Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (2024)

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This Chicken Stir Fry recipe is full of fresh veggies and covered in a flavor-packed garlic and ginger sauce. From start to finish, it’ll be on your table in under 25 minutes. It’ll have you begging to skip the takeout!

Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (1)

Listen, I love takeout – some might even call me the takeout queen. It’s just so easy. But, it can really start to add up. But I still crave Chinese takeout, like alllll the time! So, I’ve come up with my own, better than takeout Chicken Stir Fry recipe.

    Why You’ll Love This Chicken Stir Fry Recipe

    • Better Than Takeout: This easy chicken stir fry hits the spot when I’m craving takeout. It’s quick and easy to make and full of the Asian flavors I crave.Aaaaaand, it’s kinder on your wallet!
    • So Much Flavor: Fresh veggies, tender chicken, and a super flavorful sauce makes this stir fry chicken out of this world!
    • Family Friendly: This is a great recipe to get the kids to eat more veggies. The sauce does a great job of hiding all of that fresh goodness. My kids are super excited every time this is on our rotation.

    What You’ll Need

    Chicken stir fry is really simple – all you’ll need is chicken, chopped veggies and stir fry sauce. Scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for exact amounts.

    FOR THE STIR FRY:

    • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
    • Vegetable Oil
    • Veggies: I used fresh garlic, fresh ginger, onion, carrot, red pepper, button mushrooms, and green onion.
    • Sesame Seeds: Toast these for an extra punch of flavor.
    • Red Pepper Flakes

    FOR THE SAUCE:

    • Soy Sauce: I prefer a low sodium soy sauce or Tamari so I can control how salty the sauce gets.
    • Cornstarch
    • Light Brown Sugar
    • Sesame Oil
    • Chicken Broth
    Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (2)

    How to Make Easy Chicken Stir Fry

    • Prep: Cut your chicken into cubes or strips, and prep all your veggies. Make your sauce by combining the soy sauce and cornstarch in a small mixing bowl. Whisk it until it’s completely incorporated. Then, whisk in the brown sugar, sesame oil, and chicken broth.
    • Saute: Add the oil to a wok or use a large nonstick skillet and cook the garlic and ginger for a few seconds until fragrant. Add the onion and cook for a few more minutes until it starts to get soft.
    • Chicken: Stir in the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes until it starts to get white. Make sure to stir it frequently so the chicken cooks on all sides.
    • Add Veggies: Add the rest of the veggies and continue to cook for 2 minutes.
    • Combine: Stir the sauce that you prepared earlier, and then add it to the wok. Cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, stirring very frequently, until the sauce has thickened, veggies are crisp-tender, and chicken is cooked through.
    • Serve: Remove the wok from heat. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and pepper flakes. Serve over rice.

    Tips and Tricks

    If you want your stir fry chicken to turn out better than takeout, too, make sure you read these tips!

    • Size Matters: Try to chop your veggies in similar sizes so that they cook evenly.
    • Don’t Skip the Prep: Mix your sauce ahead of time! Once everything is sauteing and it’s time to add the sauce, things will move quickly and you won’t have time to mix it together at that point.
    • Low Sodium Ingredients: Using low sodium chicken broth and low sodium soy sauce will help to keep the overall salt content of this meal down. If you don’t use low sodium, it will be quite salty.

    Variation Ideas

    One of the great things about this chicken stir fry recipe is that you can throw in any veggies you have around your house to switch things up and keep it fresh.

    • Veggies: I love to add baby corn on the cob or water chestnuts if I have them in my pantry.You can also add in veggies like chopped kale, boy choy, broccoli, snow peas, or asparagus.
    • Spice: If I want to add a kick and I have them, I’ll throw in some spicy peppers.
    • Sauce: Aside from varying your veggies, you can also make swaps in your sauce. You could opt to use a Teriyaki base instead of soy sauce, or you could swap the light brown sugar for honey and orange juice.
    • Protein: You can also swap out the chicken for a different protein, like shrimp, steak, or tofu!
    Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (3)

    What to Serve With Stir Fry Chicken

    I serve this easy chicken stir fry over rice. I prefer Basmati rice but I’m not opposed to short grain white rice or brown rice. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even whip up a fried rice to serve with your stir fry. For those counting carbs, opt for riced cauliflower or quinoa.

    It’s also a real treat served over rice noodles. To pack this meal with serious veggie power, you can also serve it over zoodles. Then, top it with green onions, sesame seeds and red pepper flake!

    You can’t beat a homemade spring roll on the side!

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    • I store my leftover stir fry chicken in an airtight container in my fridge for about 3-5 days.
    • If I decide to freeze it, I let my stir fry come to room temperature. Then, I place it into a zip top bag, sauce and all, seal it, label it, and store it in my freezer for about 3 months.
    • Reheating your stir fry is super easy but may make your veggies a bit less crisp. Simply put it into a wok or pan and heat over low until everything is heated through. You may need to add a bit of water or chicken broth to thin out your sauce.
    Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (4)

    More Easy Chicken Recipes

    • Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
    • Chicken Fajita Pasta
    • One Pot Creamed Spinach Chicken

    Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (5)

    Print Recipe

    4.78 from 9 votes

    Better Than Takeout Chicken Stir Fry

    This better than takeout Chicken Stir Fry recipe is packed full of fresh veggies and covered in a flavor-packed garlic and ginger sauce.

    Prep Time10 minutes mins

    Cook Time15 minutes mins

    Course: Dinner

    Cuisine: Chinese

    Keyword: chicken stir fry, chicken stir fry recipe, easy chicken stir fry, stir fry chicken

    Servings: 4

    Calories: 208kcal

    Author: Katerina | Easy Weeknight Recipes

    Ingredients

    For the Sauce

    • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or Tamari sauce
    • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth

    For the Stir Fry

    • 10 to 12 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast, thinly cut into strips OR cut into about 1.5-inch cubes
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
    • 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
    • 1 large carrot, thinly sliced into coins
    • 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced into strips
    • 4 ounces sliced button mushrooms
    • green onion , for garnish
    • toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
    • red pepper flakes, for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a mixing bowl combine soy sauce and cornstarch; whisk until completely incorporated.

    • Whisk in brown sugar, sesame oil, and chicken broth; set aside.

    • Prepare chicken by cutting it into small cubes or long thin strips; set aside.

    • Add vegetable oil to a Wok or use a large nonstick skillet; set wok over high heat.

    • Once oil is hot, add garlic and ginger; stir and cook for 10 seconds.

    • Add onion and continue to cook for 1 more minute, stirring frequently, just until onion softens.

    • Stir in the chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until chicken is white; stir frequently.

    • Add in prepared carrots, peppers, and mushrooms; continue to cook for 2 minutes.

    • Stir the sauce that you prepared earlier, and then add it to the wok; cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, stirring very frequently, until sauce has thickened, veggies are crisp-tender, and chicken is cooked through.

    • Remove from heat.

    • Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and pepper flakes.

    • Serve over rice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 512mg | Potassium: 543mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3608IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

    chicken breastsmushroomsred peppers

    Chicken Stir Fry Recipe - Better Than Takeout! (2024)

    FAQs

    What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

    The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

    What can I add to stir-fry to make it taste better? ›

    5. Add flavour.
    1. Herbs: basil, oregano, cilantro.
    2. Spices: cumin, coriander, cardamom.
    3. Reduced sodium or no sodium added broth.
    4. Fresh lemongrass, garlic or ginger.
    5. 100% fruit juice.
    6. Citrus zest.
    7. Lower sodium soy sauces (<600 mg sodium per tablespoon)
    Sep 16, 2019

    How to stir-fry chicken and keep it juicy? ›

    Chicken is sliced into thin, even-sized pieces and then marinated briefly in a mix of baking soda, cornstarch, wine, and seasoning. This seals in moisture and tenderizes the chicken. The high heat and constant tossing of a wok or skillet cook the chicken fast to keep it tender and juicy.

    What not to put in stir-fry? ›

    Because stir-frying uses a very high heat, you want a cooking oil that has a high smoke point. Vegetable, canola or peanut oil are my trustee go-tos, and all have a neutral taste, so won't affect flavour. Do not – I repeat, DO NOT – use butter!

    When should you add soy sauce in stir-fry? ›

    Adding soy sauce too early can burn it. Remember, timing is key. Add soy sauce midway for that perfect cook.

    What seasonings go in stir-fry? ›

    For Sauce:
    1. 2–3 Tbsp. soy sauce (to taste)
    2. 1 Tbsp. brown sugar (more if you want a sweeter stir fry)
    3. 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar.
    4. 2 cloves garlic, minced.
    5. 1/2 tsp. sesame oil.
    6. 1 tsp. sriracha (optional – add more/less to taste)
    7. freshly ground black pepper, toasted sesame seeds, and/or chili flakes (optional)

    How to make stir-fry taste like restaurant? ›

    Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.

    What are the seven common ingredients in a stir-fry? ›

    The main ingredients to a stir-fry are: Proteins – chicken, beef, pork, seafood, tofu, tempeh, seitan. Aromatics – garlic, green onions, shallots, ginger.

    What thickens stir-fry? ›

    Cornstarch! In his book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman recommends mixing 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the same amount of water, and tossing this into the stir fry just when it's almost done. It thickens in seconds, picking up the flavors of everything already in the dish and coating evenly.

    How do Chinese restaurants get their chicken so tender? ›

    How do Chinese Restaurants tenderise chicken?
    1. marinating in a cornstarch/cornflour sludge then deep frying or blanching in water before proceeding to cook in the stir fry.
    2. egg whites – sometimes the above method is also done using egg whites.
    3. chemical tenderiser.
    4. simple baking soda / bi carbonate method.
    Feb 23, 2019

    How to make chicken soft like restaurants? ›

    1) Marinate the chicken in water, wine, or other liquids for up to an hour before cooking. This will tenderize the meat and add flavor. 2) Slowly cook the chicken on low heat with a lid on top for about 15-20 minutes per pound of chicken. The lid prevents the chicken from drying out too much.

    Should you stir fry covered or uncovered? ›

    Moisture also interferes with creating a caramelized, crispy surface on stir-fried and deep-fried foods. All foods give off some steam when cooking, so it's important to leave the lid off the pan during frying so the steam evaporates rather than collecting on the lid and dripping back into the hot oil.

    What are the principles of stir-frying? ›

    The principle behind making a stir fry is to cook your ingredients quickly in a small amount of very hot oil. To keep frying it as fast as possible, it's important to properly prepare all your ingredients. So before you turn up the heat, we recommend you: Marinade any meat, fish or tofu in your choice of sauce.

    What order to add vegetables to stir-fry? ›

    Stir-fry onions first, then add hard vegetables such as carrot and broccoli. Quick-cooking vegetables, such as snow peas, leafy greens and bean sprouts, should be added towards the end of cooking. If using vegies that have a combination of both textures, such as gai laan, add the stems first and the leaves later.

    References

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