Healthy Easy Zucchini Stir Fry (Printable)

Low-carb stir fry with tender chicken, zucchini noodles, and colorful vegetables in a savory Asian sauce.

# What you need:

→ Protein

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced

→ Vegetables

02 - 3 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
03 - 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2 medium carrots, julienned
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 2 green onions, sliced for garnish

→ Sauce

09 - 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
10 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch, optional for thickening
14 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, optional for heat

→ Oil and Seasonings

15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or neutral cooking oil
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch if using, and chili flakes. Set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add sliced chicken, season lightly with salt and pepper, and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add garlic, ginger, and onion. Stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add carrots and bell pepper. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender.
05 - Add zucchini noodles and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, just until they begin to soften. Avoid overcooking to prevent sogginess.
06 - Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Pour in the sauce and toss everything together for 1 to 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat and slightly thicken.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with sliced green onions.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in 30 minutes flat, which means weeknight dinner actually feels doable instead of another scramble.
  • The zucchini noodles stay crisp and tender if you time it right, giving you that satisfying texture without the heaviness of regular pasta.
  • You get to feel like you're eating something vibrant and colorful, which somehow makes the meal taste better.
02 -
  • The zucchini noodles release water as they cook, so don't add them until the very end—if you do it too early, they'll make your stir fry watery and sad instead of saucy.
  • Slicing the chicken thin and cooking it over high heat means it finishes before it dries out, which is the difference between tender and tough.
03 -
  • Have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking—the actual cooking happens so fast that you won't have time to chop things once you begin.
  • A wok is ideal if you have one because the shape lets you toss everything together easily, but a large skillet works just fine too.
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