Chicken and Pepper Stir-Fry

This is a simple Chicken and Pepper Stir-Fry that’s made with a homemade stir-fry sauce. Feel free to throw in any extra veggies you need to use up, this recipe is easy to adapt!

Creating This Simple Chicken Stir-Fry

This chicken, peppers, and onions stir-fry started out as a friend’s recipe that I’ve been wanting to try, but I didn’t have celery (which the recipe called for) so I added red bell pepper and onion since I had that.

I also added some water to the sauce because it turned out too thick — I don’t know if I misread and added too much cornstarch or if I just don’t like sauce that thick. I also used sesame oil instead of peanut, since Logan is allergic to peanuts.

Regardless of all the changes, the homemade chicken stir-fry was really yummy! The chicken turned out super tender. I think slicing it thin and against the grain really helps with that.

I’ve never put nutmeg in stir-fry, but the flavor was really good.

Chicken and Pepper Stir-Fry Ingredients

This chicken bell pepper stir-fry is made with a homemade stir-fry sauce. The sauce uses the following ingredients:

• Soy sauce
• Rice wine vinegar
• Ground ginger
• Cornstarch
• Honey
• Ground nutmeg

And for the simple chicken stir-fry itself, you’ll need:

• Sesame oil
• Water
• Chicken breast
• Spinach
• Bell pepper
• Onion

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Chicken and Pepper Stir-Fry

This homemade chicken stir-fry requires very little hands-on prep work, which I love! Here’s how it comes together:

1. Cut the chicken into small pieces.
2. Whisk together the homemade stir-fry sauce and add the chicken. Squeeze out air if using a ziplock or cover bowl with plastic wrap.
3. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (I admit, I didn’t refrigerate it at all – I just let it sit on the counter to marinate while I chopped the veggies and got the rice started).
4. Heat a nonstick skillet or wok on high until a drop of water sizzles.
5. Add oil and swirl to coat pan, add bell pepper and onion and stir fry till tender-crisp. Set aside.
6. Add the chicken with the marinade to pan. Stir-fry until the chicken is cooked through and the marinade is bubbling.
7. Add the spinach to the pan and cook until it’s wilted.
8. Return pepper and onion and stir to combine.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Can This Recipe Be Prepped in Advance?

Yes, the stir-fry sauce can be whisked together up to 3 days in advance.

The chicken can be sliced 48 hours ahead of time, and it can be left in the marinade up to 6 hours (don’t do longer than that, otherwise the acidic marinade will make the chicken rubbery).

The veggies can all be chopped ahead of time too. If serving over rice, you can cook it beforehand and reheat it just before eating.

Can This Recipe Be Made Vegetarian?

Yes, very easily! Simply omit the chicken and add extra veggies. Or, marinate firm tofu in the stir-fry sauce.

Tips for the Best Chicken Stir-Fry

• The chicken and bell pepper stir-fry recipe says to marinate the chicken for 1 hour in the stir-fry sauce. I’ll admit, I didn’t do that. Consider the marinating time optional!
• Make sure you slice the chicken thinly and against the grain. That will give you the best texture to go with this amazing sauce.
• I made this recipe as a chicken, peppers, and onions stir-fry but you’re welcome to throw in any veggies you need to use up. The stir-fry sauce pairs well with just about any vegetable!

More Easy Asian Dinners:

I have lots of Asian-inspired recipes on my site. Here are a few of my favorites!

This Banh Mi Lettuce Wrap Recipe is a healthier, low-carb, gluten-free version of the classic Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe.

This Orange Marmalade Chicken is a sweet and spicy simple Asian-inspired chicken recipe for dinner. Serve it with rice or quinoa and a side of your favorite veggies.

Wondering what to make with ground chicken? Make these easy Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps! These will become one of your family’s favorite recipes in no time. 

This is a simple and quick recipe for Vietnamese Noodle Soup with Beef. Contains snow peas, shiitake mushrooms, basil, cilantro, beef, noodles, and broth.

These Sesame Noodles are quick and easy to prepare, but are packed with Asian-inspired flavors!

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