Easy Chicken Stir-Fry: A Quick Dinner for Busy Nights

Looking for a delicious and quick dinner option that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes? Our Easy Chicken Stir-Fry is the perfect recipe to try out! This dish is packed with flavor, rich in nutrients, and easy to customize based on your taste preferences. Whether you're a busy professional or a student who needs something nutritious for dinner after a long day, this stir-fry will be just what you need.

To make this dish, all you’ll need are simple ingredients that most of us already have in our kitchen pantry. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

3 chicken breasts (about 8 oz each)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ginger powder
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3 carrots, sliced thinly
1 bell pepper (any color), sliced into strips
2 cups broccoli florets
1 onion, sliced finely
1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening sauce)
Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

Preheat your wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and let it shimmer. This is essential for the stir-fry process to go smoothly.
Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and add them to the pan. Stir-fry until they're golden brown on all sides, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Remove cooked chicken from heat but keep it warm on a plate. Set aside.
In the same wok or skillet where you fried the chicken, add another tablespoon of sesame oil and sauté onions until they soften slightly. This will help enhance the overall flavor of your dish. Once the onions are soft, stir in garlic powder and ginger powder for an extra kick.
Add carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli florets to the wok. Stir-fry them over medium heat until they're tender-crisp, which should take about 5 minutes or less depending on the freshness of your vegetables. The goal here is not to overcook them.
While the veggies are cooking, mix together soy sauce and cornstarch in a bowl until well combined. This mixture will serve as our tasty stir-fry sauce. Once you've made this mixture, pour it into the wok with the vegetables once they're done. Stir everything thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
Add back in the cooked chicken pieces and stir gently but firmly until everything is well mixed together and heated through. Season with salt according to your liking if needed (this step ensures that the dish gets that perfect balance of flavors).

Cooking Time & Servings

This Easy Chicken Stir-Fry takes approximately 30 minutes from start to finish, making it a quick and efficient meal for busy nights. It yields about 4 servings which can be adjusted based on how many people will be enjoying the dish.

How to Make It Healthy

If you're looking to make this dish even healthier, consider adding more vegetables such as snap peas or green beans. Also, try using less oil or substituting it with a heart-healthy alternative like olive oil. If you're watching your salt intake, reduce the amount used during seasoning without compromising on taste.

Storage & Reheating

If you have leftovers after dinner, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate within two hours of cooking. This stir-fry should last for up to five days when kept chilled properly. To reheat the dish later on, simply place it in a microwave-safe dish and heat until heated through. Alternatively, you could also warm it up gently over low heat if preferred.

Easy Chicken Stir-Fry is not only quick but also incredibly versatile. You can switch things up by changing the type of protein used (like tofu or shrimp), adding different sauces like hoisin sauce instead of soy sauce, or incorporating various spices and seasonings according to your preferences.

By following these simple steps, you'll have a hearty, satisfying meal that's ready in no time. Give it a try tonight and enjoy its delightful blend of flavors!