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Quick Chicken Stir Fry Recipe

4.8 from 53 reviews

This Quick Chicken Stir Fry is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breast pieces tossed with crisp sugar snap peas, colorful bell peppers, and a deliciously tangy and sweet sauce. Perfectly cooked in a hot wok, this stir fry is both quick to prepare and satisfying, making it an ideal meal for busy weeknights. Serve it over steamed rice or noodles for a complete and delicious dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 3 chicken breast fillets, sliced into bite-size pieces
  • 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of pepper

Vegetables

  • 85 g (1 cup) sugar snap peas or snow peas
  • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced
  • 1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 bunch spring onions (scallions), chopped
  • 1 small red chilli, deseeded and sliced

Sauces and Seasonings

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato ketchup

To Serve

  • Boiled rice or noodles

Instructions

  1. Coat the chicken: Place the chicken pieces onto a plate. Add the cornflour, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Toss everything together thoroughly to evenly coat the chicken pieces with the cornflour mixture.
  2. Cook the chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until very hot. Add the coated chicken pieces and fry for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally until the chicken is lightly browned and cooked through.
  3. Add the vegetables: Add the sugar snap peas and sliced yellow and red peppers to the wok. Stir-fry them with the chicken for an additional 2 minutes to maintain a crisp texture.
  4. Make the sauce and combine: Add the minced garlic, soy sauce, Chinese rice vinegar, brown sugar, sweet chilli sauce, and tomato ketchup to the wok. Continue stir-frying on high heat, tossing everything together with a spatula until the sauce is heated through. Check the chicken is fully cooked by slicing one piece to ensure there is no pink inside.
  5. Add fresh aromatics: Stir through the chopped spring onions and sliced red chilli. Cook for 1 more minute until these ingredients are heated but remain crunchy.
  6. Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately with boiled rice or noodles to complete the meal.

Notes

  • Ensure the wok or pan is very hot before adding the chicken to get a nice sear and avoid steaming.
  • Adjust the amount of chilli according to your spice preference.
  • Use fresh vegetables to keep the stir fry crisp and colorful.
  • You can substitute chicken breast with thigh meat for a juicier texture.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently before serving.

Keywords: quick chicken stir fry, chicken stir fry recipe, easy chicken dinner, Chinese stir fry, weeknight meals, vegetable stir fry