Chicken Stir Fry
Chicken stir-fry is a speedy dinner that’s jam-packed with flavor! Just grab a large pan and watch how juicy chicken, loads of veggies, and a savory-sweet sauce quickly come together in this colorful, healthy meal.
I love a good stir-fry because it ticks all the boxes for the ideal weeknight dinner. It delivers in flavor, simplicity, and a healthy balance of protein and veggies. Just like my all-time favorites such as this teriyaki chicken or shrimp fried rice.
But the key to an insanely good stir-fry is the sauce. In this case, diced chicken and vibrant veggies are coated in a rich, sweet, and savory sauce – basically all the flavors and textures you want to experience in a stir-fry!
Then all you need to do is whip up some rice for a well-rounded, easy dinner recipe the whole family will love.
What’s In This Easy Stir-Fry Recipe?
This dish is really just a throw-together of a ton of veggies, plus chicken. You can use a variety of vegetables (hello fridge leftovers!), but here’s what’s in this classic version.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast: Both chicken breasts and chicken thighs will work in this recipe.
- Bell Pepper: Red bell peppers are ideal for their subtle sweetness and vibrant color. But any color works!
- Carrot: I’ve cut the carrot into thin rounds for convenience, but you can also julienne it.
- Broccoli: I think a pop of green is always necessary in a classic chicken stir fry. Don’t love broccoli? Swap in sugar snap peas!
- Onion: Either white or yellow onions work in this recipe.
- Ginger & Garlic: Essential aromatics for any stir-fry recipe.
- Green Onion & Sesame Seeds: A sprinkle of green onion and sesame seeds on the serving plate is the perfect finishing touch.
Now comes the best part, the stir-fry sauce! This one tastes deliciously complex, but is actually really easy to make. Here’s what you need.
- Chicken broth: Makes up the base of this sauce and adds much more flavor than using water.
- Tamari Soy Sauce: I’m using tamari soy sauce to keep this recipe gluten-free. You could also use coconut aminos for a soy-free sauce.
- Sesame Oil: Just a teaspoon for a rich, nutty taste.
- Honey: Adds a touch of natural sweetness to this savory sauce.
- Rice Vinegar: Alternatively, you can use apple cider vinegar.
- Arrowroot Powder: Helps to make the sauce extra rich and thick.
- Dry Sherry (optional): The secret ingredient in Chinese restaurant stir fry’s is Shaoxing Wine – but it’s not gluten-free! I love to add a splash of dry sherry instead if I have it (which is a cooking wine, and not sherry vinegar). You don’t need much, but it really does add a delicious layer of flavor. If you don’t have dry sherry you could also swap in mirin or sake. But this isn’t required – think of it as a flavor boost!
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Let’s Make The Best Chicken And Broccoli Stir-Fry
There’s not much work required, except chopping up a few veggies and dicing the chicken. Once that’s done, the rest comes together easy! Here’s how to make it.
- Make the stir-fry sauce. Whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, sesame oil, dry sherry, honey, rice vinegar, and arrowroot powder in a small bowl.
- Saute the chicken. In a large skillet or wok on medium high heat, cook the chicken with salt, pepper, and a little avocado oil for about 4-5 minutes until lightly browned. Then remove to a plate.
- Cook the vegetables. Add a splash more oil, then saute the bell pepper, onion, carrot, and broccoli until tender.
- Stir-fry everything together! Add the chicken back in with the garlic, ginger, and stir-fry sauce. Toss it all together until everything is well coated in the sauce – that’s it!
Tips For The Best Stir-Fry
Although this recipe is pretty straight forward, there’s a few things to keep in mind to make this the best chicken stir-fry yet.
- Avoid undercooked ingredients by stir-frying the chicken and vegetables separately. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
- Avoid overcooking the vegetables by sauteing them until they’re slightly tender, yet still crisp in the third step. That way they won’t become too soft as you continue cooking them with the sauce.
- Let the sauce simmer for a good minute or so. It needs time to heat up in the pan to thicken properly.
Ways To Store
What’s great about this recipe is that it makes for such delicious leftovers. Alternatively, you can batch cook this on a Sunday night to eat all week long.
- To store: Let it cool before storing in airtight containers. They will keep in the fridge for about 4-5 days.
- To freeze: The entire stir-fry can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. And yes, you can freeze it with the rice too!
More Easy Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
This chicken stir-fry is just one of many chicken breast recipes to love. Give these easy and flavorful dinner ideas a try!
Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe Video
Want to see how I make this quick and easy recipe? Watch the video below!
If you make this chicken stir-fry, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Chicken Stir Fry
Recipe Video
Ingredients
Stir Fry Sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup tamari soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- 1 tablespoon dry sherry (optional – this isn't required, it's just an extra flavor-boost if you have it)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
Chicken Stir Fry
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
- 1 small carrot, thinly sliced
- 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Optional Garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 green onion, sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, dry sherry, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and arrowroot powder. Set aside.
- In a large skillet or wok on medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the chicken in a flat layer. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes, stirring as needed. Remove the chicken to a plate.
- Leaving any juices in the pan, add 1 tablespoon of oil along with the red bell pepper, onion, carrot, and broccoli. Cook the vegetables until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chicken back to the pan with the minced ginger and garlic. Stir for 30 seconds. Pour in the sauce and stir fry for another 1-2 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- I always use low-sodium tamari soy sauce, so it’s not overly salty. This is my favorite brand.
HEAVEN! Thank you for this recipe. Ever since my husband and I have been gluten free, we haven’t enjoyed a good stir fry. This recipe is as good as our old favorite restaurant dish that I’ve failed to replicate until now! I echo everything that’s been said… it’s a ten-star keeper!
Thrilled to hear you and your husband are loving this chicken stir-fry recipe!
hi Lisa
I have been following you since a few month as I have 3 auto immune illness
I have a question ; I bought arrowroot flour ( thinking it was arrowroot powder ) can I use it for this recipe to thicken the sauce ?
They’re essentially the same thing, so you can use the flour for this sauce.
This was delicious. The sauce gives it amazing flavor! Easy week night meal.
Happy to hear you’re loving this chicken stir fry Tracy!
Loved this recipe very easy and tasty
Only mistake I did was little to much soy sauce but salty I’d probably put bit less than wat it says
Other than that yumm
Great, tasty and simple. Also my hubby enjoyed it for dinner, thanks for the inspiration 😊 🍜
Now I really like this recipe, it turned out great but I just wish timing to prep was a little more realistic. This is not a 15 minute prep. I had my chicken all ready to go and all the chopping, measuring was 35 minutes. Which is fine but not a midweek meal if you work 40 hours.
Other than that I love the addition of arrowroot, makes the dish thicken quickly and gives an appealing “shine” to it. Will make again. 😊
Wow! The truly amazing recipe you have shared. I had tried out this recipe but I found the best way in your article. Also looking for the best Spaghetti recipe. For the best ingredients, I personally visit online stores and before that, I picked up coupons to get discounts as well at Vouchers Portal.
Made it today. Add extra veggies, zucchini and mushrooms. Double the stir fry sauce because I like more sauce. Delicious! It’s a keeper for sure!
So yummy. Tried it tonight and was super delicious- better that take out. I used cauliflower florets instead of broccoli as I didn’t have any and added some bok choy towards the end for some greenery! So good and so easy to make. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed this chicken stir fry Rachel! :)
Just tried this recipe for supper tonight. Delicious. We had it with your cauliflower fried rice. Thanks for these recipes!
Happy to hear everyone enjoyed this for dinner Pauline!
I loved this recipe! It’s easy to do and came out delicious! I didn’t have soy sauce, so I used another sauce (Maggie) so it turned out a little salty. I don’t have rice to tone it down (and I’m quarantining, so there wasn’t much I could do). So maybe tomorrow I will add a little orange juice to the leftovers.
It is definitely a keeper!
I made this recipe 2 nights in a row. The first night, I made sausage and peppers for everyone else and this meal for me (I figured I would eat it several nights in a row). My husband was insulted that I didn’t make the “healthy” meal for him as well. So tonight, I’m making again for everyone. It is a keeper!! So so good!
This recipe was so nourishing, bursting with flavor, full of texture with just the right ratio for all ingredients. This has quickly become a favorite and is staying in my special recipe binder!
Thrilled to hear you loved this chicken stir fry Valerie!
So much flavor!! This is a keeper recipe for sure! Thank you for sharing this!
This recipe was quick, simple and delicous – thanks so much!
This stir fry is what easy dinners are all about!
My husband and I loved this recipe! My two year old liked the broccoli. Solid quick meal for a week night dinner. Thanks!
This was easy to make and tasteful but I found it a bit salty. Possibly the Tamari Sauce. I usually marinade the chicken pieces in a mixture of soy sauce and cornstarch for half an hour before cooking. This changes the texture of the chicken making it melt in the mouth. I would do this next time I make it. Give it a try you will notice a difference in the texture of the dish.
Not much to say here except we LOVED this recipe!
Happy to hear you’re loving this stir fry Marie!
I never leave comments on recipes but this absolutely deserves one! Even my picky two year old loved the broccoli because it tasted like “candy” to him lol thank you so much for sharing this clean gluten free meal.
If it satisfies the picky eaters, you know it’s a good one :)
It was absolutely delicious!
Happy to hear you loved this chicken stir fry Tanya!
Lisa, thanks a lot! My boyfriend has bee asking to cook somethng “Asian inspired” lately so I’ve tried Chicken stir fry and it turned out perfectly!
Glad this satisfied his asian cravings! You should also give my teriyaki chicken or honey garlic shrimp a try :)
Awesome!!! Whole family loved it with Jasmine rice.
Wonderful! Glad this was a winner Kellie :)
The flavor of the sauce is amazing! I substituted tofu for the chicken as I am trying to eat less meat, and the flavor was still amazing. Pairing it with white rice really completes the meal. Will definitely be incorporating this dish in my weekly meal prep rotation.
Happy to hear this recipe has made it into your weekly rotation :)
it’s simple and enjoyable! exchanged half of the chicken for shrimp and it was wonderful.
Glad this turned out great with shrimp instead :)
This is super delicious and I appreciate that it is gluten-free. I’m making this two nights in a row! Next time I’ll definitely buy the lower sodium tamari soy sauce that’s recommended.
Hi,
This is fantastic post for chicken stir fry with good recipe and instruction. Thank you for sharing with us.
Glad this recipe was helpful to make the perfect chicken stir-fry Luis!
Wow great Recipe!
This is the first time I Read the whole article .
Thank you so much it is helpful and clear.
I will visit again!!
Glad this entire post was helpful!
I always read the entire post and comments. Lisa’s explanations are so very helpful and comments from the Downshifters also come in handy. Thanks everybody. P.S. I’m making this tonight…AGAIN!
What an absolutely fantastic post! I have try to make this recipe and it was too good..
Thanks for posting this. I’ll be sharing it!
Hope you love this chicken stir-fry Vipul!
I did not have arrowroot powder and substituted with corn starch. I also added mirin instead of dry sherry. These substitutions work! I accidentally put too much sesame oil too. But it turned out delicious!
Good to know about those two substitutions Mary! Glad this turned out perfectly :)
First time trying one of your recipes and it was a hit. Everyone loved it. Prep went well. I used boneless, skinless chicken and highs instead of breasts and took a little longer to I cook. Would try red pepper flakes next time. Definitely in rotation. Was also wondering what a hint of citrus would be like??
Glad you first ever Downshiftology recipe was a hit Toni! Not sure what a hint of citrus would taste like as this is such a savory dish, but you can try!
I loved how bright and colorful the veggies were. I added snap peas to it and it was perfect. Love your recipes.
Snap peas are always welcome in this recipe :)
A great flavorful easy stir fry recipe! I made it for dinner last week with added veggies and chili garlic sauce for extra heat! Perfect weeknight dinner. Thanks Lisa for another great recipe!
Glad you enjoyed this stir-fry recipe Brooke :)
Made this tonight, it was delicious and easy to make. Food prep took me longer than the recipe description says. Plenty if left overs for a couple of meals. Yum yum, worth trying and making it part of my go to meal prep options. This is a winner, easy, healthy and healthy
Happy to hear you enjoyed this stir-fry recipe Rita!
Been looking for an easy and flavorful chicken stir fry recipe for some time. This one looks like it! Thanks for sharing the detailed instructions 😊
Glad you loved this stir-fry recipe Sophy!
Made this today and it’s fantastic! Love your channel and your site. It’s so helpful to hear your tips about arrowroot instead of corn and such, I’m learning a lot from you!
Wonderful! Happy to hear the tips were helpful :)
Hi Lisa,
So glad I came across your website several years ago! Your recipes are so good!
I am looking for a large ‘non-tonic’ skillet like the one you used in this recipe and was wondering what brand you used.
Thanks so much,
Alice
Hi Alice – I’m using my stainless steel All-Clad pan for this recipe. But you can take a peek at all the cookware I use in my post “My Favorite Cookware: The Best Pots and Pans”.
First time trying out a recipe of yours! Thought my kids wouldn’t like it, but the whole family loved it! Thank you for this simple recipe all the way from Sweden!
Glad the whole family enjoyed this recipe Effi!
This recipe is amazing, left overs are just as good the next day!
Leftovers of this stir-fry are always welcome.
Our new favorite Stir fry recipe! I will definitely double this next time so that we have leftovers!!!
Making a double batch would be great for leftovers!
I made this a few days ago, and it was really good! The main vegetables I used were green beans, carrots, and onions, sliced thin. I also used coconut aminos instead of the soy, and garlic powder instead of cloves. The sauce is amazing! Thank you!
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed this recipe :)
Crazy question but what kind of knife is that? Thanks and recipe looks amazing.
Hi Lori – This knife is part of my Zwilling set!
This was delicious and easy to make. Definitely will do this again.
Glad you enjoyed this recipe Janet!
As always, Lisa’s recipes are perfection! Also approved by my Chinese boyfriend who asked me if we can make this now twice a week :)
Glad this was approved Kathy :)
I am happy I tried your stir-fry! It is the best of the best! I have already made a few attempts to find a tasty recipe for the chicken stir-fry, and I almost gave up. Thanks. It is yummy and delicious!!!
Happy to hear this stir-fry was a success Irina!
What a healthy and delicious recipe! Love all of the veggies and colors in this dish. Super easy to make too. YUM!
Wow!!! That looks super tasty. Wondering if it would be okay to leave out the honey…trying to make this whole 30 friendly! 😃 Love all of your recipes and can’t wait for your book to hit the shelves.
Hi Tricia – yes, no problem! It’s a simple tweak to make it Whole30 compliant. :) Hope you enjoy!
Such a healthy and flavourful chicken dish! So good with a bowl of steamed rice! Thanks for sharing.
Can’t beat this easy and healthy dinner recipe :)
This is perfect for dinner tonight! I can’t wait to make this and it looks amazing! The family is going to love this recipe!
Hope this was a dinner success Beth!
this was so easy and delicious I am making it again this week it was a huge hit here!
Happy to hear this chicken stir-fry was a success :)
Will be making this soon can i use vegetable broth mushrooms as am a vegan can i skip red bell pepper as am not a big fan of it perfect for my after office meals sorry i took a break from commenting on your recipes as busy with work will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Hi Ramya – Sure, you can! I would add more of the other veggies to replace the bell pepper though so that there’s an even amount compared t the sauce.