Garlic-Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

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Garlic-Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry is a quick and easy stir-fry with chicken breast, bok choy, red onion, peanuts and basil.

Ginger, soy sauce, garlic, and chili paste turn boring chicken breast into a delicious main dish that’s just right for dinner or lunch the next day. It’s perfect on its own or with rice or noodles to soak up the sauce. More chicken stir-fry recipes you will love are Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry, and Chicken Zucchini Stir-Fry, and if you like beef you’ll love this Skirt Steak and Bok Choy Stir-Fry.

Chicken Stir Fry in a wok

This simple chicken stir-fry recipe is slightly modified from What’s Gaby Cooking: Take It Easy: Recipes for Zero Stress Deliciousness. After the birth of her Gaby’s daughter she wanted to focus on recipes that didn’t require as much cooking and preparation time but were still delicious. This book aims to provide dozens of recipes that are simple enough to make and look delicious!
Although they’re not low calorie books, I was able to easily modify this recipe by using chicken breast instead of thighs, adding more bok choy, and reducing the oil a bit. It was delicious. Gaby says, “Everyone needs a good stir-fry recipe up their sleeve, and THIS IS IT. Seriously, it comes together in seconds, is gingery and garlicky in all the right ways, and the saucy bits are perfect for spicing up some white rice.”

What is the secret to a good stir-fry?

For a really good stir-fry, ensure your pan is very hot, and don’t overcrowd the meat or veggies. Have all your ingredients prepped ahead. You want everything to cook quickly and evenly.

Chicken Stir-Fry Ingredients

Stir-Fry Sauce: Fresh ginger, reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, garlic, sugar, toasted sesame oil, cornstarch, chili paste
Chicken: Thinly slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Vegetables: Bok choy and red onion
Peanuts: Crush dry-roasted peanuts.
Basil: Traditional or Thai basil will work.

How to Make Chicken Stir-Fry

Marinade: Whisk the eight sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Remove a third cup and set it aside. Add the chicken to the remaining sauce and marinate it for at least 30 minutes or as long as four hours.
Chicken: If you have a wok, use it. Otherwise, heat a large, heavy cast- iron or stainless-steel skillet with a lid over high heat. Pour a teaspoon of vegetable oil into the pan, and add half of the chicken to the pan. Cook for a few minutes on each side, and transfer to a plate once done. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Onions: Clean the skillet and pour in the remaining teaspoon of oil. Once hot, sauté the onions until they’re lightly charred but still have some crunch.
Sauce and Bok Choy: Return the chicken to the skillet, and pour in the remaining marinade and a half cup of water. Cook for a minute and then stir in the bok choy until wilted.
Garnish: Transfer the stir fry to a platter, and sprinkle with peanuts and basil.

What to Serve with Chicken Stir-Fry

I skipped the rice since the portion was large – two cups! If I eat this garlic chicken stir-fry with rice, it could easily serve six instead of four. You could use brown, jasmine, or coconut rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. This healthy chicken stir-fry would also be great with noodles, like soba, rice, or udon noodles.

How to Freeze Stir-Fry

Leftover stir-fry, which will last three days, makes for easy lunches during the week. You can also freeze it for up to three months. Thaw it in the fridge and reheat it in the microwave.

Stir-Fry Variations:

Protein: Swap chicken thighs for chicken breasts.
Onions: White or yellow onion will work if you don’t have red.
Nuts: Omit the peanuts if you want a nut-free stir-fry.
Spiciness: If you prefer a milder stir-fry, decrease the amount of chili paste or omit it.

Chicken Stir Fry in a wok

More Stir-Fry Recipes You’ll Love:

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