Easy Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe: A Quick and Delicious Meal

Chicken stir-fry is a popular dish among families who want to enjoy a quick, easy, and delicious meal. This versatile recipe can be prepared in just 20 minutes with ingredients readily found at any grocery store. It’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners or as part of a larger Chinese-inspired meal like dumplings and fried rice. The stir-fry comes together quickly, allowing you to focus on other components of your meal. Here's how to make an easy chicken stir-fry that will please the whole family.

Ingredients

To prepare this dish for 4 servings, you’ll need:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, grated or finely chopped
4 cups fresh vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots
1/2 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version)
3 tablespoons cooking oil (canola oil works well but any neutral-tasting oil will do)
Optional garnish: chopped green onions or sesame seeds

Instructions

Mix the chicken strips, soy sauce, and cornstarch in a bowl until all pieces are coated evenly. Set aside for about 15 minutes to marinate.
Heat up a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl around so it coats the bottom of the pan.
Add your vegetables, stir-frying them until they are just tender-crisp. Remove from heat as soon as this is achieved to avoid overcooking.
Return the chicken strips to the pan and stir-fry with the garlic and ginger for another 2-3 minutes or until no longer pink inside.
Once everything has been combined well, add in your chicken broth. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes while you stir occasionally. This helps thicken the sauce slightly, creating a delicious glaze over each piece of meat and vegetable.
Serve immediately with steamed white rice or noodles if desired.

Tips & Variations

For those who prefer less salty flavors, you can reduce the soy sauce quantity. Similarly, adding more vegetables like snow peas or water chestnuts could enhance texture and flavor. If you want to add protein without increasing cooking time significantly, consider mixing in shrimp along with your chicken.

Cooking Time & Servings

This dish takes approximately 15 minutes to prepare and cook, plus another 10 minutes for marination. It serves four people as an entree or six if serving over noodles or rice.

Chicken stir-fry is a great way to use up leftover chicken from another meal without needing much preparation time. You can also experiment with different sauces, such as teriyaki, hoisin, or a sweet and sour sauce, which would change the flavor profile significantly but keep all other steps almost identical.

Conclusion

An easy chicken stir-fry is more than just another quick meal—it's an opportunity to gather around the table with loved ones while enjoying something comforting yet exciting. Whether you're looking for a simple weeknight dish or want to impress guests, this versatile recipe delivers on both fronts. Try it today and see how easily you can bring a taste of Asia into your home kitchen!