Chicken broccoli stir fry is a quick and easy meal prep dinner that’s perfect for a busy weeknight. It’s kid-friendly and it freezes well, too. This is the perfect recipe for meal planning!
This recipe and post is sponsored by goodcook. You can purchase the meal prep containers here on Amazon.
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry (Recipe Video)
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry is so great for a back to school dinner! It’s that time of the year – the kids are going back to school! I’m getting the kids back into their routine and for me, this also means getting back into my meal prep routine!
Watch this quick video to see just how easy chicken broccoli stir fry is to make!
I can’t believe the summer is gone and we are going back to school. For us, going back to school is a little more stressful this year because we are now settling into Pennsylvania and my kids into their new schools. I want my kids to adjust and adapt well, so for me this means having everything at home relaxed, organized and something that is familiar and comforting for them.
If you ask me, one of the biggest things parents struggle with is meal planning. Whether it’s not knowing what to pack for lunches or make for dinner, or just being so busy that dinner becomes an afterthought. To make things worse, then you’re scrambling to put dinner together at the last minute. If you eat and want to save more money, meal planning is for you.
MEAL PLANNING CAN WORK FOR ANYONE
I know it’s time consuming but the time you spend on the weekends for meal prep, or even one night after the kids have gone to bed, will be so worth it during the week! I will plan our weekly menu, go grocery shopping and prep components for meals in advance. It saves me time and money and because I already know what’s for dinner and it’s one less thing to worry about.
MEAL PLANNING TIPS
Click here to read more on Meal Planning 101
If you’re new to cooking, start slow and try to cook just a couple of meals a week. Start with easy recipes and foods that you and your family love. Once you get into the kitchen and cooking and start a routine, it’ll get easier.
Find a time that works for you, where you can set aside an hour to 2 to plan your meals. Grab a calendar or meal planning notepad and plan out your meals. Flip through magazines or a cookbook, or look online, you can seriously find a recipe anywhere. On nights where you and/or your children have busier schedules, plan for something super quick and easy like a soup (that you’ve made in advance and can just heat up) and sandwich night. You don’t have to cook every night. You can certainly plan for picking up dinner, or even ordering pizza.
Once you have your weekly menu planned, write out your grocery list and find a day to go grocery shopping and at least an hour or 2 after that where you can prep some things in advance. Sometimes, I will even just look through my pantry and fridge to see what I have and then will plan my weekly menu around that. Use what you have.
Prep and chop vegetables, marinate or cook meats, you might even cook an entire recipe in advance. Do whatever you can ahead of time that can help save time on the weeknights.
MEAL PREP CONTAINERS
Invest in a good set of meal prep storage containers with lids; stackable containers are key! I love these Meal Prep Containers made by GoodCook! I use them to store cut and prepped vegetables and foods that I have cooked in advance. I also use them for pre-cooked meals and packed lunches for my husband. They come in packs of 10 and are re-useable and come with lids.
These meal prep containers are great because they help to keep me organized with lunches and dinners throughout the week. I love how these are stackable in my refrigerator and so easy to clean! They are microwavable, freezer and dishwasher safe, and BPA free.
GoodCook also makes Meal Prep Containers with compartments, making them perfectly suited for the meal or dish you want to make. So, whether you have a family, are a household of one or two, these honestly work for everyone!
You can purchase the meal prep containers here on Amazon.
CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI STIR FRY
Once you have your personal meal prep routine down, I think it’s important to have a handful of foundational recipes that you know how to make and that you and your family love. One of my foundational recipes is stir fry.
Stir frys are great because they are so versatile! Change up the protein: use chicken, beef, tofu or add some seafood. You can also just keep it vegetarian! Once you know how to make the recipe and this sauce, you’re set! You can also change up what you serve the stir fry with! White or brown rice, or cauliflower rice. You can even just eat the chicken and broccoli in tortillas! Once you have a great foundational recipe, you’ll find that it works in so many different ways!
I hope you give this recipe a try!!
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces*
- 1 to 2 cups broccoli cut into florets
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 2 to 3 carrots thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 yellow or orange bell pepper chopped
- 1 to 2 cups sugar snap peas cut in half or left whole
- 1 cup onion diced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 5 tablespoons hoisin sauce + more if needed
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 pound fresh shrimp fresh or frozen, but if frozen, make sure it's completely thawed
- finely diced scallions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, snap peas and diced onion and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Drizzle on the sesame oil and mix together.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ginger, and cornstarch until there are no lumps. Slowly pour over the chicken and veggies and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low, and let simmer for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Arrange the shrimp on top in a single layer and cover the skillet or wok with a lid.
- Let cook until the shrimp has turned pink. Flip over and cook on the other side. The shrimp should only need a few minutes to cook. Mix together and garnish with finely diced scallions and sesame seeds. Serve over steamed rice. Enjoy!
