Quick & Delicious Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry: Your New Favorite Weeknight Meal
Prepare for a culinary delight that will revolutionize your weeknight dinner routine! This sensational Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry brings together succulent, cubed chicken and an array of vibrant, crisp-tender vegetables, all coated in an irresistibly sweet and savory homemade honey garlic sauce. The best part? This entire masterpiece comes together in just about 30 minutes, right on your stovetop, making it the ultimate solution for a fast, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying meal. Forget about unhealthy takeout; with this recipe, you’ll create a dish that’s bursting with fresh flavors and wholesome ingredients, easily rivaling your favorite restaurant stir-fry.
Why This Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry Recipe Works So Well
This Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry isn’t just another dinner recipe; it’s a testament to how quick, easy, and incredibly delicious home cooking can be. At its heart, this dish features tender, bite-sized pieces of chicken, paired with a colorful medley of fresh vegetables like crisp carrots, vibrant bell peppers, wholesome broccoli florets, sweet onions, and snappy snow peas. All these wonderful ingredients are generously coated in a sweet and savory sauce that creates an explosion of flavor in every bite.
The foundation of this stir fry draws inspiration from our popular honey garlic chicken and honey garlic chicken breast recipes. However, this version takes that beloved flavor profile and transforms it into a dynamic stir-fry experience. By cubing the chicken and tossing it with a diverse selection of vegetables in a hot skillet, you achieve a delightful combination of textures – tender chicken, crisp-tender veggies, and a rich, glossy sauce – that makes for a complete and balanced meal. This technique not only enhances the overall eating experience but also ensures that the dish cooks rapidly, perfect for those busy evenings when you crave something satisfying yet quick.
What sets this stir fry apart, and why we confidently say it’s “better than takeout,” is the unparalleled freshness and control you have over the ingredients. You can select the highest quality chicken and your favorite seasonal vegetables, ensuring a meal free from excessive oils or artificial additives often found in restaurant dishes. The homemade sauce, crafted from simple pantry staples, delivers a depth of flavor that is both comforting and exciting, leaving your tastebuds completely satisfied. It’s a versatile, healthy, and incredibly flavorful meal that you’ll want to make again and again.
Essential Ingredients for Your Stir Fry
To embark on this delicious culinary journey, you’ll need a selection of fresh produce, lean protein, and common pantry items for our irresistible honey garlic sauce. You can find all precise measurements, a complete list of ingredients, and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card located at the end of this post.
Ingredient Information and Smart Substitution Ideas
Crafting the perfect stir fry means understanding your ingredients and knowing when and how to make smart substitutions. Here’s a deeper dive into the components that make this honey garlic chicken stir fry so special:
CHICKEN: For this particular recipe, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are recommended due to their lean profile and quick cooking time. The key to even cooking and tender results is to cube the chicken into pieces of roughly equal size, about 1-inch squares. This ensures every piece cooks through at the same rate. If you prefer a richer flavor and slightly more tender texture, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be an excellent substitute. Thighs are more forgiving if overcooked slightly and absorb the sauce beautifully. Other protein options include sliced beef (sirloin or flank steak), shrimp, or even firm tofu for a vegetarian twist.
VEGETABLES: The beauty of a stir fry lies in its versatility. Our recipe calls for a vibrant mix of julienned carrots, sliced red and green bell peppers, sliced onion, crisp broccoli florets, and tender snow peas. This combination offers a delightful crunch, color, and nutritional benefits. However, don’t hesitate to customize! Excellent substitutions or additions include:
- Leafy Greens: Bok choy, spinach, or kale (add towards the end of cooking).
- Mushrooms: Sliced button, cremini, shiitake, or oyster mushrooms add an earthy depth.
- Crisp Vegetables: Baby corn, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots (often found canned and pre-sliced), asparagus, or green beans.
- Root Vegetables: Thinly sliced zucchini or yellow squash for a different texture.
When substituting, consider the cooking time of different vegetables. Harder vegetables like carrots and broccoli should be added first, while softer ones like snow peas or leafy greens can be added later to maintain their crisp-tender texture.
HOMEMADE HONEY GARLIC SAUCE: This is where the magic happens! Our signature sauce combines:
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Provides the savory, umami foundation. Using low sodium allows you to control the saltiness. Tamari is a great gluten-free alternative.
- White Wine Vinegar: Adds a touch of acidity to balance the sweetness and brightens the overall flavor. Rice vinegar can be used as a substitute.
- Minced Garlic: The aromatic backbone. Freshly minced garlic yields the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar & Honey: These provide the distinctive sweetness and help create a glossy finish. Adjust amounts to your preference. Maple syrup can also be used as a vegan alternative to honey.
- Garlic Salt: Enhances the garlic flavor and contributes to the overall seasoning.
CORNSTARCH: Used in two ways in this recipe. First, a portion is tossed with the chicken before cooking. This creates a light coating that helps the chicken sear beautifully, locking in moisture and creating a slightly crispy exterior. Second, the remaining cornstarch is whisked with water to create a slurry. This slurry is crucial for thickening the sauce, giving it that desirable glossy, clingy texture that coats every piece of chicken and vegetable perfectly.
OLIVE OIL: Used for cooking the chicken and vegetables. A good quality olive oil or any other high-smoke point oil like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil works well for stir-frying.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Prepare the Signature Honey Garlic Sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients – low sodium soy sauce, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, brown sugar, honey, and garlic salt – into a small bowl. For the smoothest consistency and to ensure all ingredients are perfectly integrated, use an immersion blender or a small regular blender to blend until completely smooth. Set this flavorful sauce aside, as it will be the star of your stir fry.
- Coat the Chicken: Place your uniformly cubed boneless, skinless chicken into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle half of the measured cornstarch over the chicken. Using gloves, thoroughly mix the cornstarch with the chicken until each piece is lightly and evenly coated. This coating is crucial for developing a delicious crust and locking in moisture during cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large deep sided skillet or wok over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add the cornstarch-coated chicken to the hot skillet. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning, until it is no longer pink inside and has developed a beautiful golden crust. Ensure not to overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary to achieve proper searing.
- Stir-Fry the Vegetables: Once the chicken is cooked, add the prepared julienned carrots, sliced red and green bell peppers, sliced onion, crisp broccoli florets, and snow peas to the skillet. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for about 2-3 minutes. The goal here is to achieve crisp-tender vegetables, maintaining their vibrant color and a slight bite, characteristic of a perfect stir fry.
- Introduce the Honey Garlic Sauce: Pour the previously prepared honey garlic sauce directly into the skillet with the chicken and vegetables. Stir everything thoroughly to ensure that all the ingredients are beautifully coated in the rich, aromatic sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce with a Slurry: In a small separate bowl, whisk together the remaining cornstarch with the specified amount of water until a smooth, lump-free slurry forms. Add this slurry to the skillet and stir continuously to combine it with the sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and allow it to simmer gently. Continue to cook and stir until the sauce has visibly thickened to your desired consistency, becoming glossy and clinging to the chicken and vegetables. This step is essential for creating that perfect, restaurant-quality stir-fry sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Perfect Stir Fry
Storing your leftovers correctly is key to enjoying this delicious meal another day. Allow the stir fry to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an air-tight container. Keep it stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, gently warm it over medium-low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much. You can also microwave it, but the stovetop method yields better results for maintaining texture.
Yes, absolutely! The beauty of stir-frying is its incredible adaptability. While carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, onion, and snow peas are fantastic choices for their crunch and vibrant flavors, feel free to get creative. You can easily add in or substitute with other stir-fry friendly vegetables such as baby corn, sliced mushrooms (shiitake or cremini work wonderfully), fresh asparagus spears, crisp bok choy, or even crunchy water chestnuts. Just remember to add harder vegetables (like carrots) earlier in the cooking process and softer ones (like spinach or snow peas) later to ensure they are all perfectly crisp-tender.
Definitely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are an excellent alternative to chicken breasts in this stir fry. Thighs tend to be more forgiving, retain more moisture, and offer a slightly richer flavor profile. The cooking method remains the same; just ensure they are cubed uniformly for even cooking.
If you love a kick, it’s easy to add some heat to this honey garlic stir fry. You can incorporate red pepper flakes into the sauce when blending, or add them directly to the skillet with the vegetables. A dash of sriracha or a spoonful of chili garlic sauce can also be mixed into the finished stir fry or offered on the side for individual preference.
Absolutely! This is a great time-saving strategy for busy weeknights. You can:
- Chop all your vegetables and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- Cube the chicken and keep it refrigerated. Coat it with cornstarch just before cooking.
- Prepare the honey garlic sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Give it a good whisk or blend again before using.
This meal prep will make the 30-minute cooking time even faster!
For optimal stir-fry results, a large wok is ideal due to its high sides and ability to retain and distribute heat evenly. However, a large, deep-sided skillet (like a cast-iron skillet or a non-stick skillet) works perfectly fine for this recipe, especially if you don’t have a wok. Ensure your pan is large enough to avoid overcrowding, which can steam rather than sear your ingredients.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
This honey garlic chicken stir fry is a complete meal in itself, but it truly shines when served alongside a complementary base. Traditionally, it pairs wonderfully over a bed of fluffy white rice, aromatic jasmine rice, or nutty brown rice. For those who love noodles, it’s exquisite with lo mein or our homemade Chow Mein noodles. For a healthier or low-carb option, consider serving it over cauliflower rice or quinoa. Don’t forget to garnish your vibrant dish with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for added texture and flavor, and some thinly sliced green onions for a fresh, pungent finish. A dash of fresh cilantro or a drizzle of sesame oil can also elevate the experience. For a more elaborate meal, serve it with some homemade egg rolls or spring rolls.
More Fantastic Stir Fry Recipes to Try
If you’ve enjoyed the ease and flavors of this honey garlic chicken stir fry, you’ll be thrilled to explore more delicious stir-fry creations from our kitchen. These recipes are perfect for expanding your repertoire of quick and satisfying Asian-inspired meals:
- Beef Teriyaki
- Orange Chicken
- Hunan Chicken
- Pork Fried Rice
- Citrus Pepper Shrimp
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Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed/sliced
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch divided
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup julienned carrots
- ½ cup sliced red bell peppers
- ½ cup sliced green bell peppers
- 1 cup sliced onion
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- ½ cup snow peas
- ¼ cup water
Sauce Ingredients
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
Things You’ll Need
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Large deep sided skillet
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immersion blender
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Vinyl gloves
Before You Begin
- Try to cube the chicken in equal sizes for even cooking.
- Carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, onion, and snow peas are great stir-fry veggies. Feel free to add in or substitute with other vegetables such as baby corn, mushroom, asparagus, bok choy, or even water chestnuts.
- Store cooled leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat over medium-low heat on the stovetop.
Instructions
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Add all sauce ingredients to an immersion blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
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Place cubed chicken into a large bowl and sprinkle with half of the cornstarch. Mix together with gloved hands.
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Heat olive oil in a large deep sided skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add cubed chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains.
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Add carrots, red and green bell pepper, onion, broccoli, and snow peas. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes.
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Add sauce to the skillet and stir to mix well.
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Whisk remaining cornstarch with the water together in a small bowl to make a slurry. Add the slurry to the skillet and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.