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30-Minute Chicken and Broccoli

30 minute chicken and broccoli with a glossy soy-garlic sauce that clings to tender chicken bites and bright-green florets. Quick chicken dinner method includes stir-frying chicken, crisp-tender broccoli, then thickening the sauce until it coats every piece over fluffy rice.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts Cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • Salt and pepper To taste.
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch For coating the chicken.
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil Used for stir-frying (split as needed).
Broccoli
  • 4 broccoli florets About 4 cups.
Aromatics
  • 4 clove garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger Grated.
Soy-Garlic Sauce
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch For thickening the sauce.
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
Serving
  • Sesame seeds For serving.
  • green onions For serving.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Coat the chicken
  1. Toss the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and cornstarch until every bite is coated with a light powdery layer.
Sear the chicken
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat, then cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through; remove to a plate.
Stir-fry the broccoli
  1. Add the remaining vegetable oil and stir-fry the broccoli for 3-4 minutes until bright green and just tender-crisp.
Build the sauce
  1. Stir-fry the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds until fragrant, then pour in the whisked sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened and glossy, with a clinging consistency.
Combine and coat
  1. Return the chicken to the pan and toss until everything is evenly coated in the dark amber soy-garlic sauce.
Serve
  1. Serve over rice and top with sesame seeds and green onions so the glaze stays glossy on the chicken and broccoli.

Notes

For the glossiest sauce, whisk the sauce ingredients (including cornstarch) thoroughly before adding to the hot pan so it thickens quickly. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet with a splash of broth or water. Freezing is not recommended because the broccoli can soften after thawing. Dietary swap: use gluten-free soy sauce (and gluten-free oyster/hoisin if needed) to make the sauce gluten-free.