Quick & Easy Chicken Stir-Fry: A Flavorful Meal in Minutes

Chicken stir-fry has been a popular choice among busy individuals seeking quick and satisfying meals without compromising on taste. Whether you're looking for something to throw together on a weeknight or want to impress friends at your next dinner party, this versatile dish can be adapted in many ways. Today’s recipe offers a straightforward yet delectable option that uses minimal ingredients but delivers big flavors.

The preparation time for this dish is approximately 20 minutes, and it serves four people comfortably. It's an excellent meal to have on hand since you can adjust the spices or add more vegetables based on your preference.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized strips)
• 1 small red bell pepper, sliced thinly
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 3 cloves garlic, minced finely
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil (vegetable or olive oil)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• (Optional) 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnishing

Instructions

1. Start by preparing your vegetables. Slice the red bell pepper into thin strips, cut the broccoli florets into small pieces.

2. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce with cornstarch until well combined to create a thickening agent for your stir-fry sauce.

3. Heat up two tablespoons of cooking oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken strips and cook them until they are no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes. Remove cooked chicken from the pan and set aside.

4. Add minced garlic to the same pan used for chicken. Stir-fry briefly until fragrant, which usually takes around a minute. Then add sliced bell peppers and broccoli florets. Cook them together with the stir-fried garlic until they are just tender-crisp, approximately 5 more minutes.

5. Return cooked chicken back into the pan along with soy sauce mixture (thickened with cornstarch). Mix everything well to combine flavors thoroughly before cooking for another minute or two. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper if necessary.

6. To finish, garnish with sesame seeds for an extra layer of texture and aroma.

Enjoy!

This chicken stir-fry can be served hot over steamed rice or noodles. It pairs beautifully with a side salad or mixed vegetables for a complete meal that won't take long to prepare yet leaves you feeling satisfied. You could even turn this into an appetizer by serving it alongside small bowls of dipping sauce such as hoisin, soy, or peanut butter.

Feel free to experiment further! Adding different types of protein like shrimp or beef will change the flavor profile slightly while maintaining its simplicity and speed. Additionally, swapping out bell peppers for other colorful vegetables such as carrots, snap peas, or zucchini can add variety depending on what’s fresh in your produce drawer.

Chicken stir-fry remains a go-to dish because it satisfies both taste buds and time-conscious lifestyles alike. Its adaptability allows for endless possibilities within the same base recipe, making it versatile enough to suit various dietary needs too – from vegetarian options omitting the chicken entirely, to adding tofu or tempeh as a protein source.