Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry Recipe
This Chicken Zucchini Stir Fry is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender bite-sized chicken thighs with fresh zucchini in a savory soy-based sauce. Marinated for enhanced taste, the chicken is stir-fried with garlic and oyster sauce, making it a perfect weeknight meal that’s both healthy and satisfying.
- Author: Amy
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Chicken Marinade
- 1 lb boneless chicken thigh, cut bite-sized
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup light soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons sugar (or honey)
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (optional)
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
Cooking
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (plus extra if needed)
- 1 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and then sliced
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- Ground black pepper, optional
- Marinate the Chicken: Cut the boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken with cornstarch, light soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar or honey, rice wine vinegar (if using), and smashed garlic. Mix well and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Heat the Pan: Place a wok or large cooking pan on medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and allow it to heat up until shimmering.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the smashed garlic and the marinated chicken along with all the marinade sauce into the hot pan. Stir fry for about 2 minutes until the chicken is no longer translucent. Immediately transfer the chicken to a large plate or bowl, keeping the sauce in the pan, to prevent overcooking.
- Stir Fry the Zucchini: If the pan looks dry, add a little more cooking oil. Then add the sliced zucchini. Stir fry for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until the zucchini becomes tender but still crisp.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Add the oyster sauce and sprinkle with ground black pepper if desired. Stir fry everything together for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and zucchini is tender to your liking.
- Serve: Remove the pan from heat and serve your chicken zucchini stir fry immediately, enjoying this flavorful and nutritious dish.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add some sliced chili peppers with the garlic.
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breast if preferred; just adjust cooking time to avoid dryness.
- If rice wine vinegar is unavailable, you can omit it or replace with a teaspoon of lemon juice for slight acidity.
- Serve over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- To keep the zucchini crispier, avoid over-stirring during the last cooking step.
Keywords: chicken stir fry, zucchini recipe, quick chicken dinner, Asian chicken recipe, healthy stir fry