The sauce in this broccoli chicken stir fry is perfectly “saucy,” making it ideal for serving over steamy rice. Homemade Chicken and Broccoli is an easy 30-minute meal, and it has the best stir-fry sauce.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry satisfies the craving for takeout, and you’ll feel good about serving this to your family. It’s healthier than going out, and it’s simple to make into a meal served over cooked white rice, brown rice, or even cooked quinoa.
If you loved my famous 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!
Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry Video
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. I don’t recommend frozen veggies sicne they can get mushy and water down the sauce.
- Chicken Broth – this adds more flavor, but water can easily be substituted.
- 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 to 2 tablespoons of liquid sweetener, such as honey, or add it to taste.
- Corn Starch – using cornstarch as a thickener helps keep this gluten-free.
Pro Tip for Peeling Ginger:
The easiest way to peel ginger is to scrape the skin away with the side of a teaspoon. Once it’s peeled, finely grate it on a box grater or a microplane.
How to Make Broccoli and Chicken Stir Fry:
- Make the Sauce: Combine all of the sauce ingredients and stir to dissolve the sugar. Warm broth will help the sugar dissolve easily.
- 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.
- Stir-Fry 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 crisp and vibrant green then reduce heat. Do not overcook the veggies at this point or they can get mushy while cooking in the sauce.
- 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.
- Return Chicken to the Pan and stir until heated through then serve over white rice garnished with sesame seeds if desired.
The KEY to Making the Best Stir Fry
A stir-fry is essentially flash-cooked on a very hot skillet, with a cooking time of less than 15 minutes. 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.
Storing and Reheating Stir Fry
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry reheats well so it’s a great option for meal prepping.
- Refrigerate Leftovers – Once the chicken broccoli stir fry has cooled to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. I prefer not to freeze since the broccoli can become mushy.
- Reheating – It’s always best to reheat in the same method that the dish was cooked. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until hot. You can also reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated through. If needed, you can add a little splash of water when reheating to bring back some moisture.
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
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.
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
- Make the Sauce – 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.
- Prepare Chicken – 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.
- Stir Fry Veggies – 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.
- Add Sauce – 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.
- Combine and Serve – 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 Fat
Nutrition Facts
Chicken and 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.
Filed Under
More Easy Chicken Recipes (Reader Favorites!)
- Chicken Fried Rice – the best way to use leftover rice
- Lemon Chicken – 30-min chicken dinner packed with flavor
- Chicken Parmesan – easy and classic family favorite
- Chicken Chow Mein – adding chicken makes it a meal
- Chicken Tetrazzini – a creamy cheesy pasta bake
- Chicken Pesto Pasta – adding pesto sauce is genius!
- Chicken Korma – with a vibrant curry sauce
I have made this recipe several times and I am in love with it! I have always added the sesame oil. I think it adds so much flavor. If you have difficulties with the sauce thickening, you can always add a slurry of 1tsp. Cornstarch mixed with 1 tsp water. Next time I make this, I want to add some carrots!
I’m happy to hear how much you enjoy the recipe Andrea! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
Just made this and so good.I used rice noodles Thank you for the recipe.Will make this again.
I’m glad you enjoy the recipe Donna! Thanks for sharing!
Have Y’all not heard of woks?
Well I feel sheepish – I actually don’t own a wok! :-O!! Can you recommend a specific brand that you love?
The Wok Shop (https://www.wokshop.com/) in San Fran has everything one needs. Best of all, they can set you up with what will work best for you by phone. The best woks are hand hammered carbon steel (must be seasoned) that are thicker on the bottom with the metal becoming slightly thinner toward the upper part. I have both round and flat bottom woks (3 total) I use on my gas range.
Thanks for sharing Jim!
Can we substitute the chicken broth for anything else?
Hi Teri, you can use vegetable stock as alternative 😀
Really yummy and easy to make recipe.
Absolutely amazing,added thin egg noodles instead of rice 👍
Great suggestion Elliott! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
Just made this with chicken thigh pieces, turned out brilliantly and so tasty.
I’m so glad to hear that Mary! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
What, if anything can I swap with the honey, or can I omit it completely?
Hi Jessica, you can use the same amount of brown or regular sugar instead of honey. If you don’t want the additional sweetness, you can omit the honey. I have had a couple of readers report great results omitting honey.
Great. It worked out perfectly. I’ll definitely be making this again!
I’m glad to hear that Jessica! Thanks for sharing!
Would you use same amount of brown sugar instead of honey? Thanks
Hi Michi, you can use the same amount of brown or regular sugar instead of honey.
Use Stevia. You’ll have to experiment as pure Stevia is 350 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). There is guidance on line.
I just made this tonight with a couple changes just because of what I had available. Used baby bella mushrooms, red onions and added some fresh green beans and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes because we like spicy! Will be using this recipe again. Thanks!
You’re welcome Sandra! I’m glad to hear the recipe was a success. Thanks for sharing your great review!
“Baby Bella” ‘shrooms are the same as “crimini,” as they are known in Italy. Also, they are the same species as the white ‘shrooms we buy in the US, just a bit more mature and perhaps exposed to a bit of light. If allowed to mature more, then they become “Portobello” ‘shrooms. All in all, they are all “Agaricus bisporus.”
Thanks. as we love veggies, I will definitely add the carrots and green beans with with onions and red pepper flakes.
I have made this receipe 2x and we love it.
I made this twice and it was amazing. Tried again and now sauce isnt thickening up and doesn’t taste right, very bland… I triple checked ingredients…am i boiling too long, not long enough or what?
Hi Astyn, it is difficult to say but I am always happy to help troubleshhoot. If your previous tests worked better than the third one, I would suspect an ingredient is the culprit – maybe mis-measuring something or using low sodium soy sauce instead of regular (you would need more salt in that case), or maybe using frozen broccoli or partially defrosted broccoli or chicken which would add water to the recipe. I hope that helps!
My husband’s version of liking something new is to tell me, “it’s okay.” Translation you can make this again. This meal he asked me to keep the recipe, which after 18 years of marriage, might just be the first time. My guys loved it!!!!
That’s awesome, I’m happy to hear how much your family enjoys the recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
Delicious recipe, but by weighing the serving size of 316 g., I could only get 3 servings, so I am unsure of the nutrition facts. What is the serving size per cup?
Hi Mary, the nutrition label is based on 6 servings so if you are serving it as 3 servings, I would double everything on the nutrition label. I haven’t measured this recipe by cups of the finished product. It is meant to be served over rice and typically serves 4 to 6 people depending on how hungry your crew is 🙂
One of my favorites and everyone I make it for loves it too!
Awesome, I’m glad to hear the recipe is a HIT! Thanks for sharing James!
I made this meal for my family in 30 minutes and they absolutely loved it. They want me to make it again soon.
Awesome, I’m glad to hear your family enjoys the recipe as much as mine does! Thanks for sharing your great review!
I had friends over when I was cooking this dish and they loved it! The only thing I did differently was add in some other mushrooms as well because I love them! Definitely going to cook again!
I’m glad to hear that everyone enjoys the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers Chelsea!
Hi Natasha, I just tried this today and it came out really delicious. Thanks for the super recipe. I added some chilli flakes while stir frying the chicken to make it a tad bit spicy. The outcome was yum.
Hello there! I’m glad to hear you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review!
This is super tasty! Served with Noodles Roath and rice, definitely on the menu again 😊
I’m glad you love the recipe Helen! Thanks for sharing your great review!
Thanks so much! It was so yummy and easy to follow. No modifications were needed. I served it over udon noodles (“stir fried” with a splash of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and green onions for flavor).
You’re welcome Yoli! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
I absolutely love using this recipe I always lose it and spend for ever googling for it!
Yum yum yum it’s always a hit in our home I’m about to make it right now thank you Natasha xxx
The tastiest stir fry I have made xx
You’re welcome Katie! I’m glad you love the recipe! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
I recently started to learn how to cook and just tried this recipe today. It came out so delicious! I am surprised I didn’t mess it up lol! Everyone should try this. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome Jessie! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!