Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for easy chicken stir fry with broccoli, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Stir Fry Sauce:
Oyster Sauce – A small amount delivers big umami flavor. Almost every variety has added sugar and many are not gluten free, so if you’re looking for a cleaner option, my sugar-free teriyaki sauce would make a fine substitute.Coconut Aminos – My favorite gluten-free soy sauce substitute. If you prefer, you can use tamari or low sodium soy sauce instead.Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For enhancing the savory flavors. Sesame Oil – Adds a slightly nutty flavor. You can use regular or toasted. In a pinch, you can substitute another neutral cooking oil.Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – These are totally optional, but delicious if you want a little heat to your chicken broccoli stir fry.Cornstarch – If you like a thicker sauce, just a small amount of cornstarch (the entire recipe uses less than a tablespoon cornstarch!) helps to thicken it. You could also use 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum or another cornstarch substitute for a low carb option.
Stir Fry:
Olive Oil – You can also use another neutral cooking oil, such as avocado oil. Chicken Breasts – Use boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs, or swap the chicken with beef (try beef and broccoli stir fry or a classic beef stir fry), pork, or shrimp.Broccoli – Break into florets. You can also use other stir fry vegetables, such as snap peas, baby corn, celery, carrots, bamboo shoots, or onions for more texture and flavor.Garlic – I minced a fresh garlic clove for the best flavor, but you could use jarred minced garlic as well. Feel free to use several cloves garlic if you love it.Ginger – Although fresh ginger tastes best, you can also substitute 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.Mushrooms – White mushrooms work well here, but you can use other varieties too.Bell Pepper – Red bell pepper adds a nice flavor and color to this dish, but you could use whatever color if you prefer.Optional Garnishes – Including crushed red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, and lemon wedges. You could also add nuts such as chopped almonds, cashews, or peanuts for a nice crunch.
How To Make Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
This section shows how to make broccoli chicken stir fry, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Storage Instructions
Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Meal prep: You can prepare the entire stir fry ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze. Alternatively, for a more fresh result, prep sauce and chop vegetables, and store both separately until ready to cook.Reheat: Warm Chinese chicken broccoli stir fry in a skillet or wok with a drizzle of oil.Freeze: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
What To Serve With Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
To make this chicken and broccoli stir fry more filling, serve it over white or brown rice. For a low carb option, serve over cauliflower rice or shirataki rice. Taste and adjust with salt. For a thinner sauce, thin out with water or make it without cornstarch. If you want to change up your chicken broccoli stir fry, try these variations:
Teriyaki – Use teriyaki sauce instead of the sauce in this recipe, or simply add broccoli to my teriyaki chicken recipe. Spicy – Make a spicy version of this stir fry by adding extra crushed red pepper flakes or chili oil to the sauce. Wine Or Vinegar – Replace a few tablespoons of the coconut aminos with dry sherry, shaoxing wine, or rice vinegar. Veggies – Other than the broccoli, my version has mushrooms and red bell peppers. You can also swap in any other stir fry vegetables here. Rice – Of course you can serve chicken broccoli stir fry over rice, but you could also add cooked rice right into the stir fry.
If you want something else to serve with it, pair this dish with other Asian sides like smashed cucumber salad, kani salad, or hakurei turnips.
More Healthy Stir Fry Recipes
There are so many fresh and flavorful ways to cook Asian stir fry meals! Try some of these favorites next: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. Nutrition facts do not include optional garnishes or cornstarch.
