
Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
Colorful vegetables and tender chicken make a lively stir-fry, with cashews adding a satisfying bite. The glossy sauce gathers around the small pieces so every forkful has plenty of flavor.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 17 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Cuisine
- American · Asian · Chinese
- Cooking method
- Stir fry
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
A few quick notes
1. Match the piece sizes
Trim excess chicken fat and cut chicken and vegetables into similarly sized pieces before cooking to help the stir-fry cook evenly.
2. Cook chicken in one layer
Wait until oil is hot, then brown chicken in a single layer before lifting it out for the vegetable stage.
3. Stir vegetables frequently
Cook the vegetables with remaining oil and butter, mixing often until crisp-tender before returning chicken with garlic and ginger.
Get to know the ingredients
Chicken thighs
Use bite-size thigh pieces for the main method. Tenders or breast are options too; take care not to overcook them.
Cashews
Keep the cashews for the final stage, adding them before the mixed sauce goes into the pan and comes to a boil.
Combined sauce
Mix broth, water, soy sauce, honey and cornstarch in a bowl before cooking, ready to pour over the chicken and vegetables together.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 6 steps completeMake room for Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Coat and garnish
Lower to a simmer after the sauce boils, let it thicken through the stir-fry and add optional green onion and sesame seed.
A little more help as you go
Garlic and ginger go late
Add these after cooked chicken returns to the vegetables, stirring frequently for a minute before adding cashews and sauce.
Thaw frozen leftovers first
Freeze for up to three months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a skillet until hot.
A few questions you might have
Can I change the vegetables?
Try choices such as cauliflower, asparagus, snap peas, baby corn or water chestnuts to suit what you have.
Can I use chicken breast?
You can use chicken breast or tenders. Take care not to overcook them during the stir-fry.
How long can I refrigerate leftovers?
Refrigerate the finished chicken and vegetable stir-fry in an airtight container for three to four days.
Is the cornstarch added dry at the end?
It is part of the sauce mixture prepared in a bowl at the beginning, then poured into the pan with the other sauce ingredients.
Should the sauce stay at a hard boil?
Bring it to a boil after pouring, then turn down the heat and simmer until thickened and incorporated through the stir-fry.
Any more cooking tips?
Variations: Vegetables: Feel Free to swap vegetables to fit your preferences or what you have on hand. Great options include: cauliflower, sweet peas, asparagus, green beans, snap peas, bean sprouts, baby corn, or water chestnuts. Chicken: You can use chicken tenders or even chicken breast, but be sure not to overcook. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in a skillet until heated through.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: natashaskitchen.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.



