Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry – a quick and easy dinner!

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This Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry is fabulous! A delicious and fast weeknight winner. Marinating the chicken while you prep the other ingredients makes this fast, too!

In this post you’ll find step by step instructions on how to make this recipe, as well as how to toast sesame seeds

Update: This recipe was originally posted in June of 2012, and has been updated to improve reader experience.

Another good weeknight dinner. Easy to throw together and has a really nice balance of flavors. Weeknight dinners can be a real time crunch!

Whether it’s back to school, back to work, activities or even just a busy weekend – getting dinner on the table is a thing. Like, every day. EVERY single day my family expect dinner. Crazy, right?

Thankfully, I have this recipe up my sleeve – and now, you do too! If you’re looking for more weeknight dinners, check out my Creamy Mediterranean Chicken Skillet or my Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole.

Ingredients:

Green Onions – also known as scallions, these add a delicate onion flavor to the chicken

Chicken Breast – you can absolutely sub chicken thighs in this recipe.

Hoisin Sauce – a thick, brown Asian sauce that is kind of salty/sweet. Soy/brown sugar ish. It’s delicious!! It’s in the Asian section of the grocery too

Sesame Oil – this adds amazing flavor to the chicken marinade – don’t skip it! You can find it in the Asian section of your grocery store, or on Amazon.

Cornstarch – this is used to make a thicker sauce, you may omit it (and the water) if you wish, but I like it!

How to make Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry:

To prep ahead:

1. Marinate the chicken the night before.
2. Chop and prep the garlic, ginger and measure out the soy and hoisin sauces
3. Cut the broccoli into florets.
4. Pre-cook the rice.
5. On cooking day – follow from step 4 below.

To make on the day:

1. Chop and prep the garlic, ginger and measure out the soy and hoisin sauces.
2. Marinate the diced chicken for 15 minutes at room temp.
3. Cook the rice.
4. Cut the broccoli into florets.
5. Heat the oil in a large wok or skillet
6. Stir fry the broccoli, then add the garlic, ginger, water and salt/pepper.
7. Cook until broccoli is tender, but still bright green. Remove and keep warm.
8. Stir fry the chicken, until golden brown, then add the hoisin, the broccoli and the cornstarch mixture – bring to a boil.
9. Serve with cooked rice.
10. Devour.

How to toast Sesame Seeds

There are other methods of toasting sesame seeds – but this is how I’ve always done it!

1. In a small non stick frying pan, add 2 Tbs sesame seeds. Do not add anything else!
2. Toast the seeds over medium high heat, shaking the pan often so they do not burn.
3. They will start to “pop” and turn brown VERY quickly – so be ready!

   

   

   
   

Stir frying is a great way to get dinner on the table fast! Seriously, if you prep ahead this can be ready in a shorter time than take out! A quick and easy dinner is always a winner for me.

This one makes me even happier because, my kids will eat it. I pull out the kid chopsticks, and sprinkle fortune cookies around the table as incentive.

Works like a charm: Exhibits H and C. Find their chopsticks on Amazon. While you’re there, perhaps find C’s shirt. Apparently shirts (and pants if I’m being honest) are optional at the dinner table. As are milk mustaches. 

Top tips for Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli 

• Use a medium high heat. The point of stir frying is to cook at high heat for a short time.
• Don’t overcook the broccoli. We’re going for bright green florets here!
• When chopping the chicken, cut pieces as close to the same size as possible – it helps with making sure the chicken cooks evenly
• Add more water if necessary to thin the sauce.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator – lunch for work the next day!

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Chicken Broccoli Stir-fry

This Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry is fabulous! A delicious and fast weeknight winner. Marinating the chicken while you prep the other ingredients makes this fast, too!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 635kcal

Author: Kylee Cooks

Ingredients

Marinate the chicken while you prepare the rest of the ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
• 3 green onions sliced thinly
• 3 cloves garlic minced, divided
• 2 Tbs fresh ginger grated, divided
• 1 Tbs soy sauce
• 2 Tbs sugar
• 2 Tbs cornstarch divided
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tbs sesame oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 Tbs vegetable oil
• 6 cups broccoli cut into florets
• 2 Tbs hoisin sauce

Garnish

• 1 tsp sesame seeds toasted (see notes)

Serving suggestion:

• 4 cups cooked rice

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, mix together the green onions, 1 tsp of the garlic, all of the ginger, soy sauce, sugar, 1 tsp of the cornstarch, 1 tsp of salt, and the sesame oil.
• Add the chicken and mix, and marinate for 15-20 minutes.
• Make a thin slurry by mixing the remaining cornstarch with 1/4 cup water.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add 1 Tbs of the oil and heat over medium high.
• Add the broccoli , and stir-fry for 30 seconds.  
• Add the remaining garlic, ginger, 2 Tbs of water, and season with 1/4 tsp salt, and pepper.
• Stir-fry until the broccoli is bright green but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
• Get the skillet good and hot again, and then heat 2 more Tbs oil.
• Add the chicken and stir fry until the chicken is cooked, and golden brown
• Return the broccoli to the pan, add the hoisin and toss to heat through. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened. 
• Add more water if need to thin the sauce, if necessary.
• Serve with toasted sesame seeds and rice.
• Devour!

Notes

Top tips for Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry

• Don't overcook the broccoli. We're going for bright green florets here!
• When chopping the chicken, cut pieces as close to the same size as possible - it helps with making sure the chicken cooks evenly
• Add more water if necessary to thin the sauce.

How to toast Sesame Seeds

1. In a small non stick pan, add 2 Tbs sesame seeds. Do not add anything else!
2. Toast the seeds over medium high heat, shaking the pan often so they do not burn.
3. They will start to "pop" and turn brown VERY quickly - so be ready!

Nutrition

Calories: 635kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1209mg | Potassium: 1183mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 990IU | Vitamin C: 126.2mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 2.3mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @kyleecooks or tag #kyleecooks!

Tips for All Recipes on Kylee Cooks

Want to scale a recipe up or down? Simply click on the serving amount and move the slider up or down - the recipe will automatically adjust!

I always use salted butter in my recipes.

Always use a thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.

When a recipe is made in the oven, it should be pre-heated to the temperature in the recipe, unless otherwise noted.