The chicken: We use chicken breasts in the recipe—they’re easy to prepare, and we usually always have a couple on hand. If you’re not a chicken breasts fan, you can also use chicken thighs instead. Our top tip? No matter what protein you're using, try and keep the sizes all generally the same (and on the smaller side) to ensure even, fast cooking.
The best vegetables for chicken stir-fry: The best thing about a stir-fry is how versatile it is. We went with broccoli, red bell peppers, and cashews for our mix-ins here, but you can really add in whatever you have on hand and prefer in your ideal stir-fry. Switch up the bell pepper type, swap the cashews for peanuts, or add in your favorite veggies—carrots, green beans, and scallions are all welcome here. Need more inspo? Check out all stir-fry recipes for even more ideas.
The sauce: While a stir-fry sauce should be relatively simple, it’s also what brings the whole dish together—it deserves to be great. We create our sauce with three ingredients: low-sodium soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Make sure you’re using reduced-sodium soy sauce here; the regular stuff will be way too salty. We highly recommend tasting your sauce before adding to your pan, and adjusting based on your preferences. Decrease the honey or soy sauce if you prefer a less-sweet sauce, or add some sriracha if you want a kick of heat.
Once you’ve whisked all of your sauce ingredients together, you’ll simmer in a skillet until thickened, around 5 minutes. Be patient—this is key to achieving a thick sauce that will coat all your chicken and veggies.
Ingredients
1/2 c. reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tbsp. canola oil
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
1 bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" pieces
1/3 c. cashews
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Step 1 In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil.
Step 2 In a large skillet over high heat, heat oil. Cook broccoli, bell pepper, and garlic, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chicken and cook, tossing occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in cashews; season with pepper.
Step 3 Pour sauce into skillet and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes.