Chicken and broccoli Chinese garlic sauce

Craving the delicious taste of Chinese Chicken and Broccoli? You’re in the right place! With juicy chicken breasts and crisp broccoli florets, tossed in a lip-smacking Asian brown garlic sauce, chicken broccoli stir fry is a fast and easy meal that the whole family can enjoy and much healthier than takeout!

And that’s not all – if you love varieties, we’re serving up exciting variations like Paleo Beef and Broccoli and Chinese Shrimp and Broccoli to keep your meal options exciting!

Ingredients

Get ready to make a big pot of delicious chicken and broccoli Chinese takeout style at home!! Each ingredient has been carefully selected to ensure a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Here are what you need:

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• Chicken Breasts: The main protein of the dish, providing a lean and tender base.
• Coconut Aminos: A gluten-free alternative to soy sauce, adding a unique, slightly sweet flavor.
• Tapioca Starch (or Potato Starch, or Cornstarch): Used for thickening sauces and providing a silky texture to the chicken.
• Baking Soda: A tenderizer that helps to soften the chicken, making it more succulent. It’s the secret ingredient that Chinese restaurants use to velvet chicken breast.
• Coarse Sea Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
• Olive Oil: Used for cooking and marinating, adds richness and helps in browning the chicken.
• White Pepper (or Black Pepper, optional): Adds a subtle heat and depth of flavor.
• Garlic Cloves: Infuses the dish with a pungent, aromatic flavor.
• Fresh Ginger: Adds a spicy, warm flavor and aroma.
• Green onion: Provide a mild, onion-like flavor; green and white parts are used for different purposes.
• Broccoli Florets: Add a crunchy texture and are packed with nutrients.
• Avocado Oil: A healthy cooking oil that withstands high heat without breaking down.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Brings a nutty flavor to the sauce.
• Aged Balsamic Vinegar (or Chinese Black Vinegar): Adds a touch of acidity and sweetness to the sauce.
• Chicken Broth: Enhances the sauce with a rich, savory depth. Use a low-sodium version to keep the dish less salty.

How to make chicken and broccoli in garlic sauce

Now that you’re all set with your ingredients and substitutions, let’s dive into the fun part – cooking! Follow these simple steps to bring this delightful Asian chicken and broccoli to life. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds and the results are worth it.

1. Velvet the Chicken: Thinly slice chicken breasts against the grain into thin pieces (about ⅛”). Mix the chicken with coconut aminos, your choice of starch, baking soda, coarse sea salt, olive oil, and optional white or black pepper. Let it marinate in the fridge for 15 minutes.

2. Prepare Aromatics and Vegetables: Thinly slice garlic cloves and chop ginger and scallions, separating the white and green parts. Briefly blanch or microwave broccoli florets for 1-2 minutes, then drain well.
3. Make the Sauce: Combine coconut aminos, toasted sesame oil, balsamic or Chinese black vinegar, coarse salt, chicken stock, and your choice of starch. Stir well.

4. Stir Fry the Chicken: Heat a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and spread the chicken in a single layer. Cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes. Remove and set aside.
5. Saute Vegetables: In the same pan, add another tbsp of cooking fat. Saute garlic, ginger, and white parts of scallions until fragrant, about 8-10 seconds.
6. Combine and Finish: Add the drained broccoli to the pan, increase the heat to medium-high heat, and toss quickly. Return the chicken to the pan, stir the sauce again, and pour it in. Toss everything together until the sauce thickens, about 8-10 seconds. Turn off the heat.
7. Serve: Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with green scallion parts. Enjoy warm with rice.

Tips for tender chicken breast stir fry

Achieving tender, restaurant-style chicken stir fry involves three key steps: slicing, velveting, and cooking.

1. Slicing: Start by thinly slicing the chicken breast into uniform pieces. For wider, flatter slices, hold your knife at a 45-degree angle and cut against the grain. If the chicken is too soft to slice, a 30-minute freeze can firm it up.
2. Velveting: This process involves marinating the chicken for 10-15 minutes and then flash-cooking it. The chicken marinade, made with baking soda, starch, and oil, tenderizes the chicken, locks in moisture, and creates a light crust. No need to rinse the chicken after marinating.
3. Cooking: Finally, stir-fry the velveted chicken in a hot pan or wok. Heat the skillet until it’s very hot, then add oil and the chicken in a single layer. Cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until done.

You can learn more from our article on how to velvet chicken for stir fry.

How to make ahead, store, and reheat

Looking to save time on busy days? Prepping this dish in advance is a breeze. Here’s how you can make ahead, store, and reheat your Paleo chicken stir fry to enjoy it any time!

• Make-ahead: For a head start, slice, season, and marinate the chicken ahead of time. The chicken can be velveted and stored in the fridge overnight, up to 1 day in advance. Prepping your aromatics and stir fry sauce beforehand also helps streamline cooking.
• Storage: Once you’ve cooked your dish, it can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. This makes it perfect for meal planning and quick weekday dinners.
• Reheat: To bring back that freshly cooked taste, reheat in a microwave on high for 1 minute. Alternatively, you can quickly stir fry it on the stovetop until it’s warmed through.

What to serve with Chinese-style chicken and broccoli

Wondering what to pair Chicken and Broccoli with Chinese food? Here are some fantastic serving suggestions, categorized into rice and noodles, vegetable side dishes, and soups, that will complement your main dish perfectly!

• Rice and noodles: Add a hearty touch with some flavorful rice and noodle dishes. Consider pairing it with Air fryer fried rice or Air fryer steamed rice for a quick and easy side. For a noodle twist, Hibachi noodles make a great addition.
• Vegetable side dishes: Lighten the meal with some green sides. Broccoli with garlic sauce and Garlic butter broccoli are excellent choices for broccoli lovers. Or, for something different, try veggie-loaded Rice paper egg rolls.
• Soups: Start or accompany your meal with a warm bowl of soup. Options like Hot and sour chicken soup and Paleo egg drop soup are delightful. Wonton egg drop soup and Bok choy soup are also great choices to round off the meal

More easy Chinese chicken recipes you might like

Craving more mouthwatering low carb chicken stir fries? If you loved our chicken with broccoli, here are more chicken stir fry recipes that are sure to delight your taste buds.

• Chinese Black Pepper Chicken: One of our fans’ favorite dishes on the blog with tender chicken stir fried in a rich, peppery sauce.
• Sha Cha Chicken: An authentic dish from Taiwan. This dish combines chicken with Shacha sauce, known for its savory and deeply umami taste.
• Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry: A light and healthy option, combining juicy chicken and sweet napa cabbage in a flavorful stir fry.
• Panda Express Orange Chicken: A popular favorite, this dish offers crispy, lightly battered chicken in a sweet and tangy orange sauce.