Sizzling Chicken Stir-Fry with Brown Rice Recipe for Cozy Nights

Have you ever craved a quick and delightful chicken stir-fry with brown rice that screams comfort?

Weeknight meals demand something special to break the monotony of routine cooking.

Colorful vegetables dance alongside tender chicken pieces, creating a vibrant plate packed with nutrition.

Seasonal ingredients make this dish sing with fresh, bold flavors that surprise and satisfy.

Crisp bell peppers and zesty seasonings bring depth to every single bite.

Nutritious brown rice provides a hearty foundation for this protein-rich meal.

Warm up your kitchen and appetite with this simple yet spectacular culinary adventure that you’ll want to make again and again.

Chicken Stir Fry With Brown Rice That Keeps Things Balanced

• Whip Up a Quick Weeknight Triumph: This stir-fry delivers restaurant-quality flavor in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks craving delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Master Easy Cooking Techniques: The recipe requires simple pan-cooking skills, allowing even novice chefs to create a professional-looking dish with minimal culinary expertise and basic kitchen equipment.
• Nutrition-Packed One-Pan Wonder: Packed with lean protein from chicken, vibrant vegetables like radishes and bell peppers, and served over wholesome brown rice, this meal delivers a balanced nutritional profile in a single skillet.
• Customize with Confidence: The flexible recipe allows easy ingredient swaps or adjustments based on dietary preferences, making it adaptable for different taste buds and pantry availability.

Stir-Fry Mix in Chicken and Brown Rice Dish

• Chicken: Lean protein that provides the main substance of the dish, best when cut into even bite-sized pieces.

• Peanut Butter: Creamy base that adds richness and depth to the sauce.
• Soy Sauce: Provides salty umami flavor and helps blend sauce ingredients.
• Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness and helps balance sauce flavors.
• Honey: Brings subtle sweetness and helps sauce caramelize.
• Hot Sauce: Introduces spicy kick and additional flavor complexity.
• Sesame Oil: Contributes nutty, authentic Asian-inspired flavor.

• Ginger: Fresh root that provides warm, zesty undertone.
• Garlic: Adds sharp, pungent flavor base for the dish.

• Radishes, Radish Greens: Provide crisp texture and peppery taste.
• Bell Pepper: Adds color and sweet crunch to the stir-fry.
• Peas: Brings fresh, sweet element to the dish.

• Salt: Helps season and highlight other ingredients.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Introduces gentle heat and spice.
• Lime: Offers bright, citrusy finish with zest and juice.

• Oil: Used for sautéing chicken and vegetables.
• Warm Water: Helps thin and adjust sauce consistency.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Brown Rice – Cooking Steps

Step 1: Whip Up the Sauce

• Peanut butter
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
• Honey
• Hot sauce
• Sesame oil
• Ginger
• Garlic (two-thirds portion)
• Warm water

Add extra water if the sauce seems too thick.

Set the sauce aside for later.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Spread chicken pieces on a baking sheet in a single layer.

Sprinkle both sides generously with salt and red pepper flakes.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken

Heat a large skillet over high heat.

Add half the oil and cook chicken in batches.

Ensure each piece is in a single layer and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until fully cooked.

Repeat with remaining chicken and oil.

Step 4: Sauté the Vegetables

• Remaining garlic
• Radishes
• Radish greens
• Bell pepper

Season with salt and cook until radish greens become wilted and vegetables are tender.

Step 5: Combine and Simmer

Pour the prepared peanut sauce into the skillet and simmer for 1 minute.

Add peas and cooked chicken back into the skillet.

Remove from heat and let rest for a couple of minutes.

Step 6: Finish and Serve

Sprinkle fresh lime zest and squeeze lime juice over the stir-fry before serving with brown rice.

Stir-Fry Chicken Tips With Rice Simplicity

• Choose crisp radishes, vibrant bell peppers, and tender chicken for the best flavor and texture.
• Cook chicken in batches to prevent overcrowding, ensuring each piece gets perfectly golden and juicy.
• Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes to match your personal heat tolerance without overwhelming the dish.
• Whisk peanut sauce thoroughly and add water gradually to achieve a smooth, clingy texture that coats ingredients evenly.
• Chop vegetables and measure sauce ingredients before cooking to streamline the stir-fry process and reduce kitchen stress.

Chicken Stir-Fry Ready for a Quick Heat

• Store leftover chicken stir-fry in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Transfer cooled stir-fry to freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags, removing excess air. Freeze for up to 2 months, maintaining best quality and taste.
• Warm the stir-fry in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water to prevent drying. Stir occasionally until heated thoroughly, about 3-4 minutes.
• Place stir-fry in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until temperature reaches 165°F.

Easy Bites For Chicken Stir-Fry

• Craft a Crisp White Wine Pairing: Select a zesty Sauvignon Blanc or bright Pinot Grigio to complement the stir-fry's tangy peanut sauce and cut through the richness of the chicken.
• Boost with Refreshing Asian Beer: Grab a light Japanese beer like Sapporo or Asahi to balance the dish's spicy and savory flavors, providing a cool counterpoint to the hot stir-fry.
• Elevate with Citrus Mocktail: Mix a ginger-lime sparkling water with fresh mint to echo the recipe's lime zest and create a vibrant, non-alcoholic beverage that enhances the meal's bright notes.
• Enhance with Green Tea: Brew a cool sencha or jasmine green tea to cleanse the palate and harmonize with the Asian-inspired flavor profile of the chicken stir-fry.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Rice Options

• Vegetarian Protein Swap: Replace chicken with tofu, tempeh, or seitan for a plant-based protein option that absorbs the rich peanut sauce flavors.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free to make the recipe safe for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Low-Carb Rice Alternative: Substitute brown rice with cauliflower rice or spiralized zucchini noodles to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining the dish's core flavors.
• Spice Level Adjustment: Modify hot sauce and red pepper flakes to create a mild version for those who prefer less heat, or increase spiciness for bold flavor seekers.

FAQs

• Why use peanut butter in the sauce?

Peanut butter adds rich, creamy texture and depth of flavor to the stir-fry sauce, creating a nutty, slightly sweet base that complements the chicken and vegetables.

• Can I substitute another protein for chicken?

Yes, you can easily replace chicken with tofu, shrimp, or beef. Just ensure the protein is cut into similar-sized pieces and cooked thoroughly.

• Is this recipe spicy?

The recipe has a mild heat from red pepper flakes and hot sauce, but you can adjust the spiciness by increasing or decreasing these ingredients to suit your taste preference.

• What makes this stir-fry healthy?

This dish includes lean protein, multiple vegetables like radishes and bell peppers, and uses brown rice, which provides complex carbohydrates and more nutrients compared to white rice.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Brown Rice Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 33 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Sizzling aromas of chicken stir-fry with brown rice invite culinary adventurers into a world of Asian-inspired flavors. Crisp vegetables and tender chicken dance together, promising a nutritious and delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 12 to 15 small red radishes, quartered
• 1 cup radish greens, coarsely chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 5 large cloves garlic, grated
• 1 knob ginger, grated (about 1 tablespoon)

Sauce and Seasonings:

• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Zest and juice from 1 small lime
• Kosher salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, hot sauce, sesame oil, ginger, most of the garlic, and warm water into a smooth, pliable sauce. Adjust consistency with additional water if needed.
2. Lay chicken pieces on a baking sheet, ensuring they do not overlap. Generously season both sides with salt and red pepper flakes.
3. Ignite a large skillet to high heat. Pour half the oil and sear chicken in batches, maintaining a single layer. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring periodically until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove first batch before repeating with remaining chicken.
4. Without cleaning the skillet, introduce remaining garlic, radishes, radish greens, and bell pepper. Sprinkle with salt and sauté until radish greens become delicate and slightly wilted.
5. Pour prepared peanut sauce into the skillet, allowing it to simmer for one minute. Reintroduce cooked chicken and peas, gently integrating all components.
6. Turn off heat and let the mixture rest briefly, allowing flavors to meld and harmonize.
7. Finish by sprinkling fresh lime zest and squeezing lime juice over the stir-fry just before serving.

Notes

• Customize sauce thickness by gradually adding warm water to achieve desired consistency, creating a personalized flavor profile.
• Use alternative protein options like tofu or tempeh for vegetarian adaptation while maintaining the recipe’s core flavor balance.
• Choose organic, low-sodium soy sauce to reduce salt intake without compromising the dish’s rich umami taste.
• Quickly sear chicken at high heat to lock in moisture and create delicious golden-brown exterior, preventing dry meat texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 650 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg