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?
Serve with a starter of Chinese Noodle Soup and Homemade Fried Rice for an authentic Chinese meal right in your own home!
This healthy version of a takeout favorite combines chicken, super healthy broccoli, garlic, and ginger for a delicious, weeknight dinner.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
headerNext, 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.
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!
Other Recipes You’ll Love
Erren’s Top 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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Let’s Make Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 large head of Broccoli cut into florets
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1½ lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs cut into bite sized pieces
- 3 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 or oyster sauce for less sweetness
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Tips + 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.
Nutrition Information:
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.
DORAL A ALLEN says
It says there is a video here now, but I sure can’t find it. The only thing I saw was inside the box that has the ingredients and directions, but when I click on it there is no link to a video.
Erren Hart says
Hi Doral, The video is in the post as well as in the recipe card. I’m not sure why you’re not sure why you can’t see it.
BB says
Made this recipe for dinner! Easy, quick and my family loved it!
Erren's Kitchen says
Awesome BB!
Sylvia Robinson says
Easy to make and delicious
Erren's Kitchen says
Thank you, Sylvia!
Amanda says
Made this tonight for dinner! everybody absolutly loved it. Added water chestnuts and some crushed red pepper. Thanks for the great recipe
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad you all enjoyed it, Amanda, your added extras sound like a good touch!
Shantell Percle says
was quick easy a low budget meal and yet still fingerpicking good
Erren's Kitchen says
I love your feedback Shantell, thank you it made my day!
Mike P says
I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was a big hit. I have been on the look out for Chinese or Vietnamese chicken and broccoli style recipes and this one is a keeper. Only change I made was based on preference, chicken breast vs thigh – I adjusted cooking time accordingly as to not dry it out. Also, I didn’t have green onion on hand, but will definitely grab that for the next time. I will also look to add other veggies like red peppers and carrots to vary the texture and keep things interesting in future preparations. :o) Thank you very much for such a delicious and easy to follow recipe. I would give it 10 stars if I could, it was that good.
Erren's Kitchen says
What amazing feedback, thank you Mike, it is so awesome to hear!!
Jaa says
Wow! It’s the first time I’ve done a recipe and liked the outcome — and I used chicken breast and not thighs… and the chicken came out tasty (not dry). I also used Trader Joe’s Coconut Aminos instead of soy and no hoisin sauce. Next time I’ll add the hoisin sauce just to see how it changes the flavor. Great work!
Erren's Kitchen says
Thanks, Jaa for your feedback, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Tom says
This is a great recipe. You can build on or subtract. I’ve made twice and turned out great both times. I add more soy, honey and hoisen sauce with sesame oil just to make a little more sauce. Serve over Jasmine rice…yummy dinner!
Thanks for a great recipe!!
Erren's Kitchen says
That does sound good with the Jasmine rice, good shout Tom.
Emily says
Delicious! My whole family ate this one up.
Erren's Kitchen says
I’m glad they all enjoyed it, Emily!
Steph. says
I didn’t add the ginger and hoisin sauce (because I didn’t have any on hand) but the recipe still came out to be very delicious!!! Very good recipe with well written instructions to follow!
Erren's Kitchen says
That is awesome to hear, Steph!