Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (2024)

Few recipes are easier to throw together for a quick weeknight dinner than a stir-fry. And even better, everything comes together in one skillet or wok, so cleanup is a breeze. We whittled down our hundreds of stir-fry recipes to find the best of the best for you — read on to discover the 25 that rose to the top.

01of 26

Szechwan Shrimp

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (1)

Our most popular stir-fry recipe is a classic Chinese restaurant dish you can make at home in just 20 minutes."You have to give anything this fast, healthy and so full of flavor a 5. Note this isn't a recipe for small children or others with a tongue that can't handle the heat," says one reviewer. "I'd cut back on the red pepper quite a bit if you want to achieve that."

02of 26

Kung Pao Chicken

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (2)

"Spicy chicken with peanuts, similar to what is served in Chinese restaurants," says recipe creator Arlena. "It's easy to make and you can be as sloppy with the measurements as you want. They reduce to a nice, thick sauce. Substitute cashews for peanuts, or bamboo shoots for the water chestnuts."

03of 26

Asian Beef with Snow Peas

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (3)

Steak and snow peas are tossed in a flavorful ginger sauce. "I have to admit, this was great and I was surprised at how light and flavorful the sauce was," says reviewer Shadowlady. "I also doubled the sauce and it works well over rice or noodles."

04of 26

Chicken Stir-Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (4)

"A quick and easy dish to prepare, this chicken stir-fry is packed with veggies,"says recipe creator Katie Sechrist. "Try adding bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, snap peas, or any of your favorite vegetables. Serve it with white rice, brown rice, or noodles."

05of 26

Restaurant Style Beef and Broccoli

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (5)

Get take-out without ever having to go out. Reviewer Harriet Green says, "This is a good recipe and pretty standard for Chinese home cooking and is always welcome as comfort food; the ingredients are always handy."

06of 26

Sweet and Sour Pork III

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (6)

"I have shied away from attempting Asian food at home because it never tastes like the restaurant quality, but this was different," says one reviewer "This was so delicious and hard to believe it came from my kitchen and wasn't from a Chinese restaurant."

Crispy Orange Beef

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (7)

"The fragrance of the orange zest and ginger was incredible," says reviewer SHORECOOK. "The beef was crispy and tender — this recipe is a definite keeper."

08of 26

Sesame Beef

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (8)

"Strips of round steak and chopped scallions are marinated with soy sauce and garlic, then quickly stir fried with sesame seeds," says recipe creator LMEC623. "Add a little sesame oil to the marinade if you like that flavor. Serve with rice."

09of 26

Mongolian Beef and Spring Onions

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (9)

"Fast to fix and a family favorite," says reviewer slade88green. Green onions and steak are tossed in a soy and ginger sauce.

10of 26

Chinese Pepper Steak

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (10)

"This smelled so good while it was cooking and it isn't loaded down with oil (which I appreciate)," says reviewer Holiday Baker.

11of 26

Ginger Veggie Stir-Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (11)

This versatile vegetable stir-fry can be easily customized to fit any taste. "A great, simple recipe. To make it easier, I used ginger paste and minced garlic from a jar, and frozen vegetables," says reviewer SHAHZADI.

12of 26

Black Pepper Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (12)

Reviewer TTV78 says, "There is nothing like a good kick of ground black pepper in a good old stir-fry, so this really hit the spot for us!"Serve this cabbage stir-fry with steamed rice and egg drop soup.

13of 26

Broccoli and Chicken Stir-Fry

Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (13)

"The technique described to thicken the sauce was perfect," says reviewer Pam Araki. "This was so easy and perfect." Chicken, onions, and broccoli florets are tossed in a thick sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger.

14of 26

Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (14)

This one's for the garlic lovers. Reviewer Terri says, "I like that the cabbage was al dente and lent a slight crunch to the meal. My 16-year-old son and husband at the entire batch in one sitting."

15of 26

Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (15)

This simple stir-fry will become a part of your regular dinner rotation. "I marinated the chicken in a soy sauce, honey, and garlic mixture overnight," says reviewer Beth. "Really made the chicken tasty and stayed moist."

16of 26

Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (16)

"I've made this so many times, you can use just about any veggies you have on hand. Water chestnuts are very good in it...The broth with cornstarch and teriyaki make this dish," says reviewer Sherri.

17of 26

Chef John's Caramel Chicken

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (17)

"This stunning dish is an amazing combination of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors all sticking to succulent pieces of chicken," says Chef John.

18of 26

Thai Red Chicken Curry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (18)

"This is a quick and easy curry stir-fry made with chicken, zucchini, red bell pepper and carrot. Coconut milk and curry paste make an irresistible sauce," says recipe creator THEKNACKEREDCHEF. "No need to go out to eat, as this dish is ready in about 20 minutes!"

19of 26

Addictive Sesame Chicken

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (19)

"Followed the recipe exactly and the family can't get enough of it! Better than a restaurant," says reviewer Leonda58. "Will likely slice the chicken thinner next time to work on getting the chicken a bit crispier."

20of 26

Orange Chicken Stir Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (20)

"Chicken breast meat stir fried with orange juice and zest, soy sauce, garlic and brown sugar, topped with bean sprouts and served over crispy chow mein noodles," says recipe creator Kelly Dale-Carpenter. "A healthy, zesty stir fry treat guaranteed to excite the most finicky eaters!"

21of 26

Sweet and Spicy Pork and Napa Cabbage Stir-Fry with Spicy Noodles

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (21)

Turn up the heat with this pork stir fry and get scrumptious results every time. Sweet garlicky flavor and a brightly colored vegetable medley make this dish irresistible.

22of 26

Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (22)

Sharp scallions, sesame oil, teriyaki marinade, and chicken breast combine for a winning weeknight meal. "This was great, raves one Allrecipes user. "Super delicious, easy, and healthy. I added some bamboo shoots but otherwise made the recipe as written. Thanks!"

23of 26

Healthier Kung Pao Chicken

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (23)

This lighter take on a Chinese restaurant favorite is guaranteed to wow everyone at the table, Fresh ginger and red chiles add a mouthwatering zest, while fiber-rich brown rice is deliciously hearty with every bite.

24of 26

Egg Roll in a Bowl

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/284116/egg-roll-in-a-bowl/

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"This was a quick, easy meal that had a nice mellow taste," says home cook Donna. "I used a package of coleslaw mix instead of shredding a head of cabbage. The rest of the recipe I followed exactly. I definitely will make this again."

25of 26

Lime-Curry Tofu Stir-Fry

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (25)

Red curry paste, coconut milk, and lime juice act as the base for this boldly flavored curry stir fry. Tender bell peppers and fresh basil add a hint of sweetness that sets this unique dish apart.

26of 26

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (26)

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Our 25 Best Stir-Fry Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in stir-fry? ›

According to Food & Wine, ketchup is the ultimate way to take the flavor of homemade stir fry up a level, thanks to its sweet and sour flavor profile. It just might be the easiest cooking hack to elevate your home cooking to that of your favorite take-out.

What are the best ingredients for stir-fry? ›

Good vegetables for stir-frying include bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, yellow or white onions, green onions, pea pods, cabbage, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, and leafy Asian greens in the “choy” family, such as bok choy and yu choy. In a hurry? You can use a 16-ounce bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables.

What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What is the crunchy thing in stir-fry? ›

What are those crunchy things in your stir-fry? They're water chestnuts, and they're surprisingly good for you! You probably already know a few things about water chestnuts. They're white and crunchy, and you'll find them in a ton of Asian-style stir fry dishes.

What thickens stir-fry? ›

Cornstarch! In his book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman recommends mixing 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the same amount of water, and tossing this into the stir fry just when it's almost done. It thickens in seconds, picking up the flavors of everything already in the dish and coating evenly.

What not to put in stir-fry? ›

Because stir-frying uses a very high heat, you want a cooking oil that has a high smoke point. Vegetable, canola or peanut oil are my trustee go-tos, and all have a neutral taste, so won't affect flavour. Do not – I repeat, DO NOT – use butter!

What is the best spice for stir-fry? ›

Best Herbs And Spices For Stir Fry
  • Ginger. Ginger root is one of the most popular spices used in stir frys. ...
  • Cumin. Cumin has an intense aroma with warm, earthy flavours and tart undertones. ...
  • Galangal. ...
  • Chilli. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Coriander. ...
  • Mint. ...
  • Basil.

What order do you put vegetables in a stir-fry? ›

Stir-fry onions first, then add hard vegetables such as carrot and broccoli. Quick-cooking vegetables, such as snow peas, leafy greens and bean sprouts, should be added towards the end of cooking. If using vegies that have a combination of both textures, such as gai laan, add the stems first and the leaves later.

What goes first in stir-fry? ›

Meat first, then vegetables – If you want meat or seafood in your stir fry, cook it first then scoop it out onto a separate plate before cooking the vegetables. You'll add the meat back in at the end. 5. Don't crowd the pan – If you have too much in your pan, the vegetables will steam instead of staying crisp.

What are the seven common ingredients in a stir-fry? ›

Stir fry ingredients
  • Olive Oil.
  • Vegetables: red bell pepper, yellow bell peppers, sugar snap peas, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, baby corn, water chestnuts.
  • Sauce: soy sauce, garlic cloves (minced), brown sugar, sesame oil, chicken broth, cornstarch.
  • Garnish: green onions and sesame seeds.
Sep 1, 2019

How do you make stir-fry taste like a restaurant? ›

Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.

What to add to stir-fry for flavour? ›

5. Add flavour.
  1. Herbs: basil, oregano, cilantro.
  2. Spices: cumin, coriander, cardamom.
  3. Reduced sodium or no sodium added broth.
  4. Fresh lemongrass, garlic or ginger.
  5. 100% fruit juice.
  6. Citrus zest.
  7. Lower sodium soy sauces (<600 mg sodium per tablespoon)
Sep 16, 2019

What is the best oil for stir-frying? ›

So many different oils, the good news is you can stick with what you know – canola is great! The best oils for stir frys are the oils with the higher smoke points. These tend to be the “thinner” oils such as peanut, grapeseed or canola.

How do Chinese food restaurants get their chicken so tender? ›

There are actually a few different ways to tenderise chicken the Chinese restaurant way: marinating in a cornstarch/cornflour sludge then deep frying or blanching in water before proceeding to cook in the stir fry.

What are the secrets to perfect stir-frying according to a Chinese restaurant chef? ›

Add the Ingredients That Take the Longest to Cook First

When stir frying, timing is key. The ingredients that take the longest to cook or tenderize should go in first to give them more time. “Very broadly, the order should be aromatics, meat, hearty vegetables, soft vegetables and seasoning,” says Sin.

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