When weeknight dinners need to be quick, this Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry is your ticket to a fast, tasty and vibrant dinner for the whole family. Packed with tender chicken, colorful vegetables and a sticky-sweet sauce, this dish takes under 30 minutes to prepare and is better than takeout!
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What's the secret to this sizzling sweet and savory chicken stir fry? The homemade marinade, of course! With sweet notes from honey and brown sugar and tangy soy sauce and vinegar, it strikes the perfect balance of tangy, salty and sweet!
This stir fry chicken dish isn't just tasty; it's also a nutritious weeknight option. With lean protein and vitamins, it's a balanced meal that's both satisfying and energizing.
If you like this easy dinner recipe, you'll love this creamy Chicken and Mushrooms recipe, this Bourbon Chicken, our Pepper Steak Recipe, and our Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole.
Why You'll Love This Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
- Quick to Prepare: Bring this vibrant, aromatic dish to the table in less than 30 minutes. It'll be your family's new favorite go-to meal.
- Highly Customizable: Make this chicken teriyaki stir fry vegetarian with tofu, or switch up the veggies for your own personal touch. This recipe adapts to all kinds of preferences and diets!
- Nutritious and Colorful: Packed with lean protein from the chicken and vitamins from the colorful bell peppers, snow peas, and broccoli, this dish is visually appealing and nourishing.
- Budget Friendly: With a handful of affordable ingredients, this healthy meal costs much less than ordering takeout.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breast: Cooking with boneless, skinless chicken breast cuts down on prep and cook time. Cut into 1-inch cubes for even cooking and easy bites.
- Water Chestnuts: These add a mild, slightly nutty crunch that contrasts well with the rest of the dish. Canned water chestnuts are widely sold in the Asian or canned vegetable aisle at your local supermarket.
- Other Vegetables: Snow peas, red bell peppers and broccoli add natural sweetness and crunch, each adding its own unique texture to the stir fry teriyaki chicken dish.
- Aromatics: Fresh garlic and ginger infuse the dish with warmth and a slightly savory kick while a bit of salt, pepper, and onion powder season the chicken.
- Soy Sauce and Vinegar: This duo brings the tang and umami that define a good teriyaki sauce, balancing the sweeter ingredients.
- Sesame Oil: This ingredient adds a nuttiness that deepens the stir fry chicken teriyaki dish's flavor.
- Sweeteners: The brown sugar thickens the marinade, while honey gives it a sticky consistency and some floral notes. Together, they balance the savory profile of the dish.
- Cornstarch: This thickener ensures the teriyaki mixture coats the chicken and vegetables evenly.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Experiment with Different Proteins: Try shrimp, beef, or pork for a different taste and texture. For a vegetarian version, use tofu or tempeh, which absorbs the flavors well, making the dish just as satisfying.
- Veggies and Fruits: Customize with seasonal produce like earthy mushrooms or crunchy bok choy. Fruits like pineapple or mango will bring additional sweetness to the chicken teriyaki recipe.
- Spice it Up: Craving a spicy kick? Sriracha, chili flakes, or chili paste is great for adding heat to your plate!
- Herby Toppings: In addition to topping with sesame seeds, garnish with chives, cilantro, mint, Thai basil, or parsley for fresh flavor and extra color.
- Serve with Noodles: Swap the rice base for noodles. Try soba, vermicelli, or udon for a different texture!
How to Make Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Ready to make it sizzle in your kitchen? Gather your ingredients, chop the veggies and chicken, and preheat your favorite skillet to medium-high heat!
- Step 1: Make the Sauce. Add the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, honey, garlic, and cornstarch to a bowl and whisk until there are no lumps.
- Step 2: Sauté the Veggies. Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in your preheated skillet. Add the chopped chestnuts, snow peas, bell pepper, and broccoli to the pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes.
- Step 3: Cook the Chicken. Melt the remaining butter in the same pan and season the chicken with the pepper, salt, and onion powder. Cook for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned.
- Step 4: Bring Back the Veggies. Add the garlic to the pan and sauté for 30 seconds, then add the red bell peppers, broccoli, and snow peas back to the skillet and stir a bit to combine together.
- Step 5: Combine and Finish. Pour in the sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes, and stir until it thickens.
- Step 6: Serve and Enjoy. Serve over a bed of rice, sprinkle sesame seeds on top, and enjoy!
Hint: Marinate the Chicken!
Take your stir fry up a notch! Marinate the chicken in a bit of the marinade for 15-20 minutes before cooking to infuse that savory-sweetness even more.
Serving Suggestions
Here are the best ways my family and I like to enjoy this Teriyaki Stir Fry Chicken Recipe.
- Pair it with a side of Asian Coconut Rice, and for the kids, serve it with a side of crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots!
- I love this dish for serving a crowd or to carry along to weekly potlucks, alongside a comforting side dish, like my Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
- Serve in lettuce to make lettuce wraps for a quick, light lunch or over your favorite Asian noodles!
- Enjoy homemade take out and pair this dish with other Asian-inspired favorites such as egg rolls, dumplings, Beef Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Honey Sesame Chicken!
Expert Tips
- 'Mise en Place': French for "putting in place". Stir-frying is fast-paced, so have all ingredients chopped, measured and ready-to-go beforehand to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Use High Heat: High heat sears the chicken and veggies, keeping them crisp, locking in their flavors and sealing in their juices.
- Veggie Textures: Sauté for a short time for crunch and longer for softness. Specifically, for crunchy water chestnuts, add them towards the end of the veggie cooking process.
- Storing: After the easy chicken teriyaki stir fry cools completely, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it before reheating in the microwave for best results.
Recipe FAQs
When adding the garlic to high heat, stir often in the hot pan to avoid burning. This is key as garlic is quite bitter if it burns.
Absolutely! Preparing the marinade in advance will enhance its flavors even more. Make it in advance, store it in the fridge for up to 1 week, and stir it well before using.
While fresh is preferred, frozen are often more convenient. Frozen veggies retain their nutrients and can work well. Just be mindful, they may release more liquid during the cooking process.
More Deliciously Easy Dinner Recipes
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Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 8 ounces sliced water chestnuts drained
- ½ cup snow peas
- 1 medium red bell pepper sliced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 3 tablespoons garlic minced
Teriyaki Sauce
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Add soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, honey, garlic, and cornstarch to a medium bowl. Whisk until there are no lumps and set aside.
- Heat two tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add water chestnuts, snow peas, bell pepper, and broccoli to skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove and place on a plate and cover.
- Add remaining butter and melt. Season chicken with black pepper, salt, and onion powder. Then, add to skillet and cook 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned.
- Add garlic to the pan and saute for 30 seconds. Add vegetables back into the skillet, stirring occasionally.
- Pour the prepared teriyaki sauce over the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, occasionally stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Serve over rice and garnish with sesame seeds.
Notes
- 'Mise en Place': French for "putting in place". Stir-frying is fast-paced, so have all ingredients chopped, measured and ready-to-go beforehand to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Use High Heat: High heat sears the chicken and veggies, keeping them crisp, locking in their flavors and sealing in their juices.
- Veggie Textures: Sauté for a short time for crunch and longer for softness. Specifically, for crunchy water chestnuts, add them towards the end of the veggie cooking process.
- Storing: After the easy chicken teriyaki stir fry cools completely, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it before reheating in the microwave for best results.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen
This yummy stir fry is so easy to make and is one of my new go to recipes.