Perfectly Balanced One-Pot Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Description: This one-pot chicken and vegetable stir-fry is a healthy, balanced meal that comes together quickly with minimal effort. Ideal for busy weeknights or when you want to enjoy a nutritious dinner without sacrificing flavor.

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, bell peppers), chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooking wine or water (optional)
• Green onions for garnish

Instructions:

1. Start by preparing all your ingredients. Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, and chop the vegetables.
2. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and cooking wine or water (if using). This mixture will serve as your stir-fry sauce to thicken it later on.
3. Heat up 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot enough, add the sliced chicken pieces into the pan and cook for about 5 minutes or until they are lightly browned and fully cooked through. Stir occasionally so that each side gets some time to crisp slightly.
4. After browning the chicken, remove it from the skillet and set aside on a plate. You can reserve this step if you prefer to keep your protein separate for later re-heating purposes when serving with rice or noodles.
5. Add the chopped vegetables (carrots, broccoli, bell peppers) into the same skillet used previously. Stir fry them until they are crisp-tender but still retain some color and texture. This should take around 5 minutes depending on how raw you like your veggies to be at this stage.
6. Return the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the vegetables. Pour in the pre-mixed sauce over everything now, making sure it coats all ingredients well. Let it simmer for another couple of minutes until the liquid has thickened nicely from the cornstarch acting as a natural thickening agent.
7. Taste your dish and adjust seasoning if necessary; adding more soy sauce or salt can help enhance flavors further according to personal preference.
8. Finally, garnish with finely chopped green onions before serving hot straight out of the skillet. Serve this dish alongside steamed jasmine rice for a complete meal.

Tips & Variations:

If you're looking for additional variety or spice options beyond what was provided above, consider these tips and variations:

• For extra heat, add some fresh ginger along with the garlic when sautéing vegetables. Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes towards the end also works well.
• To make it more filling, serve this stir-fry over hot cooked noodles instead of rice, or even better still, try combining both for a full grain experience.
• For those who enjoy seafood, feel free to substitute chicken with shrimp or scallops. Simply adjust cooking time accordingly since fish cooks much faster than meat proteins do.

Nutritional Information:

This recipe provides a balanced mix of protein and vegetables packed into one simple dish making it perfect for anyone seeking an easy yet satisfying meal option. The chicken adds essential amino acids while the mixed vegetables contribute crucial vitamins and minerals necessary for good health.