Let’s be honest, figuring out dinner every night can feel like a chore. You want something tasty and satisfying, but you also want to stick to healthy dinner recipes. The struggle is real. What if I told you that you can have a delicious, vibrant meal on the table faster than you can order takeout? It is totally possible.
This Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry is about to become your new favorite weeknight solution. It is one of those fantastic healthy dinner meals that is packed with fresh vegetables and protein. Plus, it comes together so quickly, making it a wonderful option for those busy evenings. Say goodbye to boring dinners and hello to flavor.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons to adore this simple stir fry. First off, it’s incredibly fast. We’re talking about a full meal ready in about thirty minutes. This makes it one of the best quick dinner ideas you can find, especially when you are short on time but craving something homemade.
The flavor is just outstanding. The homemade teriyaki sauce is a beautiful balance of savory and sweet, without any of the extra preservatives you might find in store bought versions. You control the ingredients, which is a huge plus for anyone looking for genuinely healthy dinner recipes.
It is also super flexible. You can swap out the vegetables based on what you have in your fridge. Have some broccoli or carrots? Throw them in! This adaptability makes it a go to choice for anyone wanting to reduce food waste and use up what is on hand. It is a great recipe for cleaning out the crisper drawer.
And let’s not forget, this is a fantastic beginner recipe. If you are new to cooking, this stir fry is a great way to build confidence in the kitchen. The steps are straightforward and easy to follow. It’s a simple way to create impressive healthy dinner meals without a lot of stress. Some nights you just need easy, and this definitely qualifies as one of those lazy dinners that still feels special.
Ingredients
For The Stir Fry
- 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 cups mixed vegetables (I used snow peas and sliced bell peppers)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided use
- Optional garnishes: sliced green onions and sesame seeds
For The Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Step By Step Instructions
Making this dish is a breeze. We will start by making that amazing sauce, then we will cook up the veggies and shrimp. It comes together in a flash. One of the best quick dinner ideas around!
Step 1: Create The Sauce Base
Grab a small pot. Combine the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, honey, and toasted sesame oil. Place the pot over medium high heat on your stove.
You will want to stir everything together until the brown sugar completely dissolves. This should only take about three minutes. Keep an eye on it so it does not burn.
Step 2: Thicken The Sauce
Once the sugar is dissolved, turn the heat up to high and bring the mixture to a boil. In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir it until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, creating what is called a slurry.
Pour this cornstarch slurry into the boiling sauce. Continue to let it boil for one to two minutes. You will see the sauce start to thicken up nicely. Once it has thickened, remove it from the heat and set it aside. Your delicious homemade teriyaki sauce is ready!
Step 3: Cook The Vegetables
Now for the stir fry part. Heat one tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium high heat. Add your mixed vegetables to the hot pan. Season them with a little salt and pepper to your liking.
Cook the veggies for about three to five minutes. You want them to start browning a bit and become tender but still crisp. Add two tablespoons of water to the pan and continue cooking until the water evaporates. This helps steam them slightly. Once they are crisp tender, remove them from the pan and set them aside.
Step 4: Cook The Shrimp
Wipe out the pan you used for the vegetables. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil and turn the heat up to high. Place your peeled and deveined shrimp in the pan in a single layer if possible. Season them generously with salt and pepper.
Shrimp cooks very quickly! It will only need about two to three minutes. You will know they are done when they turn pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook them, or they can become rubbery.
Step 5: Combine And Serve
Add the cooked vegetables back into the pan with the shrimp. Pour that luscious teriyaki sauce you made earlier over everything. Stir it all together and cook for another one to two minutes over medium high heat, just until everything is warmed through and coated in the sauce.
Your search for amazing healthy dinner recipes is over. Garnish with some sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if you like. Serve it hot, perhaps over a bed of rice or noodles.
How To Store Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers, storing them is simple. Allow the stir fry to cool down to room temperature first. Then, place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh and tasty for up to three days.
This makes it a great option for meal prepping. You can cook once and have delicious healthy dinner meals ready for the next couple of days. Just reheat gently in a pan or in the microwave. It’s one of those lazy dinners that keeps on giving.
Tips
Want to make this dish even better? Here are a few simple tips. First, use the largest shrimp you can find. I prefer a 16 to 20 count size. Bigger shrimp tend to be juicier and are harder to overcook. Speaking of which, the most important tip is not to overcook the shrimp. They cook in minutes!
Feel free to get creative with your vegetables. Broccoli florets, sliced carrots, mushrooms, or even bok choy would be excellent additions. This is a great way to customize your healthy dinner recipes to your taste.
You can also make the teriyaki sauce ahead of time. It can be prepared up to five days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. This makes assembling the stir fry even quicker on a busy night, solidifying its status as one of the top quick dinner ideas.
If you do not have shrimp, this recipe works wonderfully with other proteins. Try it with bite sized pieces of chicken breast or thigh, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly for the protein you choose.
Conclusion
There you have it, a simple yet incredibly flavorful Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry. This recipe proves that you do not need a lot of time or complicated ingredients to create wonderful healthy dinner meals at home. It is satisfying, fresh, and so much better than anything you could get from a takeout menu.
Give this a try the next time you are looking for healthy dinner recipes that the whole family will enjoy. It is a reliable and delicious dish that you will find yourself making over and over again. Enjoy your amazing homemade meal!
FAQ
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
Absolutely! Frozen shrimp works great in this recipe. Just make sure to thaw it completely before you start cooking. You can thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or, for a quicker method, place the frozen shrimp in a colander and run cold water over them until they are thawed.
What Other Vegetables Work Well In This Stir Fry?
So many vegetables are great here. Some popular choices include broccoli florets, sliced carrots, snap peas, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and baby corn. It is a very versatile dish, making it one of the easiest healthy dinner recipes to adapt.
Is This Recipe Gluten Free?
To make this recipe gluten free, you will need to make one simple swap. Use a gluten free soy sauce, such as tamari or coconut aminos, in place of the regular soy sauce. All the other ingredients are typically gluten free, but always double check your labels to be sure.
How Can I Make This Spicier?
If you like a little heat, you can easily add it to the teriyaki sauce. Try adding a teaspoon of sriracha, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a bit of chili garlic sauce to the sauce mixture while it simmers. Adjust the amount to your preferred level of spiciness.
Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry
This easy Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry is a fast and flavorful weeknight solution. Packed with fresh vegetables and protein, it comes together quickly, offering a homemade meal that’s much better than takeout. It’s adaptable and great for beginners.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a small pot, combine the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, honey, and toasted sesame oil. Heat over medium-high, stirring until brown sugar dissolves (about 3 minutes).
- Bring to a boil over high heat. In a separate small bowl, whisk 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth. Pour slurry into boiling sauce, boil for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add mixed vegetables, season with salt and pepper. Cook 3-5 minutes until tender-crisp. Add 2 tablespoons water and cook until evaporated. Remove veggies and set aside.
- Wipe pan clean. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and turn heat to high. Add shrimp in a single layer, season with salt and pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes until pink and opaque; do not overcook.
- Return cooked vegetables to the pan with the shrimp. Pour teriyaki sauce over everything. Stir and cook 1-2 minutes over medium-high heat until warmed and coated.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
For the juiciest results, use large shrimp (16-20 count) and be careful not to overcook them, as they turn rubbery quickly.
Customize your stir fry with your favorite mixed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, or bok choy.
The teriyaki sauce can be made up to five days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for even quicker prep on busy nights.
This recipe is versatile; feel free to swap shrimp for bite-sized chicken breast, thigh, or tofu, adjusting cooking times as needed.
Nutrition
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