Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry - Cooking Classy (2024)

Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry — A hearty chicken stir fry packed nutritious veggies. It’s tossed with a flavorful, spicy sauce and finished with peanuts for a nice crunch. Serve with white, brown or cauliflower rice.

Healthy Szechuan Chicken Stir Fry

It’s been a few months since I’ve made a stir-fry, and summer is the best time to make them so here we are! A quick and flavorful stir-fry that’s perfect for those fresh summer peppers and snow peas. Plus it’s an entreeyour whole family will enjoy!

There are so many things I love about this stir fry, but first off let’s talk about the peanuts. Those to me are the highlight of this healthy stir-fry (which may seem funny because they’re just a finishing touch), but I just can never get enough of that peanuty crunch on Asian food. Addictive!

Which is why I used 1/2 cup — let’s not be skimpy, right? Another thing I love is the sesame oil and sambal oelek; the first bringsloads of flavor while the second gives it that crave worthy heat (and you better believe I wasspooning plenty more over my serving).

There is plenty of sauce in this chicken stir fry, because aren’t saucy stir fries the best? The Szechuan sauce is slightly weet, slightly salty, perfectly spicy, and the sesame oil adds so much flavor!

Just don’t leave out the cornstarch. Even though it’s a small amount, it has strong thickening properties and the sauce would be like water without it.

And of course I love the fact thateverything iscooked in one skillet and thatI already have mostof the ingredientson hand at all times (the only thing I don’t always have on hand are the veggies, everything else is a staple in my house).

So while it does look like a long ingredients list, don’t worry! You probably have most of it too. If you like Asian food, then this Szechuan chicken stir fry is one to add to the rotation.

It’s deliciously saucy, perfectly hearty, it makes for a great weeknight meal,and of course, it will leave you wanting more!

Szechuan Chicken Stir Fry Ingredients

For the Szechuan sauce, you’ll need:

• Chicken broth
• Soy sauce
• Sesame oil
• Sambal oelek
• Rice vinegar
• Granulated sugar
• Cornstarch

And for the healthy chicken stir fry, you’ll need:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Yellow onion
• Fresh ginger
• Garlic
• Red and yellow bell peppers
• Snow peas
• Roasted peanuts
• Sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and rice (for serving)

How to Make Szechuan Chicken Stir Fry

• Whisk together all the Szechuan sauce ingredients and set aside.
• Add diced chicken to hot skillet and cook until no longer pink inside. Transfer to a plate.
• In the same skillet, sauté onion, ginger and garlic until fragrant. Add bell peppers and snow peas andsauté another 2 minutes.
• Pour sauce over veggies and cook until slightly thickened.
• Stir in chicken and cook until warmed through.
• Serve over rice and top with sesame seeds, green onions and peanuts.

Can I Use Ground Chicken in This Stir Fry Recipe?

Ground chicken would also work! You’d still need to brown the chicken and transfer it to a plate while the veggies cook, though.

Can I Use Another Sweetener in the Sauce?

Yes, honey would give you a similar flavor and wouldn’t overpower the sauce.

Can I Use Flour Instead of Cornstarch to Thicken the Sauce?

I wouldn’t recommend doing that, because you’d need more flour to do the same job. Cornstarch really is best in this healthy chicken stir fry.

Tips for the Best Szechuan Chicken Stir Fry

• This Szechuan chicken stir fry is great for meal prepping. Store the rice and stir fry mixture separately and reheat throughout the week!
• Add more or less sambal oelek to the chicken stir fry, depending on how spicy you want it to be.
• Be careful not to over cook the chicken, as you don’t want it to dry out.

More Stir Fry Recipes You’ll Love:

• Ground Turkey and Cabbage Stir Fry
• Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
• Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry
• Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
• Orange Garlic Shrimp
• Chicken Chow Mein