Chicken stir fry is a delicious, quick, and healthy dinner option that delivers big on flavor without spending hours in the kitchen. With tender chicken, vibrant vegetables, and a savory stir fry sauce, it’s no wonder this dish is a family favorite!
Ingredients for the Perfect Chicken Stir Fry
For this easy chicken stir fry, you’ll need:
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, sliced into thin strips.
- Vegetables: Broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, snap peas, and onions (or your favorites!).
- Stir Fry Sauce: A combination of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, honey, and sesame oil.
- Oil: Use a neutral oil like vegetable or canola for frying.
- Garnishes: Sesame seeds, green onions, or a drizzle of sriracha for some heat.
Pro Tip: Pre-slicing all ingredients before cooking makes the stir fry process quick and seamless!
Tips and Tricks for the Best Chicken Stir Fry
- High Heat is Key: Stir frying works best when the heat is high, ensuring a crisp-tender texture and caramelized flavor.
- Slice Thinly: Thinly sliced chicken cooks evenly and quickly, saving time.
- Don’t Overcook the Veggies: For that perfect crunch, stir fry the vegetables for just a few minutes.
- Pre-Make the Sauce: Having the sauce ready beforehand keeps the process fast and stress-free.
- Use a Wok: A wok distributes heat evenly, but if you don’t have one, a large skillet works too.
Delicious Variations
- Protein Swaps: Use shrimp, beef, pork, or tofu instead of chicken.
- Sauce Variations: Try adding teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, or oyster sauce for different flavors.
- Low-Carb Option: Serve the stir fry over cauliflower rice or zoodles.
- Spicy Kick: Add sriracha, chili flakes, or fresh jalapeños for extra heat.
- Veggie Customization: Swap in zucchini, mushrooms, bok choy, or baby corn based on what you have on hand.
How to Serve Chicken Stir Fry
On Its Own: A light and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a quick lunch.
With Rice: Steamed jasmine or basmati rice complements the stir fry perfectly.
With Noodles: Serve it over lo mein, ramen, or soba noodles for a hearty meal.
Low-Carb Options: Enjoy with quinoa, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
How to Store and Reheat Chicken Stir Fry
- Storage: Store leftover chicken stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
Tip: To avoid overcooked veggies, reheat the stir fry gently and stir frequently.
Recipe FAQs
1. Can I make chicken stir fry ahead of time?
Yes! You can prep the chicken, chop the veggies, and whisk the sauce ahead of time. Store everything in separate containers in the fridge until ready to cook.
2. What’s the best chicken for stir fry?
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs work best since they cook quickly and remain tender.
3. Can I use frozen vegetables?
Absolutely! Frozen stir fry veggies are a convenient alternative; just cook them a little longer to remove excess moisture.
4. How do I thicken the stir fry sauce?
Add a teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with water to the sauce and stir until thickened.
5. Is stir fry healthy?
Yes! Chicken stir fry is loaded with lean protein and fresh vegetables, making it a healthy, balanced meal. You can control the sodium and sugar content by making the sauce at home.
Chicken Stir Fry (EASY)
Chicken stir fry is a delicious, quick, and healthy dinner option that delivers big on flavor without spending hours in the kitchen. With tender chicken, vibrant vegetables, and a savory stir fry sauce, it’s no wonder this dish is a family favorite!
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Veggies:
- 3 boneless chicken breasts, diced (1-inch pieces)
- ½ tsp salt & ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 2 cups broccoli florets (bite-sized)
- ½ yellow bell pepper & ½ red bell pepper (1-inch pieces)
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
For the Stir Fry Sauce:
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, chicken broth, soy sauce, and honey. Set aside.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 3-5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Stir Fry the Veggies: Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet. Toss in broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender yet crisp.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the ginger and garlic. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Bring It All Together: Return the chicken to the skillet. Pour in the stir fry sauce and toss to coat everything.
- Let it boil for 1 minute until the sauce thickens.
- Finish & Serve: Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
6Amount Per Serving Calories 218Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 51mgSodium 889mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 3gSugar 7gProtein 22g
dinnerbytes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although dinnerbytes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Conclusion
This Chicken Stir Fry recipe is a go-to for busy weeknights, offering a perfect balance of flavor, nutrition, and simplicity. With endless variations, it’s a versatile dish that’s sure to please the whole family. Give this recipe a try tonight, and don’t forget to share it with friends and family!
Left out the ginger and still tasted delicious!
It’s delicious! My children loves vegetables (thank goodness!) so I added every veggies I have. I did as instructed. The only thing I did differently was sautéed the veggies with a bit of black pepper, garlic powder and oyster sauce. It was yummy! My family loved it! Thank you for the simple recipe.
Thanks for your comment, hope you enjoy my other recipes as well.
This was really good, I didn’t have any sesame oil (need to add, see a lot of recipes calling for it) and I added some shrimp very, very delicious
Tries this recipe tonight. It was very good, definately a keeper!!
Thanks Shannon for trying this one
Wow! This was perfect! I had peapods and green pepper from our garden and didn’t want to waste them. Was looking for a chicken recipe with peapods and this fit the bill! We added mushrooms and mini corn to the mix, but other than that we made just as the recipe stated. We will be making this again and again! It came together so quickly and the flavor was wonderful. So glad we found this on the web! Thank you~
Great recipe, but do you mean versatile instead of volatile?
Opps! Yes its versatile! Fixed now!
Tastiest sauce ever! So simple and delicious. I had onions, carrots, broccoli and green pepper. Absolutely delicious!
Absolutely amazing meal!!! The flavor is great!! I added 3 different types of bell peppers and added everything else from the recipe. This will definitely become a part of the weekly dinner rotation.
Thank You!!!!