This Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry is a delicious and healthy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. It’s packed with flavor, thanks to the combination of tender chicken, crisp cabbage, and a savory sauce. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make, with just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry
- Flavorful and Healthy: This stir fry is bursting with flavor, thanks to the combination of fresh vegetables, savory sauce, and tender chicken. It’s also a healthy and satisfying meal that’s packed with nutrients.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is incredibly simple to follow, even for beginner cooks.
- Quick and Versatile: It’s a quick and easy meal that’s ready in just 25 minutes. You can also easily customize it with your favorite vegetables or protein.
- One-Pan Wonder: This dish is made in just one pan, which means less cleanup for you.
Ingredients for Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry
Cabbage Stir Fry:
- Chicken Breast: I use boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe, but you can also use chicken thighs or another protein source.
- Salt and Pepper: To season the chicken.
- Olive Oil: Used for cooking the chicken and vegetables.
- Garlic: Minced garlic adds a punch of flavor.
- Ginger: Freshly grated ginger adds a warm, slightly spicy flavor.
- Onion: A diced onion adds sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Bell Pepper: Adds sweetness, color, and crunch.
- Cabbage: I use green cabbage for this recipe, but you can also use Napa cabbage or savoy cabbage.
- Carrots: Adds sweetness and nutrients.
- Coconut Aminos: Adds a savory depth of flavor. You can substitute with low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer.
- Honey: Optional, but adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce.
Optional Garnishes:
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Adds a nutty aroma and flavor.
- Green Onions: Adds a fresh, oniony flavor and a pop of color.
- Sesame Seeds: Adds a nutty crunch.
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)
Variations
Want to try something different? Here are a few ideas:
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for extra heat.
- Veggie Variety: Toss in some other vegetables like broccoli florets, mushrooms, or snow peas.
- Different Protein: Swap out the chicken for beef, pork, or tofu.
- Noodles: Add some cooked noodles, like rice noodles or ramen noodles, to the stir fry.
How to Make Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels and season them with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics
Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining olive oil to the pan. Add the garlic and ginger (if using fresh) and sauté for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.
Step 4: Add the Vegetables
Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and the bell pepper is softened.
Step 5: Make the Sauce
If using honey, whisk together the coconut aminos and honey in a small bowl.
Step 6: Stir-Fry the Cabbage and Carrots
Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the shredded cabbage, carrots, and coconut aminos mixture (or only coconut aminos if not using honey) to the pan. Season with ground ginger (if not using fresh ginger), salt, and pepper. Stir-fry for 3-5 minutes, or until the cabbage is tender and any excess liquid has evaporated.
Step 7: Combine and Serve
Add the cooked chicken back to the pan and stir to combine. If the chicken is not warm enough, cook for 1-2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil, if using. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Tips and Tricks
- Even Cooking: Make sure the chicken pieces are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken or vegetables. This will help them cook evenly and prevent them from steaming.
- Seasoning: Taste the stir fry and adjust the seasoning as needed.
How to Serve
This Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- Rice: Serve with a side of white or brown rice.
- Noodles: Rice noodles or even ramen noodles would be a great accompaniment.
- Quinoa: For a gluten-free option, serve the stir fry over quinoa.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: You can cook the chicken and vegetables ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Storing: Store leftover stir fry in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat the stir fry in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of cabbage?
Yes, you can use Napa cabbage or savoy cabbage instead of green cabbage.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, you can omit the chicken and add more vegetables or tofu to the stir fry.
Can I make this recipe spicy?
Absolutely! You can add more red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a dash of hot sauce to the stir fry.
There you have it! A delicious and easy recipe for Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry. I hope you enjoy it!
PrintChicken Cabbage Stir Fry Recipes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: main dishes
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Description
This Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry is a quick and easy dish that’s packed with flavor and nutrients. Tender chicken, crisp cabbage, and colorful vegetables are stir-fried in a savory sauce with a hint of ginger and garlic.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1/2 large onion, diced
- 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium head cabbage, chopped or shredded (8–10 cups)
- 2 medium carrots, shredded
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoons honey (or natural sugar-free honey; optional)
Optional Garnishes:
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare chicken: Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Sear chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Add remaining olive oil to the pan. Sauté garlic and ginger (if using fresh) until fragrant.
- Cook vegetables: Add onion and bell pepper; cook until softened.
- Make sauce: If using honey, whisk together coconut aminos and honey.
- Stir-fry: Increase heat to medium-high. Add cabbage, carrots, and coconut aminos mixture (or just coconut aminos). Season with ground ginger (if not using fresh), salt, and pepper. Stir-fry until cabbage is tender.
- Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the pan and heat through. Remove from heat. Stir in toasted sesame oil (if using). Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
- If using ground ginger, add it with the cabbage and carrots.
- You can use different types of vegetables, such as broccoli, snow peas, or mushrooms.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410kcal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
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