Quick and Easy 15 Minute Chicken Stir-Fry [+ Video]

Looking for quick dinner ideas for tonight, but only have 15 minutes to whip together a fresh but easy meal? Try our Quick and Easy 15-Minute Chicken Stir Fry Recipe and ditch the grilled cheese.

Creating This Quick Dinner Recipe

I used to think I had quick dinner recipes down, but with three kids needing to be in three different places by 4:30 PM, I’ve had to up my game. On one of those crazy days, Cade called from the store asking if I needed anything, and I quickly told him I needed a super-fast dinner idea before the girls had dance. He came home with Yakisoba noodles and a variety of stir-fry veggies.

He chopped up the broccolini and peppers while I opened bags of matchstick carrots, pre-sliced mushrooms, and baby bok choy. In just two minutes, we were ready to cook. You could even grab a pre-packaged stir-fry veggie mix to save even more time.

To top it off, we mixed together a simple sauce and grabbed a package of pre-cubed chicken from the meat department. It costs a bit more, but on a night like that, convenience was key.

What’s in This Easy Chicken Stir Fry Recipe? 

For this quick and easy dinner recipe, you’ll need: 

• Cubed skinless chicken breasts: A lean protein that cooks quickly and soaks up all the delicious stir-fry flavors.
• Yakisoba noodles: Adds the perfect chewy texture to the dish.
• Cooking oil: A neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola or avocado oil.
• Your favorite stir-fry vegetables: Adds flavor, texture, and nutrition. I’ve shared our favorites in the recipe card below.

We opted to make a quick homemade stir-fry sauce as well, which uses: 

• Soy sauce: The savory, salty base that gives classic stir-fry flavor.
• Vegetable broth (or chicken broth): Adds depth and keeps the sauce from being too salty.
• Honey or brown sugar: A touch of sweetness to balance the salt and spice.
• Ground ginger: Warm, slightly spicy flavor that brightens the sauce.
• Garlic cloves: Fresh, aromatic, and a must for any stir-fry.
• Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce so it clings beautifully to the noodles and chicken.

In the spirit of super-easy recipes, feel free to adjust the sauce and chicken stir-fry ingredients as needed. We constantly change up our stir-fry vegetables depending on what’s in the fridge — you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do when the kids need to be out the door soon! Some other options could be baby corn, green beans, water chestnuts, snap peas, asparagus, etc. Specific measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card.

How to Make Chicken Stir-Fry Fast

This easy stir-fry recipe is the definition of a quick and easy recipe.

1. Heat: Warm a large skillet, cast iron pan, or wok over medium-high heat with a little oil.
2. Cook: Add bite-sized chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
3. Sauté: Add a bit more oil to the pan and toss in your vegetables. Sauté until they’re crisp-tender.
4. Prep: While the veggies cook, run your noodles under hot water to separate them.
5. Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the homemade stir-fry sauce.
6. Combine: Return the cooked chicken to the pan, then add the noodles and stir-fry sauce.
7. Toss: Stir everything together until evenly coated in sauce and heated through.
8. Garnish: Finish with chopped scallions and sesame seeds, or enjoy it as-is!

The instructions can be found in more detail in the recipe card at the end of this post!

Can I Use Another Type of Noodle? 

If you can’t find yakisoba noodles at your grocery store, don’t worry! Any thin noodle will do. Angel hair or spaghetti works well in this chicken stir-fry. While not traditional, they cook quickly, which is what matters here! You could also use ramen noodles, rice noodles, or even swap in white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a tasty twist on this easy dinner.

Which Soy Sauce Should I Use? 

Not all soy sauce brands are created equal, and some can be overwhelmingly salty. For the best balance of flavor, I recommend using a low-sodium soy sauce. If you’re especially sensitive to salt, consider using a salt-free broth or bouillon base! You can always add more salt later if needed! And if you’re avoiding gluten, swap in gluten-free noodles and use coconut aminos instead of your traditional soy sauce!

What Pan Should I Use for Stir-Fries? 

Use a cast-iron pan so that the juices and food can caramelize at the bottom of the pan for the best flavor. If you haven’t bought one yet, do so now, this pan is our FAVORITE! A wok would also be a great option if you have one.

Okay, the truth is, this dish actually took us less than 15 minutes because we didn’t even have to chop the chicken, but in case you do, 15 minutes from the start of cook time to finish!

Can I Use Another Type of Meat in This Easy Stir-Fry? 

Of course! The great thing about quick dinners like this easy stir-fry recipe is that you can tailor them to suit whatever ingredients you have in your fridge. You’re welcome to use any protein you want, like chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts or skip the chicken altogether and instead use ground meat (any kind), steak, pulled chicken, and more. And if you’re vegetarian, you can add cubed tofu to this simple dinner idea. 

Can I Add Pre-Cooked Chicken to This Quick Stir-Fry? 

That’s a great idea! If you have pre-cooked chicken breasts you need to use up, throw them into this easy stir-fry. You’ll want to cube the chicken and add it into the stir-fry at the very end, just to heat it through. 

How to Reheat Leftover Chicken Stir-Fry

If you wind up with leftovers of this quick dinner idea, I recommend reheating it in a skillet with a little oil and a splash of stock or water. Avoid the microwave for leftovers, as the stir-fry noodles become rubbery when reheated that way. 

Tips for Making Chicken Stir-Fry

We used broccolini in this easy stir-fry recipe, but you can also use broccoli florets. Again, whatever you have in your fridge will work! 

There’s one more thing I’ll note about the veggies, though. I say ditch the boring button mushrooms and buy some sliced cremini mushrooms instead. Cremini are a little more meaty in flavor, and I find they’re not as rubbery as button mushrooms once they’re cooked. 

I also recommend whisking together the stir-fry sauce before adding it to the veggie mixture, otherwise, the sauce ingredients might not all dissolve (i.e., you’ll wind up with bits of partially dissolved cornstarch or brown sugar in the stir-fry). 

If you want to add a little heat to your stir fry, add a dash or two of red pepper flakes, or you can add sriracha sauce.

Watch How to Make 15-Minute Chicken Stir Fry

This is the best chicken stir fry if you want a quick and easy meal that the whole family will love. It is loaded with fresh vegetables, chunks of juicy chicken, and noodles all tossed in simple stir-fry sauce.

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