Let’s be honest. The daily question of what to make for dinner can feel like a huge challenge. You want something tasty, something the whole family will eat, and something that doesn’t take hours to prepare. It can feel like a tall order, right?
That is where this amazing recipe comes in. It is one of my favorite Healthy Dinner Recipes For Family because it is simple, fast, and full of good stuff. You get tender chicken and crisp vegetables all tossed in a savory sweet sauce. It is a complete meal in one pan.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this dish is incredibly quick. We are talking about a meal that comes together in about 30 minutes. This makes it a fantastic choice for busy Healthy Weeknight Dinners. No more spending your entire evening in the kitchen.
The flavor is just outstanding. The sauce is a simple combination of soy sauce, honey, and chicken broth, but it creates a taste that is so satisfying. It perfectly coats every piece of chicken and vegetable. It’s a flavor profile that both kids and adults seem to enjoy.
Another great thing is how fresh it feels. Using crisp broccoli and carrots adds a wonderful texture and vibrant color to the dish. It looks as good as it tastes, which is always a bonus. This is one of those Healthy Dinner Ideas For Family that is also beautiful to look at.
Cleanup is also a breeze. Since everything cooks in one pan, you will not have a mountain of dishes to wash afterwards. Anything that saves time on cleaning is a winner in my book. It is truly one of the best Easy Dinner Recipes For Family you can find.
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to gather for this delicious meal. The list is simple and uses ingredients you might already have on hand. It’s a great example of how Healthy Dinner Recipes For Family can be straightforward.
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus 1 teaspoon, divided
- 1 cup thinly sliced peeled carrots
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth or water
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- salt and pepper to taste
Step-By-Step Instructions
Ready to get cooking? These steps are simple to follow. Soon you will have one of your new favorite Quick Dinner Ideas ready to serve. Let’s make some amazing food together.
Step 1: Cook The Vegetables
Start by heating one teaspoon of oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is warm, add your sliced carrots and broccoli florets. Cook them for about four minutes. You want them to be tender but still have a little bit of a crisp bite.
When the vegetables are done, remove them from the pan. Just place them on a plate and cover it to keep them warm. We will add them back in later. This step ensures they do not get overcooked and mushy while the chicken cooks.
Step 2: Cook The Chicken
Now, wipe your pan clean with a paper towel and turn the heat up to high. Add the remaining one tablespoon of oil. High heat is important here because it helps the chicken get a nice golden brown sear on the outside while staying juicy inside.
Season your chicken pieces with a little salt and pepper. Carefully place them in the hot pan in a single layer. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan. If needed, cook the chicken in two batches. Let it cook for three to four minutes on each side. It should be golden brown and cooked all the way through.
Step 3: Bring It All Together
Once the chicken is cooked, add the minced garlic to the pan. Cook it for just 30 seconds until you can smell it. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Now, add the cooked vegetables back into the pan with the chicken. Stir everything together for about two minutes until the vegetables are heated through.
Step 4: Make The Sauce
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, and honey. This will be your flavorful sauce. This combination is a key part of what makes this one of the best Healthy Dinner Recipes For Family.
In another very small bowl, mix the cornstarch with one tablespoon of cold water. This mixture is called a slurry, and it will help thicken our sauce. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables in the pan. Let it cook for 30 seconds.
Finally, add the cornstarch slurry to the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and let it cook for one more minute. You will see the sauce start to thicken up nicely. It should coat everything beautifully. Serve it immediately, maybe with some rice or quinoa.
How To Store Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, storing them is easy. Simply let the stir fry cool down to room temperature. Then, place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to four days. This makes it great for lunch the next day. It is one of those Easy Dinner Recipes For Family that keeps on giving.
To reheat, you can use a microwave or warm it up in a skillet over medium heat. If you use a skillet, you might want to add a splash of water or chicken broth to help loosen the sauce. This is a great tip for many Healthy Weeknight Dinners.
Tips
Want to make this dish even better? Here are a few simple tips. First, try to cut your vegetables into similar sized pieces. This helps them cook evenly, so you do not have some pieces that are too soft and others that are too hard.
Slice the carrots very thin. Carrots are denser than broccoli, so slicing them thinly helps them cook in the same amount of time. This is a small detail that makes a big difference in the final texture of the dish. It is one of those Quick Dinner Ideas that depends on good prep.
I really recommend using low sodium chicken broth and low sodium soy sauce. This allows you to control the amount of salt in the dish. You can always add more salt if you need it, but you cannot take it away. This is important for creating Healthy Dinner Recipes For Family.
Do not be afraid to customize. Feel free to add other vegetables you have on hand. Bell peppers, snap peas, mushrooms, or onions would all be wonderful additions. This is a great way to use up veggies in your fridge and add more nutrients to your meal. Great Healthy Dinner Ideas For Family are often flexible.
Conclusion
Finding great Healthy Dinner Recipes For Family that are also quick and easy can be tough. This chicken and vegetable stir fry checks all the boxes. It is a flavorful, fresh, and satisfying meal that your whole family can enjoy together.
So next time you are looking for Healthy Weeknight Dinners, give this recipe a try. It is a wonderful alternative to takeout and a fantastic way to get a delicious homemade meal on the table without a lot of fuss. I hope you love it as much as we do.
FAQ
Can I Use A Different Protein?
Absolutely. This recipe is very versatile. You could use thinly sliced beef, shrimp, or even tofu. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly. Shrimp cooks very quickly, while beef might take a little longer. For tofu, I suggest pressing it first to remove excess water.
Is This Recipe Gluten Free?
To make this recipe gluten free, you just need to make one simple swap. Use gluten free tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. All the other ingredients are naturally gluten free. It’s an easy adjustment for a gluten free version of these Healthy Dinner Recipes For Family.
What Can I Serve With This Stir Fry?
This dish is wonderful served over steamed white or brown rice. Quinoa is another great option if you want to add more protein. For a lower carb meal, you could serve it with cauliflower rice or just enjoy it on its own. It is a very complete meal.
How Can I Make This Spicier?
If you like a little heat, there are a few ways to spice this up. You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. A teaspoon of sriracha or another chili garlic sauce would also be delicious whisked into the sauce mixture. Adjust the amount to your personal preference.
Family-Friendly Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
This easy and fast stir fry combines tender chicken and crisp vegetables in a savory sweet sauce, perfect for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner for the whole family.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by heating one teaspoon of oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Add sliced carrots and broccoli florets. Cook for about four minutes until tender-crisp. Remove from pan and cover to keep warm.
- Wipe the pan clean and increase heat to high. Add the remaining one tablespoon of oil. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Place chicken in the hot pan in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Cook for three to four minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add minced garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Return the cooked vegetables to the pan with the chicken and stir together for about two minutes until heated through.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, and honey. This will be your flavorful sauce. In another very small bowl, mix the cornstarch with one tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables in the pan and cook for 30 seconds.
- Finally, add the cornstarch slurry to the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for one minute, or until it thickens beautifully, coating all ingredients. Serve it immediately, perhaps with some rice or quinoa.
Notes
Cut your vegetables into similar sized pieces for even cooking, and slice carrots very thin as they are denser than broccoli.
Using low sodium chicken broth and low sodium soy sauce allows you to control the amount of salt in the dish, which is important for creating healthy meals.
Feel free to customize this recipe by adding other vegetables you have on hand, such as bell peppers, snap peas, mushrooms, or onions.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat in a microwave or skillet, adding a splash of water or broth if needed.
Nutrition
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