Ever find yourself gazing into the fridge at tea time, wondering how to conjure up a delicious and satisfying meal from a pack of chicken and some greens? We know the feeling well. The daily dinner rush can be a challenge, but we have a brilliant solution that is remarkably quick, full of vibrant flavour, and wonderfully wholesome. Let us introduce our fantastic Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry, a dish poised to elevate your weekday dinners from a chore to a delight.

This is more than just another set of instructions; it’s your new go-to plan for an effortless evening meal. As a quick dinner recipe, it features succulent chicken and crisp broccoli florets, all coated in a rich, savoury sauce and cooked together in just one pan. Say goodbye to long hours spent over a hot stove; we’re here to guide you in creating a meal worthy of a restaurant in under 30 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in a Flash: From the moment you start chopping to serving it up, this entire dish is ready in less than half an hour, making it an absolute lifesaver on hectic evenings.
• Wholesome and Nutritious: Filled with lean protein from the chicken and plenty of fibre and vitamins from the broccoli, it’s a healthy chicken and vegetable meal you can feel great about making for your family.
• Effortless One-Pan Cooking: We are firm believers in keeping things simple. This recipe is cooked entirely in a single wok or large pan, which means less washing up. It’s the perfect one-pan meal for a stress-free kitchen clean-up.
• Packed with Flavour: The homemade stir-fry sauce truly makes this dish shine. It strikes a beautiful harmony between sweet, salty, and savoury elements, coating every morsel for a delicious taste in every bite.
• Wonderfully Versatile: No broccoli in the fridge? No worries! Feel free to treat this recipe as a template. You can easily substitute other vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, or mangetout to match your preferences or use what’s on hand.

Ingredients

• 500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
• 1 large head of broccoli (about 400g), cut into small florets
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 60ml low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 60ml chicken or vegetable stock
• Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
• Spring onions, sliced, for garnish

How to Create the Perfect Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry

The secret to a fantastic stir-fry lies in good organisation and speed. Having all your ingredients prepared and ready to go before you switch on the heat is the key to success. This method, known as ‘mise en place’, ensures a smooth and relaxed cooking process.

Step 1: Prepare the Savoury Stir-Fry Sauce

The soul of any memorable stir-fry is undoubtedly its sauce. In a small bowl, we will combine the elements that create that wonderfully addictive flavour. Mix together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chicken stock, and cornflour. Whisk it all thoroughly until the cornflour has fully dissolved, leaving a smooth liquid. The cornflour is our little trick for achieving a thick, glossy sauce that lovingly coats the chicken and broccoli. Set this mixture aside for now.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

To begin, use a paper towel to pat your sliced chicken dry. This crucial step helps the chicken to sear to a beautiful golden-brown colour rather than simply steaming in the pan. Season it with a little salt and pepper.

Set a large wok or frying pan over a medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil. When the oil begins to shimmer, carefully place the chicken strips into the pan in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the pan, as this will lower the temperature; cook in two batches if you need to. Let the chicken cook for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and place it on a plate to rest.

Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics and Broccoli

In the same pan, turn the heat down to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the sliced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until it starts to soften. Now, stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, moving them around the pan continuously for about 30 seconds until they release their beautiful aroma. Take care not to let them burn, as this can impart a bitter taste to the final dish.

Next, it’s time for our star green vegetable. Add the broccoli florets to the pan and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until they become a brilliant, vibrant green. To ensure they cook perfectly while retaining a slight crunch, pour 2 tablespoons of water into the pan and cover with a lid for 2-3 minutes. This steaming technique results in perfectly tender-crisp broccoli.

Step 4: Combine Everything for a Flavour Explosion

When the broccoli is cooked just how you like it, it’s time to unite all the elements. Return the cooked chicken to the pan alongside the broccoli. Give your prepared sauce a quick stir, as the cornflour may have settled, and pour it over everything in the pan.

Keep stirring as the sauce comes to a boil and begins to thicken, which should take just 1–2 minutes. You’ll see the sauce transform into a glossy coating that clings to every piece of chicken and broccoli. To finish, drizzle in the sesame oil for a final flourish of nutty fragrance. This is a hallmark of a great Asian chicken stir-fry and provides an authentic, rich flavour.

Our Top Tips for a Flawless Stir-Fry

Over the years, we’ve made our fair share of stir-fries and have picked up a few techniques that truly elevate the dish. Follow our advice to take your stir-fry from good to exceptional.

• High Heat is Key: An authentic stir-fry relies on high heat to cook ingredients swiftly, searing them on the outside while locking in moisture and tenderness. Make sure your wok or pan is sufficiently hot before you add anything.
• Preparation is Everything: The cooking itself is very quick, leaving no time for chopping vegetables or mixing sauces once you’ve started. Have every ingredient prepped, measured, and ready within easy reach before you begin.
• Don’t Crowd the Pan: Piling too many ingredients in at once will cool the pan down, causing them to steam instead of fry. To get that perfect sear, cook your ingredients in batches if needed.
• Slice Meat Against the Grain: For the most tender chicken, observe the direction of the muscle fibres and slice across them, not in the same direction. This technique shortens the fibres, yielding a much more tender result.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

This Healthy Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry is wonderfully adaptable. We adore serving it atop a mound of fluffy jasmine rice, which is perfect for soaking up every drop of that incredible sauce. It also pairs beautifully with brown rice, quinoa, or your preferred noodles. For a lower-carb meal, it’s delicious served on its own or with some cauliflower rice.

If you enjoy bright, wholesome Asian-inspired dishes, you may also appreciate our Tangy and Refreshing Green Papaya Salad Recipe (Som Tam) or the much-loved Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing.

You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, we suggest warming it gently in a pan over a medium heat, adding a splash of water to help loosen the sauce. Microwaving is also an option, but be mindful not to overcook the chicken.

Making nutritious choices is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. For further information on how to create a balanced diet, we find the NHS guide to healthy eating to be a trustworthy and valuable resource.

FAQ

Your New Favourite Weeknight Meal

We are certain this Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry will quickly earn its place as a regular feature on your weekly menu. It’s the perfect proof that a meal doesn’t have to be a compromise between being quick, healthy, or delicious—it can be all three. This dish is the ideal solution for those busy evenings when you want something deeply satisfying and nutritious without any fuss.

So, next time you are pondering what to cook for dinner, we hope you’ll remember this simple and flavourful recipe. We really encourage you to give it a go this week! Get into the kitchen, enjoy the process, and create a meal that your entire family will ask for again and again. Please do leave a comment below and let us know how you got on!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
• 1 large head of broccoli (about 400g), cut into small florets
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 60ml low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 60ml chicken or vegetable stock
• Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
• Spring onions, sliced, for garnish

Instructions

1. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chicken stock, and cornflour until smooth. Set aside.
2. Cook the chicken: Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a wok or large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove from the pan.
3. Sauté aromatics and broccoli: In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes until soft, then add garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the broccoli florets and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Steam the broccoli: Pour 2 tablespoons of water into the pan, cover with a lid, and let it steam for 2-3 minutes until the broccoli is tender-crisp.
5. Combine and finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Give the sauce a quick stir and pour it over everything. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, as the sauce thickens. Drizzle with sesame oil and garnish with sesame seeds and spring onions before serving.

Nutrition (per serving):
Calories: 396 kcal,
Carbs: 22g,
Protein: 45g,
Fat: 15g