This easy stir-fry recipe for Chinese Chicken and Broccoli in a brown sauce is quick, easy and on the table in just 30 minutes – what more could you ask for?
This healthy version of a takeout favorite combines chicken, super healthy broccoli, garlic, and ginger for a delicious, weeknight dinner.
A Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal
This Chinese Chicken and Broccoli is perfect for busy mid-week meals because it’s so fast and simple to make. Plus, you can toss in any meat or vegetables you have.
This truly is dinner on the table in just 30 minutes that’s homemade. Making Chinese food from scratch isn’t at all complicated.
Whether you’re new to cooking or a seasoned cook, this Chinese chicken and broccoli recipe can be made in your kitchen to serve up a simple dinner the whole family can enjoy.
Choosing the Best Broccoli
- Choose bright green broccoli with firm, strong stalks.
- Woody Stems should be avoided. They will turn out hard and chewy when cooked.
- Avoid broccoli with yellowing florets. It’s a sign that it has gone past the stage of desirable texture.
- Select broccoli with compact florets. The more open the florets, the less fresh it is.
Restaurant Quality at Home
The recipe tastes like what you get from Chinese restaurants even though this is made using store-bought ingredients.
And it’s just 408 calories – it doesn’t get much better!
Why this recipe works:
- The use of fresh aromatics like ginger, garlic and green onions adds big bold flavors that make a stir-fry special.
- Using chicken thighs instead of breasts means more flavorful meat.
- Steaming the broccoli before adding it to the stir-fry allows for perfectly cooked broccoli every time.
- Cooking down the sauce to thicken it creates a sauce with deep, rich flavors.
How to Make Chinese Chicken and Broccoli:
Start with steaming the broccoli until it’s just undercooked (you’ll be adding it at the end to finish it off).
Next, heat the wok or pan and brown the chicken on all sides.
I use chicken thighs because it’s juicier and full of flavor. Once the chicken is browned, remove it from the wok and set aside.
Add some oil to the wok or pan and stir-fry the garlic, green onions and ginger (being careful not to let it get too dark).
Put the chicken back in the pan and add the soy sauce.
Add the hoisin sauce.
Next, add the hot water.
Drizzle with the honey.
Cover and simmer, turning & drizzling with honey now and again for 7-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce reduced.
Add the broccoli to the pan.
Toss with the sauce until fully cooked.
It’s that simple. Serve and enjoy!
Impress your guests by serving this dish with my best ever fried rice for a real authentic tasting meal that’s completely homemade!
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Cook’s tips:
- Prepare all the ingredients before heating the pan or wok. When making a stir-fry, things move quickly. Have everything cut and measured before you start,
- Set the heat high. Heat your pan or wok before adding the oil. This step will help prevent sticking to the pan.
- Once the oil is added, spread it around the pan to coat it well. Choose an oil with a high smoke point. Like Vegetable or Peanut.
- If you like a thicker sauce, mix some cornstarch with a little cold water until smooth and mix it in at the end until thickened. See the recipe notes for more information.
- For an added crunch and texture, add some unsalted cashews or water chestnuts.
- Add mushrooms, carrots and snow peas to create a whole new dish that’s just as easy.
- Serve with brown rice for an extra healthy meal.
- Replace the Hoisin sauce with Teriyaki sauce or Oyster Sauce for a simple variation.
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Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
Make this easy Chinese favorite at home -Made with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey it's cheaper and much more flavorful than takeout.
Ingredients
- 1 large Head of Broccoli cut into florets
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 6 boneless chicken thighs skinless
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and finely chopped
- 3 green/spring onions trimmed and sliced
- 1 inch piece of ginger peeled and chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Hoisin Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons light soy sauce (extra to taste)
- 6 Tablespoons honey approximately
- 6 tablespoons hot water
Instructions
-
Steam or sauté the broccoli to the softness just a bit firmer than you prefer & set aside.
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Heat a wok over a high heat and add a bit of oil. Add the chicken and brown on all sides to seal the meat. Remove the chicken and set aside.
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Fry the garlic, spring onion and ginger for 30 seconds in the hot wok, adding a little more oil if necessary, tossing now and then.
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Put the chicken back in the wok. Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and the hot water and bring to a boil. Drizzle with some of the honey, cover, and simmer, turning & drizzling with honey now and again for 7-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce reduced.
-
Add the broccoli and toss with the sauce until cooked through
Recipe Notes
- Prepare all the ingredients before heating the wok. When making a stir-fry, things move quickly. Have everything cut and measured before you start,
- Set the heat high. Heat your pan or wok before adding the oil. This step will help prevent sticking to the pan.
- Once the oil is added, spread it around the pan to coat it well. Choose an oil with a high smoke point. Like Vegetable or Peanut.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce: Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in with 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir until smooth paste forms. Stir into the simmering sauce bring to a boil and simmer just until any starchy taste has been cooked away.
Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2014, but was updated in August of 2018 with slight changes to the recipe as well as including step by step photos, nutritional information, tips and a video.
Luna says
Hello I want to try to make this dish.. I dont have Hoisin Sauce in the country that I’m living in.. would it still taste good without it ?? Or an alternative??
Thank you
Erren says
Hi Luna, you can use teriyaki sauce, plum sauce or even bottled stir-fry sauce. Just taste them and adjust the soy sauce if it’s salty.
Nic says
Made a version of this tonight, didn’t have hoisin or oyster sauce do used dark and light soy, added a fresh chilli for spice along with mini corn and sugar snaps, thickened with cornflour , served with rice wmthis was a huge hit with the fam, thanks for giving me the idea all be I mixed it up a bit x
Erren says
Glad you found a way to make it work for you! 🙂
Sarah says
Hi this recipe looks delicious, I have already bought the ingredients tht is required, & l plan on making it tonight for my family.
I am just curious , is it possible to add Chow Mein noodles at some point to this dish??
I first was planning on making chicken chow mein but then I came across this recipe and decided to go with this instead but thought maybe I can do both it in some way
Erren says
Hi Sarah, I think that would be a great addition. You may have to make extra sauce, but make the noodles separate and add them at the end. Let me know!
Sarah Ashton says
Awesome, I’m excited to see how it turns out and I will for sure let you know
Sarah says
Hi , this recipe looks delicious, I’ already bought all the ingredients and it is required and I am making it for dinner tonight for my family I am curious though what are your thoughts about adding Chow Mein noodles, ? I first was planning on making a chicken chow mein, but I came across this and this just looks really good,
Is it possible to add the noodles 2 the chicken and broccoli at some point or should I leave it on the side?