Panda Express String Bean Chicken (Air Fryer Copycat)

This Panda Express String Bean Chicken copycat brings one of the lightest items on the Panda menu to your kitchen. Tender bites of chicken breast cook quickly in the air fryer. Then they’re tossed with crisp-tender green beans and sweet onions in a savory garlic-ginger soy sauce. It’s ready in about 30 minutes, needs no wok, and tastes like takeout without the drive.

If your family loves Panda Express night, this pairs perfectly with my Air Fryer Panda Express Orange Chicken for a lighter entrée alongside a crispy one.

What Is Panda Express String Bean Chicken?

String Bean Chicken Breast is a Panda Express stir-fry of chicken breast, green beans and onions in a mild ginger-soy sauce. Many people call it green bean chicken, and it’s the same dish. Unlike most Panda entrées, the chicken isn’t battered or deep-fried, so it’s one of the lighter options on the menu.

Why You’ll Love This Green Bean Chicken

• Restaurant-tender chicken. A quick marinade with baking soda and cornstarch keeps the chicken silky and juicy. This technique is called velveting.
• Hands-off cooking. The chicken cooks in the air fryer while you stir-fry the vegetables, so everything finishes at the same time.
• Lighter than takeout. Lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and a sauce you control.
• Gluten-free friendly. Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, and arrowroot instead of cornstarch.

Panda Express String Bean Chicken Ingredients

For the chicken:

• Chicken breast: Cut into even 1-inch pieces so every bite cooks at the same rate.
• Baking soda: This is the secret to tender, restaurant-style chicken. It raises the meat’s pH so the proteins don’t tighten up as much while cooking. A small amount is all you need.
• Arrowroot or cornstarch: This coats the chicken and helps the sauce cling.
• Coconut aminos or soy sauce, salt and garlic powder: These season the chicken from the inside out.
• Olive oil: This keeps the chicken moist in the air fryer.

For the vegetables:

• Green beans: Fresh beans give the best snap. Trim them and cut them into 2-inch pieces.
• Yellow onion: Sliced thin, it turns sweet and tender, just like the restaurant version.

For the sauce:

• Garlic and fresh ginger: These are the dish’s signature flavors. Fresh grated ginger tastes much brighter than dried.
• Coconut aminos or soy sauce: This gives the savory base.
• Chicken broth: It loosens the sauce so it coats everything.
• Peach or apricot jam: A spoonful adds a subtle sweetness that balances the salty soy.
• Cornstarch: A little thickens the sauce into a glossy glaze.

How to Make String Bean Chicken in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Marinate the chicken. In a bowl, toss the diced chicken with the salt, garlic powder, baking soda, cornstarch, coconut aminos and olive oil until evenly coated. Refrigerate it for 15 to 30 minutes while you prep everything else.

Step 2: Mix the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, coconut aminos, jam and cornstarch until smooth. Set it aside.

Step 3: Air fry the chicken. Preheat the air fryer to 370°F for 3 minutes. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. It’s done when it’s lightly golden and reaches 165°F inside.

Step 4: Stir-fry the green beans and onion. While the chicken cooks, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green beans and cook for 4 minutes, stirring often. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until the onion softens and the beans are crisp-tender.

Step 5: Add the aromatics. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Step 6: Toss and serve. Add the air-fried chicken, give the sauce a quick stir, and pour it into the skillet. Toss over high heat for 1 minute, until the sauce thickens and coats everything. Serve right away over rice, garnished with sesame seeds.

Tips for the Best Green Bean Chicken

• Don’t overdo the baking soda. Half a teaspoon per pound is plenty. More can leave a soapy aftertaste.
• Marinate for no longer than about an hour. Baking soda keeps working, and a long marinade can make the chicken mushy.
• Keep the beans crisp-tender. Panda Express green beans still have a snap. Pull them off the heat while they’re bright green.
• Cook the garlic briefly. Adding it at the end keeps it from burning and turning bitter.
• Add heat if you like. A pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili sauce in the sauce gives it a kick. For a sweet-heat version, try my homemade sweet chili sauce.
• Want an all-air-fryer version? Air fry the green beans before the chicken, using the method from my air fryer green beans with mushrooms and onions. Then toss everything in the sauce in a skillet.

What to Serve with Panda Express String Bean Chicken

Serve it over fluffy rice to soak up the ginger-soy sauce. My Instant Pot coconut jasmine rice adds a subtle sweetness, and brown rice in the Ninja Foodi keeps it wholesome. For the full takeout experience, make subgum fried rice instead.

Start the meal with crispy air fryer chicken egg rolls, Panda Express-style fried dumplings, or cream cheese rangoon. To build a two-entrée Panda plate, add Air Fryer Panda Express Black Pepper Beef or Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken.

How to Store and Reheat

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, and thaw overnight in the fridge. The green beans will soften a little after freezing.

Reheating: Warm leftovers in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce. You can also use the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes. For more tips, see my guide to reheating Panda Express leftovers in the air fryer.

Panda Express String Bean Chicken FAQs

Is string bean chicken the same as green bean chicken? Yes. Panda Express calls it String Bean Chicken Breast, but many people search for it as green bean chicken. String beans and green beans are the same vegetable.

Is Panda Express String Bean Chicken healthy? It’s one of the lighter entrées on the menu, since the chicken isn’t battered or fried. This homemade version is even lighter, with less oil and a sauce you control.

What does baking soda do to the chicken? Baking soda raises the pH of the chicken’s surface, so the proteins don’t bind as tightly when cooked. The result is noticeably tender, juicy chicken, like at a Chinese restaurant.

Can I use frozen green beans? Yes. Thaw them and pat them very dry before stir-frying, or they’ll steam instead of searing. Frozen beans will be a little softer than fresh.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breast? Yes. Boneless, skinless thighs stay extra juicy. Air fry them for an extra 1 to 2 minutes, until they reach 165°F.

Can I make this gluten-free? Yes. Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, and arrowroot instead of cornstarch. Check that your chicken broth is labeled gluten-free.

More Panda Express Copycat Recipes

• Air Fryer Panda Express Orange Chicken
• Air Fryer Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
• Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
• Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken
• Air Fryer Panda Express Black Pepper Beef
• Air Fryer Beef and Broccoli

Find more takeout favorites in my copycat recipes and air fryer recipes.or those on Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @forktospoon – I can’t wait to admire your culinary adventures!​