Easy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe

Chicken and vegetable stir-fry is a popular dish among those seeking a quick yet nutritious meal option that can be customized according to one's taste preferences. This versatile recipe allows for the inclusion of various vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, and zucchini. It’s also an excellent way to use up any leftover chicken or veggies you might have on hand.

For this easy stir-fry, we will need just a few simple ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil or sesame oil, as needed
Various vegetables: bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, zucchini (about 2 cups total)
Garlic, minced (3-4 cloves)
Green onions, sliced for garnish

Preparation and Cooking Time:

Total cooking time is approximately 25 minutes. The chicken takes about 10 minutes to cook through while the vegetables will take around 8-12 minutes. You can prepare this dish in advance; it’s also great for leftovers.

Serving Size:

This recipe yields approximately 4 servings.

Instructions

Tenderize the Chicken: Begin by slicing the chicken breasts into thin strips. In a bowl, combine the chicken with soy sauce and cornstarch to coat evenly. This marinade will help tenderize the meat and give it an extra flavor boost.
Cook the Chicken: Heat up some oil in your wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the marinated chicken strips, stirring occasionally until they are fully cooked (about 5 minutes). Remove from pan once done and set aside.
Toss in the Vegetables: While the chicken is cooking, slice up your chosen vegetables into bite-sized pieces if necessary. Once the chicken has been removed, add more oil to the skillet and sauté all the prepared veggies for about 8 minutes until they begin to soften but still retain their vibrant colors.
Mix Everything Together: Add back in the cooked chicken along with any accumulated juices from earlier stages of cooking. Let it cook together for another couple of minutes or so, allowing everything to meld nicely.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with green onions before serving hot. This dish can be enjoyed as is, but feel free to add some steamed rice on the side if desired!

Tips & Variations

To make this stir-fry even more exciting, consider adding some additional spices like ginger or chili flakes according to personal preference. For a heartier meal, serve it over noodles instead of plain rice. Alternatively, you could substitute the chicken for tofu for a vegetarian version.

Health Benefits

This dish provides numerous health benefits due to its high protein content from the chicken combined with essential vitamins and minerals present in fresh vegetables. Stir-fries like this one are often part of balanced diets because they promote quick digestion while being low in calories compared to similar dishes cooked differently.

Culinary Insights

Stir-frying is a traditional Chinese cooking method that involves quickly frying small pieces of food with other ingredients such as seasonings, sauces, and vegetables in a wok or large skillet. The key to successful stir-frying lies in maintaining high heat throughout the process which allows for faster cooking without overcooking individual components.

p>By following this simple recipe, you can enjoy a delicious chicken and vegetable stir-fry anytime! Whether served alone or with additional sides like rice or noodles, it's sure to satisfy hungry family members while being both tasty and nutritious.