5 Quick & Easy Stir-Fry Recipes for Busy Weeknights

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After a long day at work or school, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. Thankfully, stir-fry recipes are a quick and easy way to whip up a delicious, nutritious meal in no time. Whether you’re craving chicken, beef, tofu, or vegetables, stir-fries allow you to throw together a variety of ingredients and flavors in just 20 minutes or less.

In this blog post, we’ll share 5 quick and easy stir-fry recipes that will take your weeknight dinners to the next level. These dishes are simple, versatile, and packed with flavor, making them perfect for busy evenings.

1. Classic Chicken Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  2. In the same pan, add the bell pepper, onion, and carrot. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, until slightly softened.
  3. Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for another minute.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, and cornstarch (if using). Pour this sauce over the veggies and add the cooked chicken back to the pan. Stir to coat the chicken and vegetables in the sauce.
  5. Cook for another 2 minutes until everything is heated through and the sauce has thickened.
  6. Serve your chicken stir-fry over cooked rice, and enjoy!

2. Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
  2. Add the broccoli to the pan and stir-fry for 2 minutes, until just tender.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch (if using).
  4. Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Then, return the beef to the pan and pour the sauce mixture over the beef and broccoli. Stir to coat everything in the sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through and the sauce has thickened.
  5. Serve the beef and broccoli stir-fry over cooked rice.

3. Tofu and Vegetable Stir-Fry (Vegan-Friendly)

Ingredients:

  • 1 block firm tofu, pressed and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • ½ cup snap peas
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the tofu cubes and cook for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides. Remove the tofu from the pan and set aside.
  2. In the same pan, add the zucchini, bell pepper, carrot, and snap peas. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and sesame oil.
  4. Add the tofu back to the pan, pour the sauce over everything, and stir to coat.
  5. Cook for another 2 minutes, then top with sesame seeds before serving over rice.

4. Shrimp and Snow Peas Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 cups snow peas, trimmed
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes until they turn pink. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
  2. In the same pan, add the snow peas and bell pepper. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until they begin to soften.
  3. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar. Pour the sauce over the veggies and add the shrimp back to the pan. Stir to coat and cook for an additional 2 minutes, until heated through.
  5. Serve the shrimp stir-fry over cooked rice.

5. Vegetarian Sweet Potato Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish
  • Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sweet potatoes and cook for 5-7 minutes until slightly tender.
  2. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the pan. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  3. Sprinkle in the paprika and cumin, then stir to coat the vegetables evenly.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, maple syrup, and sesame oil.
  5. Pour the sauce over the vegetables, stirring to combine. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, until everything is tender and the sauce is absorbed.
  6. Serve the sweet potato stir-fry over cooked rice, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Conclusion

Stir-fries are an excellent way to prepare a quick and nutritious meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. These 5 quick and easy stir-fry recipes are all packed with flavor and can be made in under 30 minutes! Whether you prefer chicken, beef, tofu, shrimp, or just vegetables, you can create a delicious stir-fry to suit any dietary preference.

So, grab your wok or skillet and get cooking. You’ll soon have a tasty dinner on the table in no time, leaving you more time to relax after a busy day. 🍽️🌟

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