12 Easy Chicken Stir Fry Recipes for Busy Weeknights!

When it comes to quick, healthy, and downright delicious dinners, nothing beats a good chicken stir fry. It’s fast, it’s flavorful, and it hits all the right spots after a busy day. With so many options to choose from, stir fry is the ultimate weeknight dinner hero. Whether you’re craving sweet, spicy, or something a little tangy, these 12 Best Chicken Stir Fry Recipes will have you covered!

As someone who’s made stir fry at least twice a week for years (yes, it’s that versatile), I’ve perfected these recipes to ensure maximum flavor with minimal effort. 

These recipes are amongst the easiest you’ll ever make, and they’re pretty much foolproof – so good for the nights when you just don’t want to have to think too much! Before we jump straight in though, here are some tips and principles to stick to when creating stir fries – I’ve used these when developing these recipes, and you can use them time and time again when getting creative with the ingredients you already have in your fridge:

• Prep ingredients ahead of time: Chop and measure everything before you start cooking because stir-frying is a quick process. Having everything ready ensures smooth, efficient cooking.
• Use a hot pan or wok: Stir-fries cook best over high heat. Use a wok or a large skillet and let it get very hot before adding oil to get that perfect sear and avoid steaming the ingredients.
• Use the right oil: Use oils with a high smoke point like peanut oil, vegetable oil, or sesame oil. These oils can handle the high heat without burning and add flavor to your dish. I’ve suggested what I think are the best oils for each stir fry recipe here, but of course you can use whatever you already have in your pantry, as long as it’s a high smoke point. 
• Slice ingredients evenly: Cut proteins and vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking. Thinly sliced meat and veggies will cook quickly and evenly in the hot pan.
• Cook protein in batches: Avoid overcrowding the pan by cooking your protein (chicken, beef, shrimp) in small batches. This allows them to sear properly and prevents steaming, giving you that delicious caramelization. This is particularly relevant if you’re scaling the recipes to feed a crowd! 

Without any further ado, let’s jump in… 

1. Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

This Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry is a classic go-to for a reason. The sweet and savory teriyaki sauce coats tender chicken and crispy veggies, making every bite irresistible. It’s a quick, crowd-pleasing meal that delivers on flavor with minimal ingredients. Plus, who doesn’t love teriyaki?!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• Sesame seeds and green onions for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and cornstarch.
2. Heat sesame oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Add vegetables and stir-fry until tender.
4. Pour the sauce over the chicken and veggies, and cook until thickened.
5. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve with rice.

2. Firecracker Chicken Stir Fry

Spice things up with this fiery Firecracker Chicken Stir Fry! It’s sweet, spicy, and has just the right amount of kick to make your taste buds dance. This recipe really brings the heat, but the balance of sweet and spicy flavors keeps it totally addictive.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1/4 cup hot sauce (you may want to use less if you’re using a particularly hot brand – remember you can always add more, so it makes sense to err on the side of caution a little!) 
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and cornstarch.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Toss in the bell pepper, carrots, and green onions, and stir-fry until tender.
4. Pour the sauce over the stir fry and cook until thickened. For extra heat, sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
5. Serve with jasmine rice or noodles.

3. Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

This Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry is a healthy, flavor-packed dish that’s ready in no time. The soy-garlic sauce clings to the chicken and broccoli for a tasty, quick-fix dinner. If you’re looking for something wholesome and comforting, this classic combo never fails! I find that this one is a great way to get the kids to eat their greens – it tastes like a takeaway, but it’s good for you! 

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 3 cups broccoli florets
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
• Sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and 1/4 cup water.
2. Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook chicken until browned.
3. Add garlic and ginger, stir-frying for 1 minute.
4. Toss in broccoli and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until tender.
5. Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, cooking until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice and garnish with sesame seeds. 

4. Kung Pao Chicken

This Kung Pao Chicken has the perfect mix of heat, crunch, and tang, thanks to the peanuts and spicy sauce. It’s a Chinese takeout classic you can easily make at home, and I think you’ll love the results! 

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions:

1. Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch in a bowl.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Add bell pepper and peanuts, stir-frying until vegetables are tender.
4. Pour sauce into the pan and cook until thickened.
5. Garnish with green onions and red pepper flakes. Serve with steamed rice.

5. Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

This Cashew Chicken Stir Fry is nutty, savory, and totally delicious. The toasted cashews give the dish an extra crunch that’s incredibly satisfying. Another takeaway style classic!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 bell pepper, sliced (I like to use a mix of colors, but whatever you have in your fridge is fine!) 
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup cashews, toasted

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch.
2. Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Add bell pepper and onion, stir-frying until tender.
4. Stir in cashews and sauce, cooking until the sauce thickens.
5. Serve with rice and garnish with extra cashews.

6. Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry

This Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry is fragrant, spicy, and packed with fresh basil for a burst of flavor in every bite. I created this dish after ordering it at a local Asian restaurant, and I loved it so much that I just had to find a way to be able to enjoy it at home. With a bit of tinkering around with the sauce, I managed to recreate the flavors and it’s quickly become a regular in my weekly dinner rotation! The fresh basil brings an authentic Thai flavor that makes this dish truly stand out.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook chicken until browned.
3. Add garlic and bell pepper, stir-frying for 2-3 minutes.
4. Stir in basil and sauce, cooking until the sauce thickens.
5. Serve over jasmine rice.

7. Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

Sweet and savory, this Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry is a perfect balance of flavors. The sticky sauce clings to every bite, making it an instant hit. It’s a simple, delicious dish that’s ready in minutes and packs tons of flavor.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup snap peas
• 1 carrot, julienned

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, and cornstarch.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Add snap peas and carrots, stir-frying for 3-4 minutes.
4. Pour sauce over the stir fry and cook until thickened.
5. Serve with steamed rice or noodles.

8. Chicken Pad Thai

This Chicken Pad Thai is a classic Thai street food favorite, with tender chicken, chewy noodles, and a tangy tamarind sauce! Once you’ve tried this, I think you’ll be making it on the regular – be warned, it’s addictive! 

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 8 oz rice noodles
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bean sprouts
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts
• Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook rice noodles according to package instructions.
2. In a bowl, mix fish sauce, tamarind paste, soy sauce, and sugar.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
4. Push chicken to the side, scramble the egg in the pan, then mix everything together.
5. Stir in the sauce and noodles, and toss until well-coated. Top with bean sprouts, peanuts, and lime wedges.

9. Chicken Chow Mein

This Chicken Chow Mein is a classic, with tender noodles, crisp veggies, and flavorful chicken all tossed in a savory soy-based sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort food, packed with flavor and ready in minutes.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken breast, sliced
• 8 oz chow mein noodles
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 onion, sliced

Instructions:

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions.
2. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, and cornstarch.
3. Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
4. Add carrot, cabbage, and onion, stir-frying until tender.
5. Toss in noodles and sauce, cooking until everything is well-coated. Serve hot.