Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry

Name: Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (cubed); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 4 cups green beans (trimmed and cut in 1 in. pieces); 1/4 cup chicken broth (low sodium); 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce; 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium); 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons minced ginger; 2 teaspoons sesame oil; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon chili paste (optional); scallions and brown rice - to serve (optional)

A fast, easy, and healthy dinner recipe, this flavorful Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry comes together in just 20 minutes!

Grabbing chicken and green bean stir fry with chopsticks

Hands down, one of our weekly go-to recipes is always some variation of an Asian inspired stir-fry. Fast, easy, and full of protein and other nutrients, you really can’t go wrong! This week I made my Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry. Of course, green beans can easily be swapped for asparagus, carrots, red peppers, or any other crunchy veggie you happen to have on hand. That’s the best part about stir-fries, you can use almost anything you have in your fridge! So if you’ve had some veggies sitting in that bottom drawer of your fridge that needs to be eaten, odds are you can use it in a stir-fry.

Ingredients

Chicken breast: High in protein and low in calories, chicken breast is an affordable and accessible way to get protein in your diet.
Green beans: Even when cooked, they’ll keep a bit of a crunch and snap that’s satisfying, while tasting somewhat grassy.
Chicken broth: Adds volume to the sauce as well as mild or full-bodied flavor.
Hoisin sauce: Salty like many Asian sauces, hoisin also adds a nice bit of sweetness to the sauce.
Soy sauce: A great base for Asian-inspired sauces, it adds a great salty, umami flavor to the dish.
Rice wine vinegar: Less bitter than regualr vinegar, it’s mild and even somewhat sweet in flavor.
Ginger: Using fresh ginger will add a bright, somewhat peppery and sweet flavor that pairs wonderfully with the garlic.
Sesame oil: A strong nutty, toasted flavor that is reminiscent of Asian cuisine.
Garlic: Pungent and strong in flavor, it sweetens up a bit once the sauce is added to the stir-fry.

How to Make Chicken and Green Bean Stir-fry

Start your Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry by washing and trimming your green beans, and cutting and seasoning your chicken breast.

Then in a large skillet or wok, heat up some oil over medium high heat. If you want an extra punch of flavor, use sesame oil instead of canola!

Once your wok is hot, add the chicken and cook until golden-brown. Remove and set aside.

While chicken is cooking, make your stir-fry sauce. Start by adding the soy sauce into a bowl or measuring cup.

Then add the sesame oil.

And your rice vinegar.

Followed by the hoisin sauce.

Use a microplane or grater to freshly grate in the garlic, or use minced.

I also like to use freshly grated ginger, but you could use ginger paste as well.

Finish with the chicken broth and, if you’re feeling spicy, a bit of chili paste or red pepper flakes.

Then in the same pan used to cook the chicken, add your green beans and toss until they begin to soften and brighten in color.

Add the chicken back to the wok and stir with the green beans.

Pour in the sauce and stir to evenly coat chicken and green beans. Let simmer until green beans finish cooking.

Serve your Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry over rice or noodles, and garnish with fresh scallions (green onions). Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you cook green beans?

You want to cook green beans until tender but still crisp. Depending on the method (boiling, sauteeing, or roasting) the timing will vary. Usually anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Watch the color, remove from heat once the green color starts to dull.

What does cornstarch do to raw chicken?

Coating your chicken in cornstarch before cooking gives it a bit of a crispy coating when it cooks. It’s a method I like to use sometimes, but not with all recipes.

Is it better to blanch green beans before sauteing?

No, it doesn’t make much of a difference. It might make them more green, but you can easily skip blanching before cooking.

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Eat It, Like It, Share it!

Did you try this stir-fry and like it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your snack.

Liz enjoying chicken and green bean stir-fry.

My Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry is sure to be a hit with the whole family. Did you make it as the recipe says or did you swap out a vegetable? Let me know in a comment!

Your chop sticks are waiting.