• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Cuisines / Asian

Szechuan-Style Chicken Stir Fry

4.86
/5
20 minutes
12 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 07/24/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

So simple to make, this szechuan-style chicken stir fry comes together in just minutes, is full of flavor, and is only 5 smart points per serving!

This Szechuan-style Chicken Stir Fry is the quickest and easiest weeknight meal!  Bold flavors, nutritious ingredients, and ready in just 20 minutes! #chicken #stirfry #asianrecipe #weeknightmeal #easydinner #szechuan #smartpoints #weightwatchers

This Szechuan-style chicken stir fry is a go-to meal on a busy weeknight, as it takes just 20 minutes to get on the table, including prep time!

Stir frys are one of my favorite go-to’s during the week, since by nature, they’re quick cooking!  The downside with stir frys is that they can use a lot of oil, which racks up the points pretty quickly.  For this version, I’ve used less oil, and stuck with zero point foods as the base (like chicken, bell peppers, onion and snow peas), which keeps the points at 5 smart points per serving.  If you’d like it to be even lower, there are a few options down below!

Skillet with chicken stir fry

Isn’t that so pretty and colorful?!  I love “eating the rainbow” as it really is a great way to eat healthier without really trying.

I classify this recipe as “Szechuan-Style” instead of just Szechuan, because I know it’s not 100% authentic.  But even this American-ized version still has plenty of great Asian flavors, thanks mostly to garlic, ginger and sambal oelek.

Szechuan chicken stir fry over cauliflower rice

WHAT IS SAMBAL OELEK

If you do much Asian cooking, you’re probably familiar with it, but it’s essentially an Asian chile sauce made from hot red chile peppers, salt and usually vinegar.  Some versions can also contain onion, lemon or lime juice, garlic, or sugar as well.  Most grocery stores will carry it in the Asian foods section.  My favorite brand is Huy Fong.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK CHICKEN STIR FRY

Usually not very long at all!  Generally about 7-10 minutes is all it takes.  This recipe, including the prep time (most of which can be done ahead of time) takes about 20 minutes.  Perfect for a busy weeknight!

Chopsticks grabbing a piece of Szechuan chicken stir fry

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR MAKING THIS CHICKEN STIR FRY

  • Prep ahead when you can.  If you dread chopping vegetables or chicken, get it out of the way, and you’ll cut the total time on this recipe down significantly.  Chicken, onion, peppers and snow peas can be chopped up ahead of time and refrigerated (keep the chicken in it’s own container).  Scallions and peanuts can be chopped and kept in airtight containers.  Even the sauce can be whisked together (just leave out the cornstarch and add it as you’re cooking the recipe).
  • I love using cauliflower rice since it tastes great and is a zero point food.  You can make your own, or use my secret weapon… most frozen vegetable companies are now offering frozen cauliflower rice!  Pop it in the microwave to steam for several minutes as the stir fry is cooking.
  • If you prefer a bit of sweetness to your chicken stir fry, you can add a drizzle of honey to the sauce, but that will effect the points per serving.
  • Use a big skillet (or wok if you have one)!  You don’t want to overcrowd the pan when you’re cooking the chicken or veggies, otherwise they’ll sort of steam instead of sautéing.

This Szechuan-style Chicken Stir Fry is the quickest and easiest weeknight meal!  Bold flavors, nutritious ingredients, and ready in just 20 minutes! #chicken #stirfry #asianrecipe #weeknightmeal #easydinner #szechuan #smartpoints #weightwatchers

WAYS TO POTENTIALLY DECREASE THE POINT VALUE:

Full disclosure, I didn’t test any of these or run them through the nutritional calculators, so you’ll have to do that if you try one of these methods.

  • Use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch
  • Omit the chopped peanuts (I love the crunch, but they do add 7 points to the total recipe count)
  • Use less oil and substitute with cooking spray
    • I would leave the sesame oil, as it does add flavor, but if you’re looking to get rid of some oil, ditch some of the canola

HELPFUL TOOLS:

  • Large stainless steel skillet/pan – This is a quality skillet that I use quite a bit… it has so many uses!
  • My new wok (haven’t tested yet, but will be soon!) – I can’t wait to test this baby out, but the reviews on amazon are spectacular!  No wok ring needed!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

This Szechuan-style Chicken Stir Fry is the quickest and easiest weeknight meal!  Bold flavors, nutritious ingredients, and ready in just 20 minutes! #chicken #stirfry #asianrecipe #weeknightmeal #easydinner #szechuan #smartpoints #weightwatchers

Szechuan-Style Chicken Stir Fry

4.86 from 7 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Calories: 316
Servings: 4 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
So simple to make, this szechuan-style chicken stir fry comes together in just minutes, is full of flavor, and is only 5 smart points per serving!

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil , divided
  • 1/2 cup fat-free reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp sambal oelek (chili paste)
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp canola oil , divided
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts , diced into bite sized pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper , sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper , sliced
  • 1 cup snow peas , cut on the bias (diagonally) in half
  • 1 medium yellow onion , sliced
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp peeled fresh ginger , grated
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh garlic
  • 1/4 cup green onions , sliced into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts , chopped
  • sesame seeds for garnish , optional

Instructions

  • To a small mixing bowl, add 1 tsp sesame oil, chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste, cornstarch and salt. Whisk together and set aside.
  • Add remaining 1 tsp sesame oil and 1 Tbsp canola oil to a large skillet or wok and heat over MED-HIGH heat. Add chicken pieces and cook for 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove to a plate.
  • Add remaining 1 Tbsp canola oil to skillet and add bell peppers, peas, and onion. Cook for 1 minute. Add ginger and garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  • Pour in broth mixture and cook 30 seconds to a minute. Add chicken back to skillet and cook 3-4 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick and rich.
  • Top with green onions and chopped peanuts. Serve over riced cauliflower.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

Can be served over white rice instead of riced cauliflower, but that will increase the points value.

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

Calories: 316 | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 28 | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 726mg | Sugar: 3g | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 27.1% | Vitamin C: 135.1% | Calcium: 3.4% | Iron: 9.5%

I’m not a nutritionist, and nutritional values here on my recipes should be used for general information purposes only.  This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new diet and fitness regimen.

 

This Szechuan-style Chicken Stir Fry is the quickest and easiest weeknight meal!  Bold flavors, nutritious ingredients, and ready in just 20 minutes! #chicken #stirfry #asianrecipe #weeknightmeal #easydinner #szechuan #smartpoints #weightwatchers

You May Also Like...

  • Velveted Chicken Stir Fry | The Chunky Chef | This healthy chicken stir fry is prepared in the authentic Chinese method of velveting. It's customize-able, so add whatever vegetables you like!
    Easy Velveted Chicken Stir Fry
  • chicken nuggets
    Asian-style Chicken Nuggets
  • These easy Asian-Style Chicken Lettuce Wraps are SO flavorful, and perfect as a simple dinner recipe, or an appetizer for a party! #chicken #asian #chinese #lettucewraps #lettucecups #chickendinner #dinner #lunch #appetizer #party
    Asian-Style Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • No need for takeout, this Garlic Ginger Pork Stir Fry is the perfect weeknight meal, as it's on the table in 20 minutes! #pork #stirfry #chinese #asian #takeout #weeknightmeal #easyrecipe #onepan #skillet
    Garlic Ginger Pork Stir Fry
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Cindy says

    Posted on 1/15 at 6:49 pm

    What if we added more veggies like broccoli zuchinni and squash along with those same veggies do you think more cornstarch and sauce is needed to make more sauce and more of a thickenong agent?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/15 at 8:17 pm

      I would double the first 6 ingredients (sesame oil through cornstarch) to create double the amount of sauce 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jim Chapman says

    Posted on 1/10 at 11:32 am

    Really great recipe.
    One question? You add onions in step 3 and Step 5?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/10 at 1:51 pm

      Thank you 🙂 The onion is step 3 is the yellow onion, and the onions in step 5 are the green onions for garnish.

      Reply
  3. Saima says

    Posted on 11/25 at 8:15 pm

    Tried it tonight, delicious!

    Reply
  4. Allyson Zea says

    Posted on 7/30 at 12:40 pm

    This looks like the perfect!!!

    Reply
  5. Cathy says

    Posted on 7/26 at 3:41 pm

    Love Szechuan flavors! This looks amazing!

    Reply
  6. Anna says

    Posted on 7/26 at 12:08 pm

    This stir fry is to easy and so tasty! The whole family loves it!

    Reply
  7. Abeer says

    Posted on 7/26 at 10:01 am

    I love all those veggies!

    Reply
  8. Dee says

    Posted on 7/25 at 11:17 pm

    This looks delicious! I love how colorful it is!

    Reply
  9. Delaney | Melanie Makes says

    Posted on 7/25 at 9:17 pm

    I love how colorful this stir fry is!

    Reply
  10. Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says

    Posted on 7/25 at 1:01 pm

    I like stir fries too, this looks amazing!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top