantro optional
Instructions
Toss chicken with flour so that it is lightly dusted. Put 2 T oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, and turn heat to high. When oil smokes, add chicken in one layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
When chicken browns on one side, turn or toss and cook on other side. This shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes. Remove from pan. Turn off heat and let pan cool for a few minutes.
Add remaining oil to pan and turn heat to medium high. Add garlic and cook, stirring for about 2 minutes. Add ketchup and stir; cooking until ketchup bubbles and darkens slightly. Return chicken to pan and stir to coat with sauce. Taste and drool.
(Once I removed the chicken from the pan, I tossed in some slivered onion with the minced garlic and cooked that briefly. AFTER the ketchup chicken was finished, I put it in a bowl while I briefly warmed up a package of cooked yakisoba noodles and stirred then around until warm. This picked up the flavors of the ketchup and garlic and was yummy with the chicken.)
Linger says
What an interesting recipe that is ridiculously quick and easy. The ingredient list is so simple but it sounds very flavorful. Love your site, oh and btw these photos look gorgeous. Thanks for sharing Abbe.
Lea Ann says
Thanks for reposting this, as I had forgotten all about it. I like your idea of serving it over those noodles.
angiesrecipes says
It reminds me of sweet and sour chicken! Looks so satisfying and yummy.
Healthy World Cuisine says
My friend from the Philippines used to make something very similar with pasta and ketchup. The little heat with the sweet is addictive. New theme? Nice... Take care
sherry says
oh yes. i just watched a japanese youtuber make japanese rice with 4 Tbs of tomato ketchup. I was amazed that they would use it. in fact i'm amazed that japanese like eggy, dairy type foods also.
sherry says
this certainly sounds easy and a bit of fun!
John / Kitchen Riffs says
We always got Swanson's TV dinners when my parents went out, too. Had forgotten all about that brownie! But then, it's been ages since I've had a TV dinner. Or a babysitter, for that matter. 🙂 Anyway, such a fun dish -- thanks.
Mimi says
Very interesting! I do use ketchup sometimes in marinades, ever since I saw a recipe and followed it. But I’ve never really used it. I bet it’s good!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Totally good Mimi! It becomes a thick, rich, flavorful sauce!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Did you know that they make this in the Philippines too? It is something pretty similar and it is very tasty. Love pantry recipes.
Abbe Odenwalder says
You know the Chinese have a recipe that also uses ketchup. I'll have to do some more research. Would be interesting to see what else I can do!
Marcelle @ A Little Fish in the Kitchen says
Wow, I'm gonna have to try this ketchup chicken of yours, Abbe! My husband and my son are total ketchup addicts and this dish looks really good to me too 🙂
2thelight says
Hmmm..T is either tablespoon or teaspoon right?
Abbe Odenwalder says
Large T is tablespoon and small t is teaspoon. Hope that helps!
Balvinder Ubi says
I love ketchup and this is a must try recipe for me.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Enjoy Balvinder!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Well, I have to give this a try. Love these easy meals for the weekdays.
Abbe Odenwalder says
I do believe you wil love it Lea Ann!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
I have a friend who eats ketchup on everything, I mean everything. I've got to pass this recipe on to his wife. 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
You really do. This is good stuff!
Beth says
What an easy weeknight meal!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Beth. It is way too easy to taste this good!
Bobbi Marshall says
The title caught my attention. Seriously, why not ketchup chicken! Kids end up putting it on everything anyways. I have a friend and her little ones put ketchup on cucumbers to get them to eat their veggies. Ketchup must have magical kid powers for sure.
Abbe Odenwalder says
This stuff is great!
Liz Berg says
My family douses every meat I make with ketchup, so I know they'd think this chicken was divine! My mom used to make us boxed mac and cheese or fish sticks when they went out to eat---I think you got the better deal 😉
Abbe Odenwalder says
I would have loved fish sticks. We only got those at school!
Dawn Yucuis says
I am a big fan of ketchup, I know I would love this chicken. Sounds delicious.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Then just do it!
Tricia Buice says
My husband would LOVE this recipe! He eats ketchup on everything. When we first married I finally had to ask if he didn't like my cooking. Now he eats at least one bite before drowning it in ketchup 🙁
Abbe Odenwalder says
Too funny Tricia! I di out grw my need for ketchup but I still love the stuff. This is so good!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
I really need to try this with the homemade ketchup I made at the end of summer! The garlic and splash of hot sauce are plenty of flavor for me! I make my sloppy joes with ketchup too but I do add chopped onion and celery 🙂 Yes, our parents were definitely part of the new freezer food era! I remember those Swanson dinners well 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
You should try this. I haven't been this smitten with a recipe in a long time!
Angie Schneider says
That looks super duper delicious! Definitely a crowd pleaser.
Abbe Odenwalder says
It really is Angie!
La Table De Nana says
It must be good..a resto here I love their crispy asian chicken salad that is General Taoish..he gave me the recipe hrough a freind..and there is ketchup in it:)
I love how parents today are so involoved w/ their kids..my parents did not go out a lot..thank goodnes..because when my mom palyed bridge..she would have to put rollers in her hair and a bathrobe over her clothes and sit at the kitcehen table until I fell asleep..poor dear dear mom..my room was off the kichen;)
Abbe Odenwalder says
My mom played bridge, too! They always dressed up!
Cheri Savory Spoon says
Hi Abbe, how funny, I think in our moms day frozen diners were all the rage. Love that you added hot sauce here. Looks delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
With or wothout hot sauce this chicken is killer!
Kitchen Riffs says
Yup, back when we were growing up parents did tend to put their needs first, didn't they? All in all a good thing, I think -- both kids and parents got a healthy dose of independence that way. And kids got ketchup Sloppy Joes! I was never so lucky, alas. But I can make Ketchup Chicken now, right? Fun dish -- thanks.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Do not pass go until you make this chicken!
Karen Harris says
Oh my gosh, this does look interesting . . . and delicious! Love how simple it is. I'm always looking for something quick and easy.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Just made this for the 3rd time. I am in love!