This Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus is one of those dinners that comes together in minutes, ut is so incredibly satisfying. The secret to this recipe is the lemony stir fry sauce is made with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, and fresh lemon juice. Serve it over rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or some soba noodles.
Stir-fries are one of my easy, go-to dinners when I'm in a hurry and I want something tasty, filling, and healthy. This time around when I was hunting through my fridge for something to stir fry, I came across the chicken I put in to thaw the night before and some asparagus that needed to be eaten sooner rather than later.
I love how easy chicken is to cook and how it takes on the flavors of just about any sauce you throw on it. Plus, I almost always have chicken on hand. And asparagus happens to be one of my favorite veggies. Slightly bitter, slightly nutty, if you cook it just right it's just perfect tossed together with the chicken and homemade stir fry sauce. But don't take my word for it — make this dish ASAP and see for yourself!
How do you make this chicken and asparagus stir-fry?
From fridge to table in just 20 minutes! That's faster than it would take to drive to the restaurant and pick up takeout!
First, make the sauce by mixing together chicken broth, lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and cornstarch. Set that aside for a few minutes.
Then, add the coconut oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the chicken and let it cook for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to brown.
Add the asparagus, garlic, and ginger to the pan with the chicken. Cook the mixture for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the asparagus is tender-crisp and bright green.
Finally, pour the stir fry sauce back in. Bring it all to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens. Serve immediately.
Ideas for Customizing Chicken Stir Fry
- Add in whatever veggies you like. Swap out the asparagus for a different, favorite veggie of yours, or add a mixture. I like to add broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, green beans, zucchini, and yellow squash for starters.
- Add some heat with red pepper flakes, jalapeno slices (raw or pickled), or hot sauce (Sriracha is my favorite) on top.
- Use sliced turkey breast instead of chicken, or ground turkey or chicken would work well too.
- Want to make a vegetarian stir fry? Use firmly pressed tofu, beans, or another favorite vegetarian meat substitute.
- Simply make this stir fry with lots of veggies and top with crushed peanuts for texture and crunch if you prefer.
Tips & Tricks for Making Stir-Fries
- Have everything cut and ready to go so that you can cook everything one after the other. Otherwise, your chicken might overcook while you're cutting veggies or vice-versa. It makes the cooking process go much faster too!
- Wash and pat dry all of your veggies before cooking.
- I almost always cook the meat for the stir fry first because it takes the longest to cook. Plus, if you just brown the meat first, then it'll finish cooking while you cook the veggies and add the sauce, so no need to worry about anything getting overdone.
- If you are freezing the stir fry, let it come to room temperature before putting in an airtight container in the freezer.
- Store this chicken and asparagus stir fry in the fridge for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to three months.
What are the benefits of eating asparagus?
Asparagus is just soooo good for you. And you can usually find it year-round at the grocery store, though the price will vary depending on if it's in season or not.
The tasty green stalks are high in folate, vitamins K, C, and E, antioxidants, selenium, manganese, and zinc. Asparagus also has anti-inflammatory properties, and amino acids that are important for healthy brain function. It's also low-calorie, fat-free, low-sodium, and filling with lots of fiber.
Do you wash asparagus before cooking?
Yes, I always wash my veggies before cooking with them. Washing asparagus is simple. Right before I'm about to cook with it, I'll rinse it in a colander in the sink with cold water to remove any sand, dirt, or other grit that might be on it. I then pat the stalks dry with a paper towel before cutting and cooking.
How do I know when asparagus is done cooking?
You don't need to cook asparagus long at all. I cook it only for about 3-4 minutes otherwise it'll start to get soft and soggy. Asparagus is really best when it's tender-crisp. So it'll still be easy to pick up with a fork, and will still maintain most of its bright green color.
Looking for more Stir-Fry Recipes
- Beef and Bok Choy Stir Fry
- Spicy Turkey, Green Bean, and Mushroom Stir Fry
- Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Asian Ground Turkey Stir Fry
- Thai Basil Shrimp Stir Fry