The sauce in this broccoli chicken stir fry is perfectly “saucy,” making it ideal for serving over steamy white rice. Homemade Chicken and Broccoli is an easy 30-minute meal and it has the best stir fry sauce.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir fry in skillet garnished with sesame seeds

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Chicken Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry:

Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry satisfies the craving for takeout and you’ll feel good about serving this to your family because it’s healthier than going out. If you loved our Beef and Broccoli, then you will love this chicken stir fry. It’s loaded with tender chicken, mushrooms and fresh broccoli. I hope you’re inspired to make this easy and tasty dinner!

Ingredients & Substitutions for Stir Fry:

  • Chicken – we used boneless skinless chicken breast, but chicken tenders or even thighs would be delicious here.
  • Stir Fry Veggies – We love the combination of broccoli, onions, and mushrooms for an authentic Chicken Broccoli Stir fry. You could sub the broccoli with snap peas or zucchini and sub onions with julienned carrots.
  • Chicken Broth – this adds more flavor, but water can easily be substituted.
  • Low Sodium Soy Sauce – Since different brands have different amounts of salt, add soy sauce to taste. You can always add more at the end, but you can’t take salt out of a dish. For gluten-free, use Tamari sauce.
  • Sesame Oil – this one ingredient gives the sauce authentic Chinese stir fry flavor. Do not skip it.
  • Ginger & Garlic – fresh is best for stir fry, but in a pinch, you can substitute 1 tsp fresh garlic for 1/2 tsp garlic powder and substitute 1 tsp fresh ginger for 1/8-1/4 tsp ground ginger.
  • Brown Sugar – we used 2 Tablespoons of packed light brown sugar. You can substitute with 1 1/2 Tbsp to 2 Tbsp of liquid sweetener like honey, or add it to taste.
  • Corn Starch – using cornstarch as a thickener helps keep this gluten-free.

Ingredients for stir fry with chicken breast, broccoli, mushrooms, onion and sauce ingredients

Pro Tip: It’s easiest to peel fresh ginger using the edge of a teaspoon. Simply scrape the skin away. Try it – it’s so easy.

Watch the Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry Video:

How to Make Broccoli and Chicken Stir Fry:

  1. Make the Sauce: Combine all of the sauce ingredients and stir to dissolve the sugar. The warm broth will help the sugar to dissolve easily.
  2. Cook Chicken: Cut chicken into small 3/4″ bite-sized pieces and season lightly with black pepper. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat with 1 Tbsp oil. Add chicken and cook 1 minute undisturbed then stir fry 5 minutes until golden and just cooked through. Remove chicken to a bowl.
  3. Sautee Veggies: In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 Tbsp oil, broccoli florets, sliced onion and mushrooms and stir fry 3 minutes until mushrooms are softened then reduce heat.
  4. Add Stir Fry Sauce: Give the sauce a quick stir in case there was settling and add it to the skillet. Simmer the sauce over medium/low heat for 3-4 minutes until thickened and garlic and ginger have mellowed in flavor. To thin the sauce, add water as needed and you can add more soy sauce to taste.
  5. Return Chicken to the Pan and stir until heated through then serve over white rice garnished with sesame seeds if desired.

Step by step photos for cooking broccoli chicken mushroom stir fry

The KEY to Cooking Stir Fry:

A stir fry is essentially flash cooked on a very hot skillet (less than 15 minutes of cooking time). Since this recipe moves fast, you want to have every ingredient chopped, measured, prepped and ready to use before you fire up the skillet. If serving with white rice, you’ll want to put the rice on the stove first then cook your stir fry. You’ll want to bookmark our tutorial for Perfect White Rice.

Chicken and broccoli and mushroom stir fry with sauce in skillet

More Easy Chicken Recipes (Reader Favorites!):

  1. Chicken Fried Rice – the best way to use leftover rice
  2. Lemon Chicken – 30-min chicken dinner packed with flavor
  3. Chicken Parmesan – easy and classic family favorite
  4. Chicken Chow Mein – adding chicken makes it a meal
  5. Chicken Tetrazzini – a creamy cheesy pasta bake

Print-friendly Recipe for Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry:

Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe

4.96 from 869 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Chicken and broccoli stir fry in skillet garnished with sesame seeds
The sauce in this stir fry is perfectly "saucy," making it ideal for serving over hot and fluffy white rice. This recipe moves fast so start cooking your rice first and be sure to prep and chop all of your stir fry ingredients and make the sauce before cooking the stir fry.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 people

Chicken and Broccoli:

  • 1 lb chicken breast, (boneless skinless), cut into 3/4" pieces
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil, (I used extra light olive oil), divided
  • 1 lb broccoli, cut into florets (about 5 cups)
  • 1 small yellow onion, sliced into strips
  • 1/2 lb white button mushrooms, thickly sliced

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce, (use Tamari for gluten free), or added to taste
  • 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed (or honey to taste)
  • 1 Tbsp corn starch
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated (lightly packed)
  • 1 tsp garlic (2 small cloves), grated
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more to season chicken

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine all of the sauce ingredients and whisk to dissolve sugar and corn starch (warm broth will help dissolve the sugar faster). Set sauce aside.
  • Cut chicken into small bite-sized pieces (no more than 3/4” thick) and season lightly with pepper. Heat a large heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil. Add chicken in a single layer and let it sit undisturbed for 1 minute to get a good sear then stir fry for another 5 minutes or until golden brown just cooked through then remove to a bowl and loosely cover to keep warm. 
  • In the same skillet, add another 1 Tbsp oil along with broccoli florets, sliced onion and sliced mushrooms. Stir fry 3 minutes or until mushrooms are softened and broccoli is crisp-tender then reduce heat to medium/low.
  • Give the sauce a quick stir in case there was any settling of starch and pour all of it over the vegetables. Simmer 3-4 minutes or until sauce is thickened and garlic and ginger are mellowed in flavor. To thin the sauce, add water a tablespoon at a time.
  • Return chicken to the pan and stir another 30 seconds or until heated through. Add more soy sauce to taste if needed and serve over hot rice.

Nutrition Per Serving

325kcal Calories21g Carbs31g Protein14g Fat2g Saturated Fat73mg Cholesterol586mg Sodium1039mg Potassium4g Fiber10g Sugar740IU Vitamin A105mg Vitamin C68mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
325
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Cholesterol
 
73
mg
24
%
Sodium
 
586
mg
25
%
Potassium
 
1039
mg
30
%
Carbohydrates
 
21
g
7
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
31
g
62
%
Vitamin A
 
740
IU
15
%
Vitamin C
 
105
mg
127
%
Calcium
 
68
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: chicken and broccoli, Chicken broccoli stir fry
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 325
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

This recipe was first published in October 2014. We updated it April 2020, using corn starch instead of flour to make it gluten-free chicken broccoli stir fry, improved the flavor of the sauce and re-photographed the recipe.

Chicken broccoli stir fry in skillet with serving spoon

This chicken and broccoli stir fry is so tasty and much healthier than takeout!

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.96 from 869 votes (444 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  • Cindy
    October 8, 2024

    Love this recipe but also wanted to try it with honey.
    I saw honey (to taste) can replace the brown sugar. How much honey would typically be used if substituting for the same amount of brown sugar?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 8, 2024

      Hi Cindy! You can use it in a 1:1 ratio, or use less if you prefer it less sweet.

      Reply

  • Melinda G Gladney
    October 1, 2024

    Love it. Didn’t have mushrooms but used and orange pepper.

    Reply

  • Sheri
    September 22, 2024

    Is it okay to use chick thighs instead of breasts? I know breasts are healthier but they can dry out so quickly, especially with leftovers.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 22, 2024

      Hi there, that will work too!

      Reply

  • Denise
    September 19, 2024

    Made this tonight for dinner and my husband and I loved it. If you follow the recipe you can’t go wrong. I did double the sauce after reading others had and was glad I did.

    Reply

  • Jane C Muhonen
    September 19, 2024

    I love this recipe I have made it four times. THanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 19, 2024

      So glad you’re enjoying it, Jane!

      Reply

  • Smamkums
    September 11, 2024

    This was some good chicken. Make this dish, u will be a happy chef!?

    Reply

  • Tara
    September 9, 2024

    Amazing! Better than takeout. Other adds to up the oompf May be cashews. Not needed tho and it’s delicious. It may become a regular!!

    Reply

  • Debbie
    September 4, 2024

    I didn’t have beef to make beef and broccoli so I made this recipe with chicken. It turned out great!! I did double the sauce, I didn’t have mushrooms so I used carrots. Thank you it’s outstanding

    Reply

  • Karen E Sutton
    September 4, 2024

    I always watch your video just before making this recipe. Do you have any idea how adorable you are?!! Have made this dish many times, and love it!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 4, 2024

      Aw, thank you, Karen!

      Reply

  • Toni
    August 2, 2024

    This is a great recipe! I used vegan chicken and added just a squirt of hoisin sauce. Eating it right now and it’s delicious!

    Reply

  • O
    July 27, 2024

    This was a sweet dish, it wasn’t supposed to be. 2 tablespoons of sugar is way too much.
    And the dish lacked flavour. It needed more ginger and more garlic.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 27, 2024

      Did you make any changes or substitutions to the recipe? You can leave out the sugar (or use less) but we felt it adds a good balance to the sauce and didn’t think it was too sweet.

      Reply

  • Jeff
    July 22, 2024

    I saw some say it was lacking flavor. I followed your recipe but did double the sauce. I used fresh broccoli, fresh garlic, and fresh garlic. I felt it was very flavorful. It was a hit. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 22, 2024

      That’s great to hear, Jeff! Thank you.

      Reply

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