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Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus)

Next up in our series of easy weeknight dinner recipes that can be on your table in 30 minutes or less: Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus). Using boneless skinless thighs keeps this chicken stir fry tender & tasty, but you can also make it with chicken breast if you have it on hand.

If you have a protein and a veggie on hand, you have the basic building blocks for so many different weeknight dinners. Case in point, today’s quick & easy stir fry recipe! Although I often throw a variety of veggies into my stir fries for color and contrast, this time I kept things super simple with today’s Chicken & Asparagus Stir Fry dinner.

stir fried chicken and asparagus 25 minute dinner

Sometimes, simple is… simply relaxing. Don’t mistake fewer veggies for less flavor, either! The lightly sweet & spicy sauce here perfectly complements the tender chicken and crisp-tender asparagus, and you can have dinner on the table in just 25 minutes.

Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus)

Bunch of asparagus for use in chicken asparagus stir fry

Ingredients

1 Tbsp canola oil
1.25 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp packed brown sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
2 tsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp cold water

Directions

Trim and cut up the chicken, then season it with sea salt and pepper. Trim the asparagus and cut into bite sized pieces. Mince garlic, if not using jarred.

When you’re almost done chopping, start heating the canola oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Swirl to coat, then add the chicken and brown for four minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the asparagus to the pan and continue stir frying over medium-high heat for another four minutes, stirring occasionally, or until asparagus is bright green and chicken is cooked through.

While the chicken and asparagus are cooking, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, crushed red pepper, and ginger in a small bowl.

Stir the cornstarch and cold water together in a separate small bowl until the cornstarch is dissolved.

When the asparagus and chicken are cooked through, stir in the soy sauce mixture and continue cooking for one minute over medium-high heat.

easy chicken asparagus stir fry in pan after sauce has thickened

Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and continue to stir for another minute, until the sauce is thickened and shiny. Serve immediately, over cooked rice if desired.

Note: The purpose of the corn starch is to thicken the sauce and make it shinier, both for a pretty presentation and to make it adhere nicely to the chicken and asparagus.

Such a fresh & lovely stir fry idea

Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus) is an easy 25 minute weeknight dinner recipe. Using boneless skinless thighs instead of breast keeps this chicken stir fry tender & tasty.

I’m clearly searching for spring when it comes to this week’s produce choices, but today’s chicken & asparagus stir fry did pair beautifully with yesterday’s (somewhat spicer and saltier) easy garlic green beans recipe. This week, we’re eating green!

Stir fry can also be a great way to get more veggies into your kids. My Middle School Guy gobbled up everything — pair it all with rice, and you’ll never miss carryout.

Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus), printable recipe

Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus)

Next up in our series of easy weeknight dinner recipes that can be on your table in 30 minutes or less: Chicken Thigh? Stir Fry! (with Asparagus). Using boneless skinless thighs keeps this chicken stir fry recipe tender & tasty, but you can also use chicken breast if that's what you have on hand.
Course dinner
Cuisine Stir Fry
Keyword 30 minute meals, asparagus, chicken, chicken thighs, stir fry, weeknight dinner
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1.25 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 lb asparagus trimmed and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 tsp powdered ginger
  • 2 tsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp cold water

Instructions

  • Trim and cut up the chicken, then season it with sea salt and pepper. Trim the asparagus and cut into bite sized pieces. Mince garlic, if not using jarred.
  • When you’re almost done chopping, start heating the canola oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Swirl to coat, then add the chicken and brown for four minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the asparagus to the pan and continue stir frying over medium-high heat for another four minutes, stirring occasionally, or until asparagus is bright green and chicken is cooked through.
  • While the chicken and asparagus are cooking, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, crushed red pepper, and ginger in a small bowl.
  • Stir the cornstarch and cold water together in a separate small bowl until the cornstarch is dissolved.
  • When the asparagus and chicken are cooked through, stir in the soy sauce mixture and continue cooking for one minute over medium-high heat.
  • Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and continue to stir for another minute, until the sauce is thickened and shiny. Serve immediately, over cooked rice if desired.

Notes

The purpose of the cornstarch is to thicken the sauce and make it shinier, both for a pretty presentation and to make it adhere nicely to the chicken and asparagus.

Recipes in the real world

weekly ALDI meal plans from Mashup Mom -- six complete dinners for four, $60 out the door! MashupMom.com, every Wednesday.

Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!

Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!

Recipe Rating




Wendy

Thursday 7th of March 2024

This looks really good. I'm going to try it today! Would it be ok to add mushrooms?

rachel

Thursday 7th of March 2024

Mushrooms would be great in this! 🙂

Allison

Tuesday 12th of May 2020

Just made this, and we loved it! Very easy, very tasty! We wanted more. I told my husband I'd scale up the quantities next time, but he said, "If you make more, then I'd eat more. I don't *need* more, so it's better if you don't scale up." Ugh, he's so reasonable.

Melissa

Tuesday 3rd of March 2020

Hi, when I mixed the corn starch and water it made Oobleck- really thick! Is this right?

rachel

Tuesday 3rd of March 2020

Oobleck! lol -- But, if it seems too thick, just mix in a little more water.

Natalie

Wednesday 26th of February 2020

Cant wait to try this! My husband was just saying how he wanted to eat stir fry!