29 Stir-Fry Recipes to Toss Into Your Rotation
Often, stir-fry recipes solve a particular problem: When you look into your refrigerator and see nothing but odds and ends—a little old rice here, a bit of steak there, some bok choy from the crisper drawer—a simple stir-fry can bring them together into a cohesive meal. You just need a wok (or large skillet) and a small bowl or two.
But stir-fries are endlessly customizable (plus, lightning-fast to make). You wouldn’t be wrong to call them the saviors of the weeknight dinner table. Our best stir-fry recipes start from scratch with homemade sauces, flash-seared meats and vegetables, noodles, and more, curated with flavors found all over the globe. There are also plenty of shortcuts here to help you get a meal on the table after a long day spent doing whatever it is you do all day. Ready to dig in? We thought so.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones1/29Sesame Tofu With Broccoli
A riff on the classic Chinese American stir-fry recipe sesame chicken, this dish packs in the sesame flavor in three ways: with sesame oil, sesame seeds, and tahini.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness2/29Red Curry Pork and Rice Cake Stir-Fry
Your weeknight stir-fry game will never be the same once you’ve tested out this mixture of tender ground meat, chewy Korean rice cakes, and crunchy bell peppers. Did we mention the bold red curry sauce?
Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling by Thu Buser3/29Spiced Double Potato Noodles
If you want some extra protein, sliced poached skinless, boneless chicken breast would be nice with this stir-fry recipe. You could go super-simple or curry-poached.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi5/29Basil Chicken Stir-Fry
Modeled after Thai pad kra pao, this simple, speedy chicken stir-fry will become your new best friend. And if you like her, then get to know her sister, this spicy chicken stir-fry with sriracha, celery, and peanuts (which would work with cashews too).
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht6/29Miracle Cabbage Stir-Fry
While stir-fries are meant to be cooked on hot-hot heat, if your cabbage is browning too quickly, lower it—you want the greens to stay tender on the inside. Once you’ve got that method down, try this Kielbasa-Cabbage Stir-Fry.
Photograph by Cody Guilfoyle, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie, Food Styling by Thu Buser7/29Stir-Fried Curry Noodles With Eggs and Greens
Photograph by Matthew Keough, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Emma Ringness8/29Kung Pao Tempeh
Vegans, this tempeh stir-fry will give you access to the Sichuan classic, featuring plant-based products instead of chicken. For more, try our Tempeh Crumbles With Coconut Rice.
Photograph by Bre Furlong, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht9/29Chicken Yakisoba
We used peppers, cabbage, and mushrooms in this stir-fry recipe, but you can swap in whatever vegetables you have on hand, such as bok choy, thin strips of zucchini, or bean sprouts. No matter what, the whole family is going to ask for it again.
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen10/29Garlic-Coconut Shrimp and Green Beans
Shrimp, green beans, and turmeric make a happy trio. There’s this coconutty version, for example, and then this Bangladeshi version with amped-up seasoning thanks to coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper, and Kashmiri chile powder.
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh11/29Caramelized Tofu With Soy-Braised Eggplant
Tofu works with any vegetable you like, really. You could make a tofu and broccoli stir-fry, a tofu and brussels sprouts (and water chestnuts) stir-fry, or this tofu and eggplant stir-fry.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio12/29Black Pepper Beef and Celery Stir-Fry
Key to this beef stir-fry’s success is the mise en place, as chefs call it: having all your ingredients prepped and ready to go. You’ll thank us; the total time it takes this dish to actually cook is literally minutes.
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Christina Allen13/29Saucy Beef and Pepper Stir-Fry
You want more beef stir-fry recipes? Boy, do we have them, starting with a Beef, Shiitake, and Snow Pea Stir-Fry, moving on to this beef with romaine, or how about steak with asparagus and sugar snap peas?
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen14/29Basil Fried Rice
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Leslie Garetto, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon15/29Black Vinegar Chicken With Radishes
If black vinegar isn’t already in your pantry, we suggest you get some for its distinct umami earthiness. In this new recipe, it takes the glossy sauce to the next level.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Gerri K Williams16/29Udon With Stir-Fried Peppers and Onions
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime17/29Coconut Tofu Stir-Fry
A mixture of sambal oelek, soy sauce, brown sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice infuse tofu and green beans with umami galore. Cook time: less than 30 minutes.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by JoJo Li18/29Spicy Oyster Mushroom and Lemongrass Stir-Fry
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca19/2910-Minute Lamb and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Because ground lamb has so much fat (i.e., flavor), it doesn’t need a sauce or as many seasonings as you might need with chicken or tofu. Lamb out of your price range? Try our Pork and Asparagus Stir-Fry instead.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime20/29Chicken and Corn Stir-Fry
Photographs by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou21/29Salt-and-Pepper Pork With Crispy Rice Cakes
We couldn’t remove this easy recipe from the weeknight dinner rotation if we wanted to. Chewy Korean rice cakes soak up the flavor of a fresh ginger and garlic sauce with green onions.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks22/29Spicy and Sour Stir-Fried Potatoes
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Nicole Louie23/29Ginger-Garlic Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry
This is one of our favorite chicken stir-fry recipes; it takes seconds to finely chop garlic, ginger, and scallion in a food processor and only seconds more to cook. Another favorite? Supremely Easy Teriyaki Chicken.
Photograph by Jessica Pettway, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh24/29Saucy Soy-Butter Beef and Peppers
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kendra Vaculin25/29Mustardy Sausage and Halloumi Stir-Fry
Max Kelly27/29Stir-Fried Okra With Shallots, Chile, and Ginger
This is the kind of stir-fry that works as a cocktail party snack. Make sure to cook it in batches. You want golden-tender okra, not soft-slimy okra, to pair with that martini.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio28/29Caramelized Pork and Cucumber Stir-Fry
Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley29/29Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry
If it hasn’t already been made clear, cornstarch is key for many stir-fry recipes. Not only does the ingredient soften meat, but it also thickens stir-fry sauces.
