Last Updated on November 22, 2025 by Michelle Mundy
Quick & Easy Stir fry is a hearty and healthy family dinner that uses whatever veggies and meat that you have on hand. Simple and delicious!
One of our favorite ways to enjoy fresh vegetables and eat a little healthier is this Quick and Easy Stir Fry.
Completely customizable to what your family likes and to what you have on hand, it makes a perfect healthy weeknight choice.
We love this with chicken, but it is also great with shrimp. Any assortment of fresh stir fry veggies will work but we always add in water chestnuts and baby corn so it tastes just a little more like takeout!
What you’ll need to make Quick & Easy Stir Fry
- Cornstarch – This is what we use to thicken the sauce while it cooks.
- Fresh Ginger – One tablespoon of fresh grated ginger or 2 teaspoons of ground ginger.
- Fresh Garlic – 2 cloves, about 1 teaspoon of minced garlic. You can substitute garlic paste or chopped garlic, or in a pinch, use 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Brown Sugar – We use light brown sugar, packed.
- Soy Sauce – Low sodium or regular soy sauce may be used. Feel free to substitute coco aminos if you prefer.
- Rice Vinegar – We use seasoned rice vinegar. This is less acidic and milder than other vinegars and has a slightly sweet and sour flavor.
- Sesame Oil – Common in Asian dishes, a little goes a long way. This has a nutty and earthy taste.
- Chicken Broth – Vegetable or beef broth may be used instead if that is what you have available.
- Protein – We use chicken and shrimp most often Additional choices listed below.
- Salt & Pepper – To taste.
- Olive Oil – We use extra virgin olive oil but any olive oil, avocado oil, vegetable oil or canola oil may be used for this recipe.
- Assorted Stir Fry Vegetables – We use a mixture of 6-8 cups of any of the vegetables listed below.
- For Serving – Cooked rice, chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Which vegetables should i use in a stir fry?
- Broccoli florets
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Green onions
- Mushrooms
- Carrots
- Snow peas or snap peas
- Peppers
- Bok choy
- Bean sprouts
- Baby corn
- Water chestnuts
- Anything else you want!
What protein is good in a stir fry?
- Chicken
- Shrimp
- Beef
- Edamame
- Pork
- Tofu
How to make Quick & Easy Stir Fry
In our house, a stir fry is a delicious and easy way to use up all of the vegetables in the crisper.
Add some chicken or shrimp, mix up a simple stir fry sauce, and it’s a great family weeknight dinner!
In a medium size bowl, whisk together Simple Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients and set aside or refrigerate for later.
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat in a wok or large skillet.
Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium and add remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet.
Add stir fry veggies and cook, stirring occasionally, just until veggies are crisp tender, about 5 minutes.
Add chicken and any accumulated juices back into the skillet and stir.
Whisk stir fry sauce so it is well blended then pour over the contents of the skillet. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
Heat to a boil and allow to cook for at least 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the corn starch to thicken the sauce.
Serve immediately over rice. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week. Enjoy!
Other Favorite Weeknight Recipes
Creamy Chicken Linguine with Brie – chicken and creamy pasta with hints of fennel and lemon.
Easy Instant Pot Mongolian Beef – This is a delicious take on traditional Mongolian Beef that takes a fraction of the time and has delicious results!
Simple Weeknight Meatloaf – Simple and easy comfort food that is a throwback to childhood and a piece of cake to throw together on a weeknight. You can make it the night before and just pop it in the oven too!
Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili– This is a basic chili recipe with few ingredients but sometimes uncomplicated is the most delicious!
Spinach and Sausage Spaghetti Pie– With Italian sausage and spinach hidden inside this is an unexpectedly good (and super easy!) weeknight creation that the entire family will love.
Quick & Easy Stir Fry
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium size bowl, whisk together Simple Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients and set aside or refrigerate for later.
- Heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat in a wok or large skillet.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and add remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet.
- Add stir fry veggies and cook, stirring occasionally, just until veggies are crisp tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add chicken and any accumulated juices back into the skillet and stir.
- Whisk stir fry sauce so it is well blended then pour over the contents of the skillet. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Heat to a boil and allow to cook for at least 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the corn starch to thicken the sauce.
- Serve immediately. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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