Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry
This amazing teriyaki chicken stir-fry is perfect for busy families who want something delicious and healthy on the table fast! You’ll love how this colorful dish brings together tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and sweet pineapple in just 20 minutes. Plus, it’s packed with protein and fiber to keep everyone satisfied.
Recipe Details
Timing & Servings: Active Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes, Serves: 4 people.
Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free, Diabetes-Friendly, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, High-Fiber, Heart-Healthy, High-Protein, Egg-Free.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): 429 Calories, 17g Fat, 38g Carbs, 32g Protein.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Grapeseed oil: You’ll need 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil or any neutral oil you have on hand. This helps get that beautiful golden color on your chicken and keeps everything from sticking.
Chicken thighs: One pound of boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces works perfectly here. Thighs stay so much more tender and juicy than breasts!
Bell peppers and onions: You’ll want 4 cups of sliced bell peppers and onions. Look for the pre-sliced mix in your grocery store’s produce section to save time.
Fresh pineapple: One cup of chopped fresh pineapple adds the most amazing sweet and tangy flavor. You can buy pre-cut pineapple to make this even easier.
Teriyaki sauce: Just 1/4 cup of low-sodium teriyaki sauce brings everything together with that perfect sweet and savory taste.
Brown rice: Two cups of hot cooked brown rice makes this a complete, filling meal. Leftover rice works great, or grab some microwaveable brown rice!
How to Make Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry
Step 1: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in your large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook them, stirring now and then, until they’re golden brown and cooked through. This takes about 5 minutes. Move the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
Step 2: Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in your peppers and onions and cook them, stirring often, until they’re tender-crisp. This only takes about 3 minutes – you want them to still have some crunch!
Step 3: Bring the chicken back to the pan and stir in the chopped pineapple and teriyaki sauce. Keep stirring everything together and cook for about 2 minutes until the sauce gets thick and coats all the chicken beautifully.
Step 4: Divide your hot brown rice among 4 plates and top each serving with the chicken and vegetable mixture. That’s it – dinner is served!
Easy and Quick Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry Version
Want to make this even faster? You’ve got this! Use a rotisserie chicken instead – just shred about 3 cups of meat and add it in the last step with the pineapple and sauce. Skip the first cooking step completely! Also, frozen stir-fry vegetables work great too – just use 4 cups and cook them straight from frozen for about 4 minutes.
Serving Ideas
This stir-fry is already a complete meal all on its own! But if you want to add a little something extra, try some crispy sesame crackers on the side or a simple cucumber salad. A sprinkle of green onions or sesame seeds on top makes it look restaurant-fancy too.
Storage
Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, just warm it up in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or toss it back in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. The flavors actually get even better the next day!
Substitutions
No chicken thighs? Chicken breasts work fine – just don’t overcook them. You can swap the pineapple for mango or even skip the fruit completely. Regular white rice is perfectly fine instead of brown rice. Any colorful vegetables you have on hand will work great in this dish!
Pro Tips
- Get everything ready first: Stir-fries cook so fast, so have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: If your skillet feels too full, cook the chicken in two batches for better browning.
- Keep the heat up: Medium-high heat is your friend here – it gives you that perfect stir-fry texture.
- Taste and adjust: Add a little extra teriyaki sauce if you want more flavor – you’re the boss of your kitchen!
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
You bet! You can prep all your ingredients earlier in the day and keep them in the fridge. The actual cooking only takes 20 minutes, so it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. The cooked dish keeps well for meal prep too!
What if I don’t like pineapple?
No worries at all! You can leave it out completely or try diced mango, bell pepper pieces, or even some snap peas. The dish will still be delicious without the fruit.
Can I use frozen vegetables?
Sure! Frozen stir-fry vegetables work great. Just cook them a minute or two longer since they’ll release some water. Don’t thaw them first – just toss them right into the hot pan.
Is this recipe kid-friendly?
Absolutely! Kids love the sweet teriyaki flavor and colorful vegetables. If your little ones are picky, you can serve their vegetables on the side and just give them the chicken and rice with extra sauce.
I hope your family loves this teriyaki chicken stir-fry as much as mine does! Let me know how it turns out for you – I always love hearing about your cooking adventures. Happy cooking, friend!
