Stir-Fried Chinese Garlic Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish packed with tender chicken strips, crisp vegetables, and a bold sauce infused with garlic, ginger, and chili. Made in under 30 minutes, this recipe is ideal for busy weeknights and brings authentic Chinese takeout flavor straight to your kitchen. Serve with steamed rice for a wholesome, satisfying meal.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You’ll love this stir-fry because it’s fast, healthy, and bursting with restaurant-quality flavor. The chicken stays tender thanks to a simple marinade, and the vegetables stay crisp and vibrant. The sauce is savory, garlicky, slightly sweet, and incredibly aromatic—everything you want in a Chinese-style chicken dish. Plus, it’s customizable, meal-prep friendly, and requires minimal cleanup.

Stir-Fried Chinese Garlic Chicken

Stir-Fried Chinese Garlic Chicken is one of those dishes that delivers maximum flavor with surprisingly simple ingredients. It’s a staple in many Chinese home kitchens because it cooks quickly, uses everyday pantry sauces, and relies on aromatics like garlic and ginger for deep, unmistakable flavor.

What makes this dish truly special is the balance of textures. The chicken is cut into thin strips so it cooks fast and stays juicy, while vegetables like snow peas, onions, and red bell peppers add crispness and natural sweetness. Every bite becomes a contrast of tender meat and vibrant vegetables—a hallmark of great stir-frying.

Aromatics play a starring role in this recipe. Freshly minced garlic and grated ginger are added early to release their essential oils. Combined with a touch of red chili flakes, the base becomes fragrant, warm, and full of depth. This aromatic foundation is what gives Chinese stir-fries their signature flavor.

The sauce is simple yet incredibly effective. Soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, and a touch of brown sugar create a savory-sweet glaze that coats the chicken beautifully. Cornstarch helps the sauce cling to every piece, creating that glossy, restaurant-style finish everyone loves. It’s bold without being overpowering.

Another reason this stir-fry stands out is its versatility. You can adjust the spice level, swap vegetables based on what you have, or add mushrooms, broccoli, or baby corn. It’s a flexible, forgiving recipe that adapts to your preferences and pantry.

Cooking in a wok brings out the best results, allowing everything to stir-fry quickly over high heat. The fast cooking process locks in flavor and keeps vegetables crisp. If you don’t have a wok, a wide skillet works perfectly, making this recipe accessible to any home cook.

This dish is also a great alternative to takeout—healthier, fresher, and often faster than ordering delivery. You control the ingredients, salt levels, and oil, creating a meal that fits your dietary needs without sacrificing taste. It’s perfect for those who want big flavor with minimal fuss.

Meal planning becomes easier with recipes like this one. Chinese Garlic Chicken reheats beautifully for lunch the next day and pairs well with various sides like brown rice, jasmine rice, noodles, or even cauliflower rice. It’s a dependable option for weekly meal prep.

This stir-fry is also kid-friendly and family-approved. The flavors are bold but not too spicy, making it enjoyable for a wide range of palates. If you prefer more heat, you can simply add more chili flakes or a splash of chili oil at the end.

Lastly, Stir-Fried Chinese Garlic Chicken brings satisfying, homemade comfort straight to your table. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding a hungry family, this dish provides a delicious, nourishing meal that comes together quickly and always hits the spot.

Servings & Time

Servings: 3–4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

• 1 lb chicken breast tenders, cut into ½-inch-thin strips

• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil

• ¼ tsp ground white pepper

Stir-Fry

• 2 tbsp peanut oil or vegetable oil, divided

• 5–6 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger

• 1 tsp red chili flakes

• ½ cup roughly chopped red onion

• A handful of snow peas, trimmed

• ½ red bell pepper, thinly sliced

Sauce

• 1 tbsp rice vinegar

• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

• 2 tsp dark soy sauce

• 2 tsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry (optional)

• ½ tbsp brown sugar

• 2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Marinate chicken with sesame oil and white pepper for 10–15 minutes.

2. Mix all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

3. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a hot wok and sear chicken for 1 minute without stirring.

4. Stir and cook chicken for another 2–3 minutes until just cooked; set aside.

5. Add remaining oil to the wok and sauté garlic, ginger, and chili flakes for 10–15 seconds.

6. Increase heat to high and add snow peas and red onion; stir-fry 30 seconds.

7. Add red bell pepper and cook 1 minute until crisp tender.

8. Return chicken to wok and pour in prepared sauce.

9. Stir until sauce thickens; add 1–2 tbsp water if needed.

10. Cook 30 more seconds, then remove from heat and serve with steamed rice.

Tips

Ingredient Substitutions

• Swap chicken with thinly sliced beef or pork.

• Substitute snow peas with snap peas or green beans.

• Use tamari for a gluten-free version.

Make-Ahead & Storage

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2–3 days.

• Reheat gently to preserve chicken tenderness.

• Keep vegetables slightly undercooked if planning for meal prep.

Serving Variations

• Serve over noodles instead of rice.

• Add broccoli or mushrooms for extra veggies.

• Top with sesame seeds or sliced scallions.

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Don’t overcrowd the wok—cook chicken in a single layer.

• Don’t burn the garlic; keep heat low when sautéing aromatics.

• Don’t skip cornstarch; it makes the sauce glossy and thick.