Quick & Savory Stir-Fried Chicken with Crispy Cabbage
Quick & Savory Stir-Fried Chicken with Crispy Cabbage is a flavorful, fast, and healthy weeknight meal. It combines tender thinly sliced chicken breast with crunchy green cabbage, all tossed in a savory sauce made from soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a touch of sweetness. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish offers a perfect balance of textures and nutrition that the whole family will enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free (use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for strict GF)
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 lb boneless chicken breast, thinly sliced
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 4 cups green cabbage, shredded
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Cooking Oil
- 1–2 tbsp neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola oil) for stir-frying
Instructions
- Prep Your Ingredients: Slice the chicken breast thinly across the grain for tenderness. Shred the green cabbage finely to achieve a crispy texture when stir-fried. Mince the garlic and ginger finely to release their flavors into the dish.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey or brown sugar, and red pepper flakes if using. This sauce will combine the savory, sweet, and tangy elements of the dish.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and just cooked through, about 4-5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Stir-Fry the Cabbage: In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Add the minced garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the shredded cabbage and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, until it softens slightly but still retains crunch.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and cabbage. Toss everything together to coat evenly, and cook for another 2 minutes to heat through and meld the flavors. Sprinkle sliced green onions on top before serving.
Notes
- Slice chicken thinly for faster and more even cooking.
- Use high heat for a good sear and to keep vegetables crisp.
- Prep all ingredients before cooking because stir-frying is a fast process.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary to maintain heat and texture.
- Taste the sauce before adding and adjust sweetness or acidity to your liking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: quick chicken stir-fry, savory chicken recipe, crispy cabbage stir-fry, healthy weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe, family-friendly stir-fry, gluten free chicken dish
