If you love a sizzly stir-fry but want an alternative that’s a little quicker and lower maintenance, you need to try this air fryer stir fry recipe with chicken and vegetables.
It’s got everything you’d want in a stir fry, but you just throw it in your air fryer basket and let it take care of the rest! If you love easy, quick meals, you’ll love this Inside Out Egg Roll!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Chicken stir fry is one of my favorite meals to throw together because they’re easy to pack with healthy ingredients, super versatile and pretty fool-proof. The ease of using your air fryer here makes it even better. Here’s why I absolutely love this one, and you will too.
It’s high protein and packed with fresh vegetables, so you know it’s going to keep you nice and full! Making a meal that’s actually satisfying is a requirement over here.
The ingredients are simple! Plus, you can swap any veggies in or out depending on what you’re looking for.
It’s delicious! This one’s an easy family favorite that will grab a spot on your regular dinner rotation
It’s quick and easy. The prep is pretty minimal (you can even use pre-sliced or frozen veggies if you want to), and the cooking time is fast. This makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
Let’s get into what you need for this simple recipe and how to make it!
Chicken: Chicken breast is a classic stir-fry meat, but you could use whatever you wanted! Any sliced lean protein could work here, like skinless chicken thighs or sliced sirloin beef.
Vegetables: My favorite classic stir fry veggies that I always tend to have on hand are bell pepper slices, red onion, and mushrooms. Don’t be afraid to swap in whichever veggies you like, and get rid of the ones you don’t! Broccoli florets or green beans are also a great addition.
Garlic: The marinade calls for lots of minced garlic (always, am I right!?). Pro tip: use a zester like this one to make “mincing” super quick. If you don’t have any fresh, use garlic powder instead.
Soy sauce or coconut aminos: Soy sauce or coconut aminos adds a delicious savory flavor to the marinade. Coconut aminos is a bit lower sodium generally and great if you have a soy allergy.
Honey: A bit of honey adds juuuust the right amount of sweetness here! You could swap in maple syrup if you don’t have any on hand.
Olive oil: Olive oil is a nice neutral cooking oil that goes well with this marinade, but you can also use sesame oil, avocado oil, or even canola oil.
Rice vinegar: Adding a small amount of rice vinegar adds the perfect amount of acidity to the marinade and rounds out the flavor profile. If you don’t have this one, you can add white wine vinegar.
White rice, brown rice or noodles: I recommend serving this one with a side of rice or noodles, so when your stir fry is done- add it right on top! To make things even simpler you can use frozen, microwaveable rice. My favorite rices to use are basmati rice or jasmine rice.
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, minced garlic, honey, rice wine vinegar, and olive oil. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the sauce for later use.
Add the chicken to a bowl or bag with the sauce and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Make sure your chicken pieces are chopped bite sized.
Place the marinated chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 5-6 minutes.
After 5 minutes, add the sliced bell peppers, red onion, and mushrooms to the air fryer basket. Pour the reserved 2 tablespoons of sauce over the vegetables and chicken and mix everything together.
Air fry for an additional 7-8 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked (to an internal temperature of 165 degrees) and the vegetables are tender.
Serve the stir-fried chicken and peppers with rice, noodles, or on its own.
The best part about this recipe is that there are so many fun variations and ways you can change up the flavors. Here are some of my favorites!
Add in other vegetables: While bell peppers, red onion, and mushrooms are great options for this recipe, feel free to mix it up with other veggies like zucchini, bok choy, brussels sprouts, broccoli, snap peas, cauliflower rice or carrots.
Try a different protein: Swap out the chicken breast for other types of protein like shrimp, beef, tofu, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian option.
Adjust the seasoning: Experiment with different herbs and spices to give your stir-fry a different flavor. Try adding ginger, chili flakes, sesame oil, or green onions for a little extra kick. You can even use a pre-made teriyaki sauce instead of making your own.
Serve it over different bases: Instead of serving the stir-fry over rice, try serving it over quinoa, noodles, or even on top of a salad. It’s also delicious on top of air fried white potatoes or sweet potatoes.
Use frozen vegetables: Using frozen stir fry vegetables is a great way to cut down your prep time even further, and the final product is still delicious.
Make it a peanut sauce: Whisk peanut butter into your marinade.
Make it a sweet and sour sauce: Add sweet chili sauce to your marinade.
Make it a super easy dinner clean up by using an air fryer basket like this one. Just make sure to grab the one that fits your air fryer best!
Since some of the marinade juices might drain to the bottom of the air fryer, make sure to season to taste at the end. It may need a splash of soy sauce, garlic powder, or salt and pepper!
Store leftover air fryer stir fry in an airtight covered container and enjoy reheated leftovers for 3-4 days.
Easy Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers
Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
Ground Turkey Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli