Zucchini Chicken Stir Fry

Easy Zucchini Chicken Stir Fry

This is a quick and flavorful stir-fry recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or other neutral cooking oil)
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 red onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
• 2 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 cup chopped broccoli florets (or other vegetables)
• Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
• Cooked rice, for serving

Cooking Guide:

1. Prep: Wash and chop all vegetables. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, cornstarch, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes (if using).
2. Marinate: In a separate bowl, toss chicken with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce mixture. Let marinate for 5 minutes while you heat the oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Cook Chicken: Add chicken to the hot pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
4. Sauté Vegetables: Add the diced onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add garlic, ginger, and bell pepper (if using) and cook for another minute.
5. Incorporate Zucchini: Increase heat to high and add zucchini. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, until zucchini is tender-crisp and slightly browned.
6. Return Chicken and Sauce: Add the cooked chicken and reserved soy sauce mixture back to the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
7. Serve: Stir in broccoli florets (or other vegetables) and cook for an additional minute, until heated through. Serve immediately over cooked rice and garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

Tips:

• Chicken Options: You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the thighs. However, thighs tend to be more flavorful and stay moist longer during stir-frying.
• Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables to this stir-fry, such as snow peas, carrots, or mushrooms.
• Sauce Variations: For a sweeter sauce, add a tablespoon of honey or pineapple juice. For a spicier stir-fry, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of sriracha.
• Thickening the Sauce: If your sauce isn’t thickening enough, whisk together a cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) and add it to the pan while stirring constantly.
• Serving Options: You can serve this stir-fry over rice, noodles, or quinoa.