Why This Chicken Stir-Fry Will Become Your Family Favorite

As someone who adores quick and flavorful meals, this chicken stir-fry has earned a top spot in my recipe collection for hectic evenings. What makes it so utterly irresistible? It’s all about the balance: the rich, umami depth from savory soy sauce, the distinctive nutty aroma of sesame oil, and just a hint of dark brown sugar creating that perfect sweet-savory harmony. This incredible sauce beautifully coats every piece of tender chicken and infuses the bouncy noodles and crunchy vegetables with an explosion of flavor.

Beyond its fantastic taste, the simplicity of this dish is a major win. Everything cooks up beautifully in a single wok or large pan, drastically cutting down on cleanup time—a genuine blessing after a long day. The fresh broccoli and sweet carrots provide a delightful crunch and a wealth of nutrients, while the noodles eagerly soak up every drop of that delicious, aromatic sauce. This recipe is also incredibly versatile, allowing you to easily swap out vegetables based on what’s fresh in your fridge or what your family prefers. It’s a fantastic way to introduce more greens into your diet without sacrificing comfort or taste. Prepare to impress everyone at the dinner table with this quick, satisfying, and endlessly customizable meal!

Mastering the Perfect Stir-Fry: Tips and Tricks

Creating a restaurant-quality stir-fry at home is simpler than you think, especially with a few key techniques. The secret lies in preparation and heat. First, ensure all your ingredients are prepped and ready before you even turn on the stove. This is called “mise en place” and it’s essential for stir-frying, as the cooking process is incredibly fast. Chop your chicken, slice your vegetables, and mix your sauce in advance. This ensures a smooth, seamless cooking experience without any last-minute scrambling.

Next, heat is crucial. A wok or large skillet needs to be piping hot to achieve that signature stir-fry char and quick cooking. Don’t be afraid of high heat! When you add your ingredients, avoid overcrowding the pan. Cooking in smaller batches, if necessary, allows the ingredients to stir-fry and caramelize rather than steam. This is key for developing rich flavors and maintaining the wonderful texture of your chicken and vegetables. Finally, continuous stirring is vital to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. With these simple tips, you’ll be whipping up professional-level stir-fries in no time!

1. Step 1: Prep the Noodles & Sauce Base. Begin by cooking your chosen noodles according to the package directions. While they cook, prepare your flavorful marinade: in a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, a pinch of salt and pepper, and cornstarch. This forms the base of your stir-fry sauce and helps to tenderize the chicken.

2. Step 2: Marinate the Chicken. Once your sauce base is ready, add your bite-sized chicken cubes to the bowl. Stir them thoroughly until each piece is beautifully coated in the marinade. This short marination step is key to ensuring tender, flavorful chicken that cooks quickly.

3. Step 3: Stir-Fry Chicken & Veggies. Heat a wok or large pan over high heat, then add your cooking oil. Once shimmering, add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until it’s beautifully browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside. In the same wok, add your prepared vegetables (broccoli, carrots, leek), along with water, Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce), and rice vinegar. Bring this mixture to a boil, then stir-fry for about 4 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.

4. Step 4: Combine & Serve. Return the cooked noodles and chicken to the wok with the vegetables. Drizzle in the sesame oil and sprinkle in the sugar. Mix everything together thoroughly, ensuring every ingredient is coated in the rich, glossy sauce. Heat for another minute or two until everything is piping hot. Serve immediately and get ready for rave reviews!

Essential Ingredients for Your Flavorful Chicken Stir-Fry

Every great stir-fry starts with fresh, quality ingredients. For this recipe, we focus on a harmonious blend of protein, noodles, and crisp vegetables, all brought together by a dynamic sauce. Here’s a closer look at what makes this dish so special:

Protein Perfection: Chicken

We use chicken breast, cut into small, uniform cubes, for its lean profile and quick cooking time. This ensures each piece is tender and fully absorbs the marinade. If you prefer a richer flavor, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be a fantastic alternative, offering a bit more juiciness and a slightly longer cooking time.

Noodle Nirvana: The Base of Your Dish

Egg noodles are the classic choice for this stir-fry, providing a wonderful chewy texture that soaks up the sauce beautifully. You can also experiment with other types of noodles like ramen, udon, or even rice noodles for a gluten-free option. Just be sure to cook them al dente according to package instructions before adding them to the wok.

Vibrant Veggies: Freshness and Crunch

Our go-to vegetables for this recipe are nutrient-packed broccoli florets, thinly sliced carrots for a touch of sweetness and color, and thinly sliced leek for a mild, oniony flavor. These vegetables not only add essential vitamins and fiber but also provide a delightful textural contrast to the soft noodles and tender chicken. Feel free to customize! Bell peppers (any color), sugar snap peas, mushrooms, baby corn, or green beans are all excellent additions or substitutions.

The All-Important Sauce: Sweet, Savory, and Umami

The magic truly happens in the sauce. It’s a carefully crafted blend that hits all the right notes:

• Japanese Soy Sauce: Provides the foundational savory, umami flavor.
• Cornstarch: Acts as a thickening agent, giving the sauce a glossy, clingy texture that coats every ingredient beautifully.
• Kecap Manis: This is a sweet Indonesian soy sauce, thicker and more syrupy than regular soy sauce. It adds a unique depth of sweetness and a beautiful sheen. If you don’t have it, don’t worry! You can easily make a substitute: for every 3 tablespoons of light soy sauce, add 1 tablespoon of honey and ½ tablespoon of dark brown sugar.
• Rice Vinegar: Adds a crucial touch of acidity to balance the sweetness and richness of the other ingredients.
• Sesame Oil: Drizzled in at the end, it imparts a distinct nutty aroma and flavor that is quintessential to Asian stir-fries.
• Sugar: (In addition to the Kecap Manis) enhances the sweetness and helps with caramelization.
• Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to bring out all the flavors.

Serving & Customizing Your Delicious Stir-Fry

Once your chicken stir-fry is hot and glistening, it’s ready to be devoured! Serve it straight from the wok into individual bowls. For an extra flourish and burst of freshness, consider garnishing with:

• Freshly chopped green onions or scallions
• A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds
• A handful of fresh cilantro
• Extra slices of lemon or lime for a zesty squeeze
• A drizzle of sriracha or a pinch of chili flakes for those who love a spicy kick

Endless Variations to Explore:

This recipe is incredibly adaptable, encouraging you to make it your own!

• Spice it Up: For a delightful heat, add a teaspoon of sriracha or a generous pinch of red chili flakes to your sauce. You can also include finely minced fresh ginger and garlic at the beginning of the stir-fry for an extra aromatic layer.
• Alternative Proteins: While chicken is fantastic, feel free to swap it out for other proteins. Shrimp (cook for less time), thinly sliced beef or pork, or firm tofu cubes (pressed and stir-fried until golden) all work wonderfully with this sauce.
• Veggie Extravaganza: Don’t limit yourself to just broccoli, carrots, and leek! Expand your vegetable horizons with bell peppers of any color, sugar snap peas, sliced mushrooms, baby corn, water chestnuts, or even bamboo shoots. The key is to cut them into similar sizes for even cooking.
• Kecap Manis Substitute: As mentioned in the ingredient section, if you don’t have Kecap Manis, combine 3 tablespoons of light soy sauce with 1 tablespoon of honey and 1/2 tablespoon of dark brown sugar for a homemade alternative.
• Make Ahead Tips: For ultimate weeknight convenience, you can prep the vegetables by chopping them in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. The chicken can also be marinated a few hours ahead of time, or even overnight, to infuse it with even more flavor. While stir-fries are best enjoyed fresh for optimal texture, these prep steps significantly reduce cooking time.

Storage and Reheating Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers (a rare occurrence with this delicious stir-fry!), storing them properly will ensure they remain tasty for another meal. Allow the stir-fry to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

To reheat, the best method is to use a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tiny splash of oil (or water/broth) and stir-fry the leftovers for a few minutes until heated through, stirring frequently. This helps to re-crisp the vegetables and noodles. You can also microwave it, but the texture might be slightly softer. Enjoy your second serving!

📖 Recipe

RECIPE CARD

Easy Chicken Stir-Fry with Noodles and Veggies

Andréa

Busy weeknight? No worries! This easy chicken stir-fry with noodles and veggies will make your dinner stress-free. With tender chicken, crunchy vegetables, and a sweet, savory sauce, it’s a dish you’ll want to make over and over. The best part? It’s ready in just 15 minutes. Perfect for those hectic days when you need a quick and tasty meal. Serve it to your family, and I bet they’ll be asking for seconds!

5 of 2 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4 persons

Calories 790 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound egg noodles
• ▢ 1½ teaspoon cornstarch
• ▢ salt and pepper, to taste
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Japanese soy sauce
• ▢ 1 pound chicken breast, cut into small cubes
• ▢ 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• ▢ 1¼ pound broccoli, small florets
• ▢ 3 carrots, thin slices
• ▢ 1 leek, thin slices
• ▢ ½ cup water
• ▢ 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Kecap Manis, or sweet soy sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• ▢ 1½ tablespoon sugar
• ▢ 1 lemon, sliced

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.

Metric – US Customary

Instructions

• ▢
  Put a pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil.
• ▢
  Add the noodles and cook until done. Drain and set aside.
  1 pound egg noodles
• ▢
  In a bowl, mix the cornstarch, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
  1½ teaspoon cornstarch, salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon Japanese soy sauce
• ▢
  Add the chicken pieces and stir until evenly coated.
  1 pound chicken breast
• ▢
  Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or large pan over high heat.
  2 tablespoons sunflower oil
• ▢
  Stir-fry the chicken, stirring constantly, until browned and cooked through.
• ▢
  Remove the chicken from the wok and set it aside.
• ▢
  Add the broccoli, carrots, and leek to the wok.
  1¼ pound broccoli, 3 carrots, 1 leek
• ▢
  Pour in water, rice vinegar, and Kecap Manis.
  ½ cup water, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon Kecap Manis
• ▢
  Bring to a boil and stir-fry for about 4 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
• ▢
  Add the cooked noodles to the wok.
• ▢
  Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with sugar. Stir well.
  1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1½ tablespoon sugar
• ▢
  Return the cooked chicken to the wok. Stir everything together to combine.
• ▢
  Serve immediately. Garnish with a slice of lemon for extra flavor if desired. Enjoy your meal!
  1 lemon

Notes

1. Spicy Option: Like it hot? Add sriracha or chili flakes to kick it up a notch.

2. Protein Choices: This recipe works well with chicken breasts or thighs, but you can also use shrimp, beef, pork, or tofu for variety.

3. Vegetable Swaps: Don’t like broccoli? No problem! Green beans, bell peppers, or sugar snap peas are great alternatives. Use your favorite veggies or whatever you have on hand.

4. Kecap manis: A sweet Indonesian soy sauce. If you don’t have Kecap Manis at home, but you do have light soy sauce, low sodium soy sauce, or dark soy sauce? Then add one tablespoon of honey and half a tablespoon of extra brown sugar to three tablespoons of soy sauce.

5. Can I make this stir-fry ahead of time? Can I make this stir-fry ahead of time? It’s best fresh for the perfect texture, but you can prep the veggies and marinate the chicken in advance to save time.

Nutrition

Calories: 790kcalCarbohydrates: 110gProtein: 46gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 168mgSodium: 578mgFiber: 10gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 9007IUVitamin C: 147mgIron: 4mg

Keyword a dinner recipe with chicken, a fast dinner recipe, chicken stir-fry, noodles, vegetables, weeknight meal, easy stir-fry, Asian food, quick meal

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