Description
Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry: Your easy, healthy chicken dinner ready in just 20 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
- 2 medium zucchinis, quartered lengthwise and sliced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), thinly sliced
- 1 small white or yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (like avocado or canola)
- Flavor Boosters:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- Finishing Touches:
- 1 tbsp cold water (for cornstarch slurry)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted (for garnish)
- 2 green onions (scallions), sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep for the Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry:: First things first, let’s get everything ready. Slice your chicken breast into thin, bite-sized pieces. I find about 1/2-inch thick works best for quick cooking. Then, get those zucchinis quartered lengthwise and sliced into half-moons. Bell pepper? Thin strips. Onion? Sliced. Mince your garlic and grate your ginger. Honestly, this is the step I always rush and then regret, but for this Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry, having everything prepped means smooth sailing. It makes all the difference, trust me.
- Whip Up the Stir Fry Sauce:: In a small bowl, whisk together your soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame oil. In a separate tiny bowl, mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water until it’s smooth – this is your cornstarch slurry. Don’t skip this step; it’s what gives our Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry its lovely, glossy sauce. I always taste the sauce at this point, sometimes adding a tiny bit more honey if I’m feeling extra sweet, or a dash more vinegar for zing.
- Sear the Chicken:: Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil – I usually use a neutral oil like avocado or canola. Once it’s shimmering, add your chicken in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd the pan, or it’ll steam instead of sear! Cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. I love the smell of the chicken browning; it just signals that dinner is really happening. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Sauté the Veggies for your Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry:: Add a tiny bit more oil to the pan if needed. Toss in your sliced onions and bell peppers. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until they start to soften but still have a bit of crunch. Then, add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for another minute until fragrant – oh, that smell! It’s just heavenly. This is where the kitchen really starts to come alive, filling with those amazing stir-fry aromas.
- Add Zucchini & Combine for this Easy Healthy Chicken Dinner:: Now, add your zucchini to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, just until it starts to tender-crisp. We don’t want mushy zucchini, right? That’s a cardinal sin in my kitchen! Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the vegetables. Give it a good toss to combine everything. It’s starting to look like a proper Easy Healthy Chicken Dinner, and I’m already getting excited for that first bite.
- Finish with the Sauce for your Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry:: Give your cornstarch slurry a quick re-whisk, then pour it into the pan with the chicken and veggies. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats everything beautifully. It happens fast, so keep an eye on it! Remove from heat immediately. Garnish your Quick Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve hot, and honestly, just enjoy that moment of delicious, healthy satisfaction!