Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

This Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry is delicious and easy to make - Marinated cubed chicken stir fry with crunchy broccoli along with the sauce!

Jump to:

• About the ingredients
• How to cook Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry (Step by Step)
• Storage & Reheat
• FAQ
• Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
• Pin for Later!
• More Delicious Chicken Stir Fry Recipes
• Want to learn more?

About the ingredients

Here's some tips about the ingredients to make sure your Chinese Chicken and Broccoli is delicious:

Chicken

For this recipe I recommend you use dark meat instead of white meat. Chicken thighs are juicier and more tender and more often used in Chinese cuisine than Chicken breast.

However, if you do not like chicken thighs, you can use chicken breast. Here are some tips to make it more tender:

• Cut it very small - this will help the chicken have more space to touch the marinade to help it tenderize.
• Marinade longer - with chicken thighs you can marinade for at least 15 mins and it'll already make a big difference. You can't really do that with chicken breast, so make sure to marinade for at the VERY least 30 minutes (I would aim for at least an hour, or up to over night).

We will be marinating the chicken before we cook it.

I like to use the following ingredients:

• Honey - technically honey or sugar will work, the sweetness will balance out the saltiness of the soy sauce
• Soy Sauce - this is what will add a tasty flavorful to our chicken.
• Sesame oil - the oil will help it cook and plus sesame oil is delicious
• Cornstarch - cornstarch is the best in marinating meat in Chinese food. This is because it coats it so it stays more tender during stir frying.

Broccoli

When shopping for broccoli, look for broccoli with firm stems, crisp leaves and tightly closed dark green or purplish-green buds. Bunches with yellow or open buds and woody stems are usually an indicator that it is no longer fresh.

I often do a short cut where I go to the salad section of the grocery store and buy those that are already trimmed and pre-washed to make my dinner prep easier.

When you take it home, refrigerate it as soon as possible. Yes broccoli can stay out the fridge for 1-2 days but it won't stay fresh long.

How to cook Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• Marinade:
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thigh, cut in to ½ inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 4 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup of chicken broth (or water if you don't have any)
• 2 tablespoon cooking oil, separated
• 1 crown of broccoli, cut in to florets
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Salt, to taste
• (Optional) Toasted sesame seeds

In a small bowl, combine chicken with honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, and cornstarch and allow it to marinade for half hour (up to overnight - the longer the better).

Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add chicken and garlic and stir fry for about 5 minutes until it's mostly browned and then remove from heat and set aside.

In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil, chicken broth, and broccoli. Cook on medium heat, covered for 1 minute. Uncover and stir fry for about 2 more minutes or until broccoli is as tender as you prefer. For me, it should turn to a vibrant green.

Add chicken back in to the cooking pan / wok, along with oyster sauce and sesame oil, and stir fry everything together to mix well.

Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds (optional), remove from heat and serve! I recommend with white rice.

You can also make this with Chicken breasts instead! Here's when I made it with chicken breast:

Storage & Reheat

How to Store Leftovers

Cool completely before storing. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Can You Freeze Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry?

Yes, but broccoli will soften more after thawing. For best results, undercook broccoli slightly before freezing so it holds its texture when reheated. Store in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months.

Best Way to Reheat

• Stovetop (Best Texture): Heat a skillet or wok over medium heat, add a splash of water or chicken broth, and stir fry 3-4 minutes until heated through.
• Microwave (Quick): Heat in a microwave-safe dish in 45-second bursts, stirring in between, until hot.

FAQ

Can I Use Chicken Breast Instead of Thighs?

Yes - just marinade longer (at least 30 minutes, preferably 1 hour or more) to help tenderize.

How Do I Keep the Broccoli Crunchy?

Cook it briefly (1-2 minutes) and avoid oversteaming. Broccoli should turn bright green and still have a slight bite.

Can I Make This Gluten-Free?

Yes - use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, and make sure your oyster sauce is gluten-free.

Can I Add Other Vegetables?

Definitely! Bell peppers, carrots, snap peas, or baby corn work well with this stir fry.

Pin for Later!

More Delicious Chicken Stir Fry Recipes

• If you love spicy food you're going to LOVE this Jalapeno Chicken Stir Fry! It was my FAVORITE dish my mom made when I was growing up - so easy to make and so flavorful!
• Add a earthy flavor to your chicken stir fry... with shiitake mushrooms! This Chicken Shiitake Mushrooms Stir Fry is a HIT every time I make it!
• For any stir fried chicken dish, you have got to marinate! The marinate helps tenderize the meat and flavor it as well! So definitely check out my simple chicken stir fry marinade to make sure all your stir fries are delicious.
• If you're a fan of cauliflower like we are, you will love this Cauliflower Chicken Stir Fry! It's easy to make and tasty too!

Want to learn more?

Check out my FULL BLOWN "How to Stir Fry at Home" eBook! You will learn everything you need to know to master stir fries at home!