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Easy Chicken Stir Fry

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Whenever we are craving something healthy, a loaded chicken stir fry always comes to mind. You can add so many different veggies, cook a protein like chicken, shrimp or tofu and toss it all with a delicious homemade sauce. Leftovers also make the BEST lunches!

An easy chicken stir fry is one of those go-to meals that checks all the boxes: fast, healthy, flavorful, and endlessly customizable. Perfect for busy weeknights, this simple chicken stir fry comes together in under 30 minutes and uses everyday ingredients you likely already have on hand. Loaded with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and a savory-sweet sauce, it’s a balanced dinner that feels better than takeout—and is far easier to make at home.

What makes this recipe especially appealing is its versatility. You can serve it over fluffy white rice, nutty brown rice, or keep it low-carb with cauliflower rice. The sauce is light yet deeply flavorful, combining tamari, garlic, sesame oil, and a touch of coconut sugar for balance. Thickened naturally with arrowroot flour, it coats every bite without feeling heavy or greasy.

This healthy chicken stir fry recipe is also an excellent way to use up leftover vegetables. Broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots provide crunch, color, and nutrients, but you can easily swap in what you have on hand. It’s a great meal prep option too—this stir fry reheats beautifully and tastes just as good the next day.

This dish aligns perfectly if you’re looking for an easy chicken stir fry, healthy chicken stir fry recipe and weeknight stir fry dinners. It appeals to home cooks looking for fast, wholesome meals without sacrificing flavor.

The key to a great stir fry is high heat and quick cooking. Searing the chicken first locks in moisture and gives it a golden exterior, while the vegetables stay crisp-tender rather than soggy. Once everything is tossed together with the sauce, the dish comes together in minutes, making it ideal for even the busiest evenings.

Whether you’re cooking for your family, meal prepping for the week, or simply craving a nourishing homemade dinner, this easy chicken stir fry delivers. It’s proof that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated—and that simple ingredients can create bold, satisfying flavor.

This easy chicken stir fry is simple, nourishing, and endlessly adaptable—perfect for anyone looking for a fast, healthy dinner packed with flavor.

How To Make Easy Chicken Stir Fry

The Ingredients

Chicken Breasts: Lean and protein-rich, chicken breasts cook quickly and absorb the stir fry sauce beautifully.
Substitutes: Chicken thighs for juicier meat, turkey breast, shrimp, tofu, or tempeh for a plant-based option.

Broccoli: Broccoli adds crunch, color, and fiber, making the stir fry hearty and nutritious.
Substitutes: Cauliflower, green beans, snap peas, bok choy, or asparagus.

Bell Pepper: Bell peppers bring sweetness and vibrant color to the dish.
Substitutes: Zucchini, mushrooms, snow peas, or thinly sliced cabbage.

Carrots: Carrots add subtle sweetness and a satisfying crunch.
Substitutes: Shredded cabbage, julienned sweet potato, parsnips, or radishes.

Cooked Rice or Cauliflower Rice: Rice serves as the perfect base to soak up the savory stir fry sauce.
Substitutes: Brown rice, jasmine rice, quinoa, noodles, or zucchini noodles.

Chicken Broth: Chicken broth forms the savory base of the sauce.
Substitutes: Vegetable broth, bone broth, or water with a splash of soy sauce.

Tamari: Tamari adds rich umami flavor and is naturally gluten-free.
Substitutes: Soy sauce, coconut aminos (for a lower-sodium option), or liquid aminos.

Sesame Oil: Sesame oil provides a nutty, aromatic finish that defines classic stir fry flavor.
Substitutes: Toasted sesame oil (use sparingly), peanut oil, or avocado oil.

Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar balances the salty and savory flavors with gentle sweetness.
Substitutes: Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or date syrup.

Garlic: Fresh garlic adds depth and bold flavor to the sauce.
Substitutes: Garlic paste, minced frozen garlic, or garlic powder.

Arrowroot Flour: Arrowroot flour thickens the sauce while keeping it glossy and smooth.
Substitutes: Cornstarch, tapioca starch, or all-purpose flour.

What You Need

The Steps

  • Cook your rice or noodles. I like to serve our stir fry with rice and cook it in a mixture of broth and water
  • Pat dry chicken and dice into small pieces
  • Slice peppers, chop broccoli and carrots
  • Whisk together flour and water to create a slurry; set aside. Whisk together remaining sauce ingredients and right before using it, add in the slurry.
  • In a large skillet add oil and heat on medium; once hot add chicken. Spread it apart and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. You may need to do this step in batches.
  • Once chicken is fully cooked, remove from heat and set aside
  • Add veggies to the same pan and cook for 5 minutes stirring a few times
  • Add chicken and sauce. Mix everything and let simmer for 4 minutes allowing the sauce to thicken
  • Serve over rice and option to top with hot sauce

Recipe Tips

 

Easy Chicken Stir Fry

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

Stir Fry

  • 2-3 chicken breasts
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 2 carrots
  • Cooked rice cauliflower rice, of noodles of choice

Stir Fry Sauce

  • ¼ cup vegetable or chicken broth
  • ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar pr brown sugar
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • 1 tbsp arrowroot flour or cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp water

Instructions

  • Cook your rice or noodles. I like to serve our stir fry with rice and cook it in a mixture of broth and water
  • Pat dry chicken and dice into small pieces
  • Slice peppers, chop broccoli and carrots
  • Whisk together flour and water to create a slurry; set aside. Whisk together remaining sauce ingredients and right before using it, add in the slurry.
  • In a large skillet add oil and heat on medium; once hot add chicken. Spread it apart and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. You may need to do this step in batches.
  • Once chicken is fully cooked, remove from heat and set aside
  • Add veggies to the same pan and cook for 5 minutes stirring a few times
  • Add chicken and sauce. Mix everything and let simmer for 4 minutes allowing the sauce to thicken
  • Serve over rice and option to top with hot sauce

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Recipe creator, toddler mama & wellness enthusiast. Happy&Full is a blog all about quick and easy recipes for every day living! Eating well (and feeling well) doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

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