Effortless 15-Minute Soy Chicken with Zesty Lemon Rice & Crisp Bok Choy Stir-Fry: Your Ultimate Weeknight Asian Meal
After a long, demanding day, the last thing you want is to spend hours in the kitchen, yet the desire for a delicious, wholesome meal for your family remains. Imagine a dinner that is not only incredibly flavorful and satisfying but also remarkably quick to prepare. Look no further! This **15-Minute Soy Chicken with Zesty Lemon Rice and Crisp Bok Choy Stir-Fry** is the culinary solution you’ve been searching for.
It promises a vibrant, Asian-inspired experience, packed with nutrients, all ready to grace your dinner table in an astonishingly fast **15 minutes**. This isn’t just another quick meal; it’s a culinary triumph that brings together the best of sweet, sticky soy-glazed chicken, bright and aromatic lemon-infused rice, and perfectly stir-fried, crunchy bok choy. Every component of this dish is designed to harmonize, creating a symphony of textures and tastes that will delight both adults and picky eaters alike. It’s the kind of uncomplicated, rapid recipe that consistently delivers on flavor, making it an instant favorite for any busy weeknight.
This recipe is a true game-changer, proving that you don’t need to sacrifice taste or health for speed. The combination of savory chicken, fragrant rice, and fresh greens makes for a balanced meal that is both comforting and exciting. Get ready to add this incredible **quick Asian dinner** to your regular rotation!

The Inspiration Behind This Easy Soy Chicken Stir-Fry with Lemon Rice
The inspiration behind this delightful **Easy Soy Chicken Stir-Fry with Lemon Rice** recipe stems from a cherished food blogger tradition: a monthly ‘blog swap’ event where fellow culinary enthusiasts explore each other’s creations and infuse them with their unique flair. I had the pleasure of discovering a treasure trove of recipes on ‘Thuiskok,’ a wonderful blog by Hanneke and Jolien (which, regrettably, is no longer active). Among many enticing options, this particular combination of flavors and its promise of speed immediately captured my attention.
At our home, there’s an undeniable adoration for **Asian-inspired dishes**. The compelling interplay of savory, sweet, and umami notes, especially when paired with tender proteins and fresh, vibrant vegetables, is always a guaranteed hit. There’s something inherently comforting and exciting about the balance found in this cuisine. This dish, with its perfectly seasoned, slightly salty chicken, bright and herbaceous lemon rice, and crisp, wholesome stir-fried bok choy, embodies that perfect culinary balance.
Moreover, on those hectic days when mental energy for complex meal planning is scarce, having a reliable, go-to recipe is invaluable. This **quick chicken stir-fry** is precisely that—a steadfast recipe that consistently delivers a satisfying, healthy, and flavorful dinner without demanding extensive effort or time. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly special, making it an ideal choice for a stress-free weeknight.
Expert Tips & Tricks for the Best Quick Asian Chicken Dinner With Bok Choy and Rice
- Pat the chicken dry before cooking: This crucial step helps remove excess moisture from the chicken pieces, leading to less oil splatter and, more importantly, a beautiful, golden-brown sear. A well-browned exterior significantly enhances the overall flavor and texture of your **soy chicken**.
- Let lemongrass cook with the rice for a fresh lemon flavor: For an elevated, incredibly fresh, and subtly citrusy flavor, add a bruised stick of lemongrass directly into the cooking water. The heat will help release its essential oils, permeating the rice with an irresistible aroma. No lemongrass? Just skip it, or add a piece of lemon zest for a similar bright touch.
- Want a sticky sauce? Let it reduce until it clings to the chicken: The hallmark of a truly delicious **sticky soy chicken** is a thick, glossy sauce. To achieve this, ensure you allow the sauce to simmer and reduce adequately. This process concentrates flavors and thickens the sauce naturally, making it cling enticingly to the chicken pieces.
- Don’t overcook the bok choy: Bok choy is best when tender-crisp. Stir-fry it just until it’s cooked through but still retains a slight bite. This ensures a pleasant contrast to the soft rice and tender chicken, preventing it from becoming watery and losing its vibrant color.
- Leftover chicken or veggies? Use them here: This recipe is incredibly adaptable! If you happen to have leftover cooked chicken (shredded or diced) or other suitable vegetables from a previous meal, don’t hesitate to incorporate them to save even more time.
- No bok choy? Try spinach, napa cabbage, or broccoli: If you don’t have bok choy on hand, excellent alternatives include fresh spinach (add at the very end), crisp napa cabbage (slice thinly and stir-fry similarly), or even broccoli florets (par-boil or steam slightly before stir-frying for best results).

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Need more inspiration for your next meal? Look no further for exciting new ideas:
- You can find a variety of inspiring video recipes on my YouTube channel, perfect for visual learners.
- And don’t forget to save your favorite recipes on Pinterest! This way, you can easily find them again next time you’re planning your meals and ensure you never lose track of a fantastic dish like this **15-minute chicken stir-fry**!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
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Andréa
Pin Recipe
5
minutes
10
minutes
15
minutes
Dinner
Asian
4
persons
699
kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
Rice with lemon flavor
-
1
stick
lemongrass -
1
pound
brown rice
Soy sauce chicken
-
1
pound
chicken breast,
into cubes -
1
teaspoon
Chinese five-spice powder -
¼
teaspoon
salt -
1
tablespoon
sunflower oil -
3
tablespoons
Kecap Manis,
sweet soy sauce -
2
tablespoons
Japanese soy sauce -
2
tablespoons
sweet chili sauce -
1
cup
water
Stir-fry bok choy
-
1
tablespoon
vegetable oil -
1
onion,
finely chopped -
1
clove
garlic,
squeezed -
2
bushes
bok choy,
washed and sliced -
salt and pepper,
at taste
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
US Customary
Instructions
Cook the lemon rice.
-
Smash the lemongrass with the side of a knife to release its aromatic oils.1 stick lemongrass -
Bring a large pan of water to a boil, then add the brown rice and the bruised lemongrass stick. Cook according to the package directions until tender.1 pound brown rice -
Once the rice is cooked, carefully remove the lemongrass stick. Let the rice rest, covered with a lid, for a few minutes to steam perfectly.Tip: No lemongrass? You can still achieve a lovely fresh touch by adding a piece of lemon zest to the cooking water instead.
Prepare the soy chicken (at the same time as the rice).
-
Thoroughly pat the chicken breast dry with paper towels and cut it into uniform cubes. Season generously with the Chinese five-spice powder and a little salt.1 pound chicken breast,
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder,
¼ teaspoon salt -
Heat the sunflower oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken pieces and brown them on all sides, which should take about 4 minutes.1 tablespoon sunflower oil -
Once the chicken is browned, pour in the Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce), Japanese soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, and water into the pan. Stir well to combine.3 tablespoons Kecap Manis,
2 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce,
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce,
1 cup water -
Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the chicken cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and become beautifully glossy, coating each piece of chicken with a delicious sticky glaze.
Stir-fry the bok choy (while the chicken is simmering).
-
While the chicken is simmering, heat the vegetable oil in a separate wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering.1 tablespoon vegetable oil -
Add the finely chopped onion and squeezed garlic to the hot oil. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.1 onion,
1 clove garlic -
Slice the washed bok choy into strips, separating the white stems from the green leaves. Add the bok choy to the pan.2 bushes bok choy -
Stir-fry the bok choy for about 3 minutes, or until it’s just tender-crisp and vibrant green. Avoid overcooking to maintain its satisfying crunch. -
Season the stir-fried bok choy with salt and pepper to taste.salt and pepper
Notes
- **Refrigerator Storage:** For best quality, store any leftover chicken, lemon rice, and stir-fried bok choy in separate, airtight containers. This helps prevent flavors from melding unnecessarily and keeps each component fresh. When stored correctly, they will remain fresh and delicious for up to 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
- **Reheating Instructions:**
- **Chicken and Bok Choy:** For the chicken and vegetables, gently reheat them in a non-stick pan over medium heat with a tiny splash of water or a drop of oil. This helps to rehydrate the sauce and prevent drying. Stir occasionally until thoroughly heated through.
- **Lemon Rice:** Rice can sometimes dry out when reheated. To keep your lemon rice moist and fluffy, transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl, add a tablespoon of water or broth, and cover it with a damp paper towel or a microwave-safe lid. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until piping hot.
- **Freezer Storage (Make Ahead Friendly!):** This meal is also fantastic for meal prepping! You can freeze the cooked chicken, rice, and bok choy separately in freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags for up to 2 months. To thaw, transfer components overnight to the refrigerator, then reheat as described above.
Nutrition
Calories:
699
kcal
Carbohydrates:
108
g
Protein:
34
g
Fat:
13
g
Saturated Fat:
2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat:
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat:
6
g
Trans Fat:
0.04
g
Cholesterol:
73
mg
Sodium:
1131
mg
Fiber:
5
g
Sugar:
15
g
Vitamin A:
60
IU
Vitamin C:
4
mg
Iron:
3
mg
a dinner recipe with chicken, quick chicken meal, healthy Asian recipe
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