Chinese Chicken and Broccoli (paleo, whole30, keto)
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Recipe with tender chicken breasts and Whole30 chicken stir-fry sauce. If you love my Paleo Beef and Broccoli then I guarantee you’ll fall in love with this sister version of Paleo Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry. Serve with a bowl of steamed rice for gluten-free meal, cauliflower rice, or lightly sautéed zucchini noodles for low carb healthy dinner !
What’s easy to make ? You’ll fall in love with my Chinese Paleo Chicken and Broccoli!
About a year ago I shared a very popular recipe on my blog – Beef and Broccoli. My beef stir-fry recipe has become so popular on the net and since then many people have asked that I create a sister version for Chinese Paleo chicken and broccoli stir-fry.
This Paleo Chicken and Broccoli stir-fry is similar to my Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry but I adjusted the seasonings to make it more suitable for Chicken and Broccoli. There’s no fish sauce in my Paleo Chicken and Broccoli recipe and the chicken breasts are tender and juicy.
…But aren’t chicken breasts dry and flavorless ?
If you compare chicken breasts with chicken thighs, chicken breasts tend to have drier texture than the thighs. This is one big reason most chicken stir-fry recipes you see in Asia prefer using thigh meat (or a combination).
That being said, chicken breasts do give a cleaner taste and when done right they are great for quick sear just like the gorgeous golden brown color you see in the picture below.
Easy, Quick, and Efficient – Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Many people follow me on YouTube and Instagram love my quick sear technique using stainless steel skillet. I want to point out that Chinese stir-fry is usually done in a fairly quickly manner. The meat is thinly sliced, seasoned, and quickly seared in a well-heated wok or skillet by controlling the stove top temperature carefully. There’s no need to sear the meat piece-by-piece because stir-fries are meant to be quick. It’s different from grill or bbq.
Be sure to check out my blog post on how to stir-fry using a stainless steel skillet. You’ll see I use the same stir-fry technique in my Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry, Mongolian beef featured in Whole30 Fast and Easy Cookbook, Mongolian Chicken, Whole30 Sesame Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Cashew Chicken, and Kung Pao Chicken.
And if you find my recipes and technique helpful, be sure to provide a link back to my blog or tag me if sharing on social media, I’d really appreciate it !
Also check out the seafood version with Shrimp and Broccoli in ginger garlic sauce. It’s super good!
So my friends this Paleo Chicken and Broccoli is –
Juicy flavorful
Easy
Healthy
Paleo, Whole30, and Keto
I guarantee you are gonna love this Chinese Chicken and Broccoli stir-fry made Paleo, Whole30, and Keto! Let me know how it goes! Leave a comment and rate the recipe. And don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #IHeartUmami on Instagram. I’d love to see what you come up with. XOXO !
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry (Whole30, Keto)
Ingredients
For the Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Seasonings:
- 1.5 lbs chicken breasts, thin sliced
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1.5 tsp arrowroot powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅛ tsp black pepper + ¼ tsp coarse salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Stir-Fry Sauce:
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos
- ½ tsp toasted sesame oil
- ½ tsp aged balsamic vinegar
- ¼ tsp coarse salt
- 2 tbsp chicken stock
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder
Other:
- 4 large garlic cloves, thin sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
- 4 bulbs scallions, chopped and separate white + green parts
- 10 oz. broccoli florets, blanched
- Cooking fat of your choice, avocado oil or ghee
Instructions
- Thin slice chicken breasts to about ¼ and ⅛ inch thin. Season with ingredients under ‘Chinese chicken and broccoli seasonings’. Mix well and set aside in the fridge while preparing other ingredients. Stir well ‘Stir-Fry Sauce’ until there are no lumps. Prepare garlic, ginger, and scallions. Hot water blanch or microwave broccoli florets for 1-2 minutes on high and set aside to cool/drain.
- In a well-heated large stainless steel skillet or cast iron, add 1.5 tbsp cooking fat. Sear the chicken breasts in one even layer in the skillet over medium-high heat without disturbing until they are in golden brown color (about 3-4 mins.) then use a fish spatula to flip and sear the flip side. The chicken should be almost cooked through before setting them aside along with the pan juice and oil in the skillet.
- Use the same skillet and add 1.5 tbsp cooking fat, saute garlic, ginger, and white parts of scallions over medium heat until fragrant. Season with a pinch of salt and stir fry frequently to prevent them from burning (about 8-10 seconds). Add chicken and broccoli florets to the skillet. Toss and stir the stir-fry sauce one more time before pouring it in the skillet . Toss and coat the sauce over chicken and broccoli until the sauce is slightly thickened (about 8 -10 seconds). Garnish with green parts of scallions and serve hot or in room temperature with cauliflower rice, steamed rice, or lightly sautéed zucchini noodles.
Video
Nutrition
More Amazing Asian Stir-Fries Here (Paleo, Whole30, and Low Carb!)
- Thai Larb Recipe (Larb Moo)
- Thai Basil Chicken Recipe
- Chinese Sesame Chicken
- Paleo Orange Chicken
- Paleo Cashew Chicken
- Paleo Mongolian Beef
- Mongolian Chicken Recipe
- Ginger Chicken
- Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce
- Cumin Beef Stir-Fry with Roasted Butternut Squash
- Broccoli fried rice
Family cook together. Lots of grand interaction and teachable moments!
Easy, fresh and tasty!
We served with a sprinkling of cashews and the guys put it over rice.
This is my favorite recipe at the moment. My clients and I are loving it. It’s super easy and also tastes great as leftovers. I can’t wait to try more.
Kind regards
Nikki Ostrower
Delish!
And made for awesome leftovers, as the chicken and broccoli absorbed all of the flavors.
Wow.. this is phenomenal. I made it without the ginger or aged balsamic vinegar (because I had none on hand) and it was still excellent. Thank you for this! I will now be adding it to the favorite meal rotation we have as a family 🙂
Good recipe, I esp. like your method of stir frying the chicken–letting it sit and sear, instead of constant stirring. Ended up with nice brown marks on all the pieces. Very flavorful. I’m bookmarking your site.
Thanks so much, Ted!
This is the Best thing I have ever made!!!!
Thank you so much!
You seriously need to enter this in some kind of cooking competition!
It is absolutely fantastic!
Thank you! Appreciate it!
I made this recipe and it was delicious! Thank you! And thank you for the detailed instructions, totally helped.
So happy to hear!
Thank you so much for this recipe ; I don’t ever leave comments on any recipes that I make but I have to let you know that this stirfry is delicious ! I used chicken breast the first time and boneless thighs the second time ; we all liked it better with the thighs but both times it turned out fantastic ! My husband and 24 yo son are both pretty leery about any new recipes that I try on them but this was a hit with both of them !
I meant to leave 5 stars in my previous comment but for some reason it automatically switched it to 3 ; I’m so sorry about that ; this recipe is definitely worth 5 plus stars ! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks so much, Pam!
Every time I make this everyone loves it! Delicious recipe. The sauce is so good and the chicken comes out juicy and fantastic.
That’s super awesome. Thank you so much!
I made this with no adjustments and it was awesome! The flavor was great and the blanching of the broccoli left it crunchy but not raw. I made a double batch and my family of four finished ALL of it. It’s so hard to find chicken breast recipes that are moist and flavorful (and paleo). This is a keeper!
Thank you ! So happy to hear!
This was so authentic tasting but even better than take out!! So delicious and easy!
Thank you, Ashley!
I’ve made this for friends and family who have all loved it! I especially love it because it comes together SO quickly. It has the flavor of takeout but it’s Whole30 compliant! So so good!
Thank you so much, Erin! We made this chicken broccoli often, too! It’s a quick and easy go-to weeknight meal!
Amazing recipe!! Truly crispy chicken that transforms it into a crispy and delicious taste! The stir fry sauce is also now my go to for all stir fry dishes! THANK YOU!
So happy to hear. Lovely!
Really excited to try this! How long can you let the chicken marinade for?
Thank you, Amy. I should make it more clear. It’s more like a seasoning to the chicken and not so much as a marinade. If you want to make ahead, you can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in the fridge or store it flat in the freezer. Defrost before sauteing.
This was fantastic….I now love chicken again!
Mix up the vegetables with what I had on hand.
Thank you so much! happy to hear!
Super delicious and the entire family loved it!! Thank you!!
Happy to hear!
Hello this is second time i made it and we love it, easy and good. I am going to make the orange one next week.
Thank you
Debora
That’s awesome!
Yum!! I made this earlier in the week and it was delicious! I was hesitant to use the chicken breast since I usually steer clear, but it really did turn out juicy with this recipe. Thank you!
So happy to hear. Thank you!
I love this recipe! I’ve made this twice and loved it more the second time around. I doubled the seasoning sauce and let the chicken marinate for a couple of hours. I added spinach and carrots and doubled the stir fry sauce as I thought it could use more from the first time I made it. I can’t believe how delicious it came out and will be my go to recipe from now on when wanting stir fry!
How wonderful! Thank you!
Good Recipe!
Makes me wish there was some sort of gravyish sauce that could be added on top. Either way, it was delicious! One thing I added was cashews and red hot pepper flakes. Really enjoyed the crunch of the nuts and it a bit spicy.
Thanks, Jerard! Feel free to increase the sauce if you like! 🙂
Love this recipe. Whole30 round or not. It’s so yummy. I love that you make the sauce beforehand and you are not using bottle sauces that are full of crazy ingredients. It makes boring ingredients like chicken and broccoli come alive.
Thanks so much, Lisa!
I didn’t have any green onion on hand- but… the recipe was still a hit! My family loved it! Thanks so much for posting this 🙏
Thanks so much, Katie! There are more healthy takeout dishes on my blog. Hope you’ll browse and try some more! 😀
This Chicken and Broccoli stir-fry has become our must-have family meal almost weekly! I love that the recipe is straight-forward, no fail and the chicken breasts are juicy delicious. They aren’t plain boring chicken breasts but beautifully seared and full of flavor. I sometimes add some shredded carrots or snow peas to the stir-fry and they all turned out DELICIOUS!
Thank you so much! Very happy to hear. I love thie chicken broccoli stir-fry, too!
I’m confused, the photo shows the chicken is mall pieces but the only instructions I see is to thinly slice the chicken breast. At what point do you cut the chicken in small pieces?
Hi Lisa, in Step 1 of the recipe it says to thinly slice the chicken breasts to 1/4 to 1/8 inch thin. There’s also a video embedded inside of the recipe card for how to make chicken broccoli. Hope that will be easier to communicate! 🙂
Love it. We make this almost weekly. Thank you so much
This recipe is amazing! I’ll be adding it to our regular rotation.
So happy to hear. Thank you so much!
So delicious, my whole family loved it. Served it with jasmine rice. Going into rotation for sure! Thanks!
So happy to hear. Thank you so much!
On a journey to make as many of your recipes as I can. This is a repeat. Something everyone loves from the husband to the baby. Thanks for sharing your talent! I’m a fan girl that raves about all your food whenever people ask! Keep it up!
Thank you so much, Cristal. I so appreciate it!
I am planning to make this but have a VIP question, is it 1.5 lbs of chicken? Or 1.5 chicken breasts?
1.5 lbs chicken. Thank you!
My whole family enjoyed it, thank you!
Thank you, Mandy! So happy to hear.
This was absolutely delicious and I didn’t have some items (baking soda and scallions) so I’m sure it would be even better with all the ingredients.
Thanks so much, Ingrid! It’s one of our favorite chicken stir-fries, too!
This was absolutely amazing in every way. So delicious!
Incredible!! I could honestly eat this every day. I don’t know how something so simple could taste so good but it just works. Definitely not 6 servings though (more like 3 or 4). I’ll try adding more broccoli next time to bulk it up. Thanks for the great recipe!
Great recipe! My husband & I loved it and will definitely make it again. Thank you!
Thank you! So happy to hear!
I make this once a week or so now, sometimes with a few variations (different vegetables) but always use this fantastic technique and the sauce recipe!
I am making it right now with snow peas and peppers. I forgot to prep the broccolli so I am just going to leave it out. Ha! Also adding some sesame seeds like another reviewer had suggested. I usually bulk it up with a bit of extra chicken and lots of extra veggies and double the sauce amount. That way there’s some leftovers for lunch.
That’s wonderful! Love it!
I made this wonderful recipe. It was delicious! I have wanted to up my Asian cuisine cooking and I have found wonderful recipes with you. Thank you!!
Thank you so much, Donna!
Thank you, Donna!
We made this dish once a week it’s our weekly meal prep must have! This chicken broccoli tastes so flavorful and the chicken breasts are tender juicy. So much better than any takeout. Highly recommend it for chicken lovers!
Thank you, Joy! So happy to hear and thanks for sharing it with us!
Very yummy first go around, easy to follow instructions. Next time I bet it will even be better!
That’s great to hear!
This is on repeat in our house! It’s outstanding!
Ty ty ty I am all ways looking for a more healthier way to cook and I have a weakness for Asian food
I have added the specialty ingredients you suggest to my shopping list I’ll use and prepare on this dish. I want to try shiitake mushrooms In the mix because I’m such a fan I appreciate your effort and I’ll be watching
Very welcome!
Made this recipe for the first time last night for my family – a big thumbs up, we all loved it thanks for sharing 🙂 We also added some carrot noodles instead of rice 🙂
oops meant to rate it five stars not sure if you can amend my original review 🙂
Thanks so much, Carolyne!
We very much enjoyed this dish.
Looks delicious. Can I substitute Xantham Gum for the arrowroot? We eat Keto. If so, suggestion on how much?
Hi Leslie, I’m not sure. I would recommend skipping the arrowroot if modified for Keto. Xantham gum might make it sticky and gummy.
Best chicken stir fry! Thanks for your recipes they are all so easy to follow and healthy!
We love this recipe! It’s on constant rotation in our house. Usually I double or triple the recipe so I can put leftovers in the freezer for a quick, healthy dinner option on another day. We prefer this dish to take out chicken and broccoli! Thank you for all your delicious recipes!
I’ve made a lot of stir fry in my life but it was always just ok. I tried this recipe tonight and it was literally the BEST stir fry I have ever had! I was so proud to put such a delicious meal on the table for my family. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Jessica! Stir-fries are my favorite!
Made this tonight. So delicious!
Fabulous! Thank you, Angela!
Better than takeout!! You’ve changed my weeknights!
So happy to hear. Thanks for making the dish, Helen!
This recipe was amazing!!! A total hit at home . This will definitely become a constant meal at home and its so easy!!!
Thank you! So happy to hear! 🙂
I made thisnit was easy and great took to work for lunch and co workers had food envy thank you for sharing
Amazing! Marinating then browning the chicken was the best; sprinkled with sesame seeds. I used ghee to fry in. I also added sliced mushrooms to the onion/garlic/ginger mix. Served it with the Shiratake fettucine noodles, so definitely a paleo meal worth serving again.
That sounds delicious. I love it!
Did this tonight. Killer recipe. So good. We added sliced water chestnuts for a little crunch and some toasted sesame seeds. As we wanted a little heat we added some Sriracha. But you don’t need to do a thing because the flavors are spectacular per the recipe. So glad to be introduced to Coconut Aminos!
Thank you, Dale! That sounds amazing! I love coconut aminos, too!
I made this last night and holy cow it was SOOOO good. Served over cauliflower rice. The sauce had a little sweetness from the coconut aminos. It was just amazing. I will say though, the servings say that there are 6 servings here, and I don’t think that’s accurate. I would say 4 servings TOPS. The calories per 6 servings are low (207 per serving). I would recommend making this for 3 people. You won’t have anything left.
Thank you, Shannon! After adding the broccoli veggies the quantity does bulk up quite a lot but I totally understand maybe 4 servings are more feasible since they are delicious! Thanks for sharing though. I appreciate it :))
This is very very good!! My partner and two boys LOVED IT. Tasted better then most anything I have ever bought in a restaurant. I’m going to try a few more recipes and if they rock like this one, I am definitely buying that cook book. Great work, Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, Dane! Appreciate it!
Amazing recipe! I have to sometimes triple the recipe so I will have leftovers because my husband and 2 daughters devour this!
Question – would you say 1 serving = 1 cup?
HI Angelina, Thank you so much! The serving size is a rough estimate. 1 serving out of 6 people. 🙂
So delicious, I will be making this very often!
That’s awesome. So happy to hear that. I adore this Paleo Chicken Broccoli, too!
Made this tonight. It was so easy and tasty. I had to sub tapioca flour for the arrowroot, but it seemed to work out. I hope to make more of your Whole30 compliant recipes.
That’s perfect, Lisa! Thanks for sharing!
I have to admit, I found this recipe after a google search for “Whole30 chicken broccoli” I did not have high hopes. I have been missing Chinese food so I went with it. OMG it was so good and I’m so excited to add it to my rotation!!! Thank you!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Julie. It’s my pleasure to share great Asian-inspired Paleo recipes with my readers. Appreciate it! :))
I made this recipe SOOooo delicious. I even had some for breakfast. Thank you so much for sharing.
So happy to hear that. Thanks so much, Lena!
Best stir fry recipe ever, I loved the addition of the mushrooms! ?
Thanks so much, Gaya ! Yup, shiitake adds extra umami for sure !
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I love your chicken and broccoli stir fry especially with the addition of the mushrooms! ?
Thank you so much!
I made this last night and had leftovers for lunch today. It was so good!
That’s so fabulous ! Yes! Totally love this Paleo chicken and broccoli !
Goodness, this looks delish! That chicken looks so moist!
Thanks for your helpful tips to make this the best stir fry!! Cannot wait to try it. Looks SO good!!!
Stir fry is one of my absolute favorite go-to meals for my family. This sounds great!
Ooooooh I’m adding this to the meal plan next week, it looks delicious and super easy! Arrowroot is such a great thickener for paleo meals, I find!
This is a flavor explosion in the plate ! I love the combo and I love stir fries!
That’s so awesome ! Yes ! love all the flavor in this dish !
This looks so easy and good! Definitely putting it on the menu this week! And I love it that you always include nutrition info on your recipes!
Oh yum! My favorite!!! That golden crust on the chicken is so perfect. My family would love this.
I love this tasty paleo recipe!! Chicken and broccoli are such a winning combination. The flavors are some of my favorite!!
Oooooh! Chicken and broccoli stir-fry has got to be one of my favorites. This looks delicious!
Loving this recipe already. great for an easy dinner solution.
I was planning on doing baked chicken and broccoli tonight, but went with this recipe instead. It was delicious! I didn’t have the scallions or sesame oil, but it still turned out great. I’ll definitely be making this one again. Thanks!
That’s so great to hear Thank you, Kathryn !
I love a good stir fry, and the way you cooked the chicken looks so perfect! We have the best sweetest local broccoli in season right now, so I need to make this!
Love a good stir fry! That first shot of the vegetables is beautiful!!
The texture of your chicken looks sooo good! Love this simple beautiful recipe, and all the care you’ve taken to make it just right and give great instructions. And the garlic!
Omgosh that video just made me so hungry!
One of my favorite go-to stirfrys! Love that it comes together so quickly as well.
Beautiful! Love this recipe!
Quick and easy simple dinners like this are my jam, I will try this one, as every other one of your I’ve tried has been a home run!
As anticipated, this was DEEEEElish!! Chicken was so tender and perfect…loved the flavoring and how quickly it all cam together, keeper!
Yay, Tessa !! Amazing !!
We do stir fry night on Tuesdays usually, and I have everything to make this! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
That’s awesome, Renee !
We made this Paleo Chicken Broccoli for dinner tonight and boy it was DELICIOUS ! The chicken is tender and so flavorful. Will definitely add this recipe to our meal rotation ! Thank you !
That’s so awesome. Thank you so much, Eileen !