Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

This easy teriyaki chicken stir fry features tender, wok-fried pieces of chicken and crisp, colorful vegetables, all tossed in a rich and savory homemade teriyaki sauce. Nutritious, delicious, and ready in no time, this stir fry is perfect for serving over fluffy rice or noodles for a complete meal that will rival your favorite takeout.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🧂 Substitutions
• 📖 Variations
• 🔪 How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
• 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
• 🥡 Storing & Reheating
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments & Reviews

Easy, healthy, tasty, and coated in a mouthwatering sauce - just so many reasons to love this teriyaki chicken dinner!

When you need a delicious and incredibly fast weeknight meal, a stir fry is the perfect solution. What truly elevates this recipe is the amazing homemade teriyaki sauce, which strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory, coating every single piece of chicken and vegetable in rich flavor.

Forget ordering delivery! This tasty teriyaki chicken stir fry is so much better than takeout, and it's so quick and easy that you can have a fresh, flavorful meal on the table faster than waiting for a driver to arrive.

Try this stir fry served over my delightful fried teriyaki noodles!

❤️ Why I Love This Recipe

Quick and Effortless: This stir fry is the perfect meal for busy weeknights. Once the chicken and vegetables are prepped, the cooking process is incredibly fast-simply toss everything in the wok, cook until tender, and coat with the delicious sauce.

Irresistible Homemade Flavor: While you can use store-bought teriyaki sauce, my homemade version takes this dish to the next level! It's a perfect blend of sweet and savory, packed with rich flavors like garlic, ginger, a hint of orange, soy sauce, and brown sugar. You won't want to miss a single drop!

Packed with Nutrition: This isn't just a tasty meal; it's a healthy one too. I load this stir fry with a wide variety of fresh vegetables, creating a nutrient-dense dish that is as nourishing as it is delicious.

🥘 Ingredients

If you'd like to make your own teriyaki sauce for your chicken stir fry, try my super easy recipe! It's packed full of flavor with soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, garlic, and ginger!

• Cooking Oil - A neutral oil like canola is preferred here.
• Zucchini - You can also use another green veggie like broccoli! Whichever you choose, it should be washed, trimmed, and cut into evenly sized pieces.
• Yellow Onion - This should be cut into 1-inch chunks! You can use white onion if you prefer, but I like the sweetness of yellow onion in this dish.
• Sugar Snap Peas - I love the sweet crunch that fresh peas give to a stir fry! You can also use snow peas if you prefer.
• Bell Pepper - I recommend red, but you can also use orange, yellow, or green. These should be cut into 1-inch chunks.
• Carrots - These should be washed and sliced! You can slice them on a bias to make the presentation more attractive.
• Sesame Oil - Sesame oil adds a great nuttiness to any Asian dish. There aren't any substitutions for this flavor, so make sure you don't skip it!
• Chicken Thighs - I like these to be boneless, skinless, and cut into chunks. Chicken thighs are wonderful here because they stay moist and tender!
• Salt & Pepper - This is just to taste! You'll use this to season the chicken before adding the sauce.
• Teriyaki Sauce - This will give all that amazing flavor! You can use my recipe, make your own, or use store-bought!
• Sesame Seeds - This is the perfect garnish for the stir fry! It's an optional garnish though, if you cannot find them!

🧂 Substitutions

If preferred, you can use an equal amount of chopped chicken breasts, sliced beef, prepared shrimp, or sliced tofu in place of the boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

📖 Variations

Want to try another amazing teriyaki chicken recipe? Maybe my teriyaki chicken marinade? Or check out my healthy zoodles with ginger sesame teriyaki chicken!

🔪 How To Make Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Before you begin cooking, it's essential to have everything prepped and ready to go, as the stir-frying process happens very quickly.
   • Vegetables: Wash and chop all your vegetables (2 cups zucchini or broccoli, 1 chopped yellow onion, 1 cup sugar snap peas, 1 cup chopped bell pepper, ½ cup sliced carrots).
   • Chicken: Cut 1 pound of chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks.
   • Set Up: Arrange your chopped vegetables, chicken, teriyaki sauce, oils, and seasonings next to your stove so they are all within easy reach.
2. Stir-Fry the Vegetables: In a wok or a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add all your prepared vegetables to the hot pan and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes, or until they are vibrant and tender-crisp. You want them cooked but still with a slight bite. Once done, immediately transfer the vegetables to a separate plate and set them aside.
3. Cook the Chicken: Return the empty wok to medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons of sesame oil, followed by the cubed chicken. Season with ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir-fry the chicken, tossing frequently, until it is golden brown and cooked through with no pink remaining.
4. Combine and Sauce: Pour ½ cup of your homemade teriyaki sauce over the cooked chicken. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, bubbles, and beautifully coats the chicken. Return the cooked vegetables to the wok and toss everything together until the vegetables are heated through and coated in the sauce.
5. Serve Immediately: Remove the stir fry from the heat. Serve immediately over a bed of fluffy rice or noodles, and garnish with green onion or sesame seeds, if desired.

Serve for dinner over Jasmine rice or Basmati rice.

Want an amazing appetizer to serve with the stir fry? Try my super easy crab rangoons or air fryer spring rolls. Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• Prep All Ingredients First: Stir-frying is a high-heat, fast-cooking method. The secret to success is having every ingredient-chopped vegetables, sliced chicken, and mixed sauce-prepared and ready to go before you start cooking. This prevents anything from overcooking while you're busy prepping the next ingredient.
• Don't Crowd the Pan-Cook in Batches: To ensure your vegetables stay crisp and your chicken gets a beautiful sear, avoid putting everything in the pan at once. Overcrowding will cause the ingredients to steam, resulting in a soft, mushy texture. For the best results, cook the vegetables first, remove them from the pan, and then cook the chicken. You can combine everything at the end when you add the sauce.
• Customize Your Vegetables: This recipe is incredibly versatile! Feel free to swap in your family's favorite vegetables. Broccoli florets, snap peas, mushrooms, or water chestnuts are all excellent additions. Just aim for a total of about 4 to 5 cups of chopped vegetables to maintain a good ratio.
• The Secret to Easy Slicing: For perfectly uniform, thin slices of chicken, try this simple trick: place the chicken in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes before you begin slicing. This will firm up the meat, making it much easier to cut cleanly and evenly.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

This teriyaki chicken stir fry makes for fantastic leftovers! Once it has cooled completely, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will remain fresh and delicious for up to 4 days, making it perfect for quick lunches or another easy dinner.

Freezing for a Future Meal

Yes, you can freeze this stir fry for a convenient meal later on! For the best results, follow these steps:

1. Cool Completely: Allow the stir fry to cool down fully to room temperature. This is a crucial step to prevent ice crystals from forming.
2. Package Properly: Transfer the cooled stir fry into a freezer-safe airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Squeeze out as much excess air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
3. Freeze: Label the container with the date and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months for the best flavor and texture.
4. Thaw Safely: When you're ready to eat it, thaw the stir fry overnight in the refrigerator for the best results.

Reheating Your Stir Fry

To bring your leftovers back to life, you have two simple options:

• Stovetop Method (Recommended): This is the best way to preserve the texture of the ingredients. Place the leftovers in a skillet or wok over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to help loosen the sauce and prevent sticking. Stir occasionally until everything is heated through.
• Microwave Method: For a quicker option, place the stir fry in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover it with a damp paper towel to help steam the ingredients and prevent splatters. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until it is thoroughly warmed.

❓ Recipe FAQs

📖 Recipe Card