Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This Stir Fry Sauce recipe can be used for vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp,and pork. It is super easy to make and totally adaptable.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (1)

One of the easiest meals to make is stir fryand using a stir fry sauce makes it even easier because it has all of the seasonings you need.

In This Post

  • Tonia’s Notes
  • Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
  • Make Ahead and Storage
  • How To Use Stir Fry Sauce
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Sauce Recipes

Tonia’s Notes

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (2)

While in Florida with my mom and sisters, one of the meals weshared was a simple stir fry. We used bottled stir-fry sauce, and our meal was delicious!

I decided to make my own stir-fry sauce recipe and found that it was really easy to make and so delicious!

I love that you can use whatever meat you have. Chicken, beef, shrimp,and pork all work really well. Or skip the meat for an all vegetable option.

Grab some veggies, fresh or frozen, depending on what you prefer. Try using cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, snow peas, peppers, onions, corn, beans, and mushrooms. It’s a great way to use up extra vegetables. You can eat the stir fry with just the meat and vegetables or serve it over rice or noodles.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (3)

Step One: Soy Sauce Mixture

Start by mixing together the soy sauce, chicken broth, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame seed oil, and black pepper so that it is ready to add to the saucepan once the ginger and garlic are ready.

I chose to use barbecue sauce in this stir-fry sauce because I always have it on hand, but an equal amount of hoisin sauce can be used instead.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (4)

Step Two: Cornstarch Mixture

The thickener in this stir fry sauce recipe is cornstarch, but you can’t just add the cornstarch to the hot, boiling sauce since it will clump together.

To prevent this from happening, mix the cornstarch with cold water in a small bowl so that it is ready to use when you need it.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (5)

Step Three: Garlic and Ginger

Now, it’s time to start cooking the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and ground ginger and cook it for 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (6)

Step Four: Liquids

Next, add the soy sauce mixture. Whisk in the mixture and cook over medium heat until it starts to boil.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (7)

Step Five: Add Cornstarch Mixture

Finally, add the cornstarch/water mixture to thicken the sauce. Be sure to add the mixture slowly while whisking constantly to prevent clumping. Cook until the sauce has thickened.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (8)

Make Ahead and Storage

  • Make Ahead: You can use the sauce right away or make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
  • Fridge: Allow the stir fry sauce to cool and then transfer it to an airtight container or jar with a lid. Store it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
  • Freezer: Store the cool sauce in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to three months.
Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (9)

How To Use Stir Fry Sauce

You can use this stir fry sauce for vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork.

  • For one pound of chicken, use about two tablespoons of stir fry sauce. See my chicken stir fry recipe here.
  • Use 1/4 cup for five cups of stir fry veggies.
  • Try serving your stir fry with white rice, brown rice, fried rice, cauliflower rice, Chinese noodles, angel hair pasta, zucchini noodles, or quinoa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of barbecue sauce should I use?

You can use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce (we love Sweet Baby Ray’s), make homemade barbecue sauce, or use a tablespoon of hoisin sauce instead.

Do I have to use sesame oil?

This recipe calls for sesame oil because it adds so much flavor to the stir fry sauce, but you can make it without it and add an additional tablespoon of olive oil.

Can I substitute another kind of liquid?

For this recipe, I used chicken broth as the liquid. You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth or beef broth. Or change the flavor by using orange juice or pineapple juice instead.

Can I use garlic powder instead of minced garlic?

Substitute the three teaspoons of minced garlic with 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder.Also, if you love garlic, you can increase the amount of minced garlic in this recipe.

How can I use freshly grated ginger instead?

I made this stir fry sauce with dried, ground ginger because that is what I typically have on hand. It would be fabulous with freshly grated ginger though. Use 3-4 teaspoons of grated ginger instead. Again, if you love ginger, you can up the amount you use.

Do you have any suggestions for making this stir fry sauce spicier?

Add sriracha sauce, chili sauce, or red pepper flakes.

Can I add peanut butter?

Yes! Collin commented below and said he added a couple of tablespoons of crunchy unsweetened peanut butter.

More Sauce Recipes

  • Our Peanut Sauce recipe is perfect for dipping and drizzling!
  • This Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce is delicious on chicken wings and tenders.
  • Use our homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe on chicken, fish, veggies, and rice.
  • You can make this Garlic Butter Sauce with only three ingredients!

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (10)

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe

This Stir Fry Sauce recipe can be used for vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp,and pork. It is super easy to make and totally adaptable.

4.41 from 49 votes

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Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 14

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, broth, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper. Set aside.

  • In another small bowl, mix cornstarch and water together. Set aside.

  • Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and ground ginger and 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly.

  • Whisk in the soy sauce mixture and bring it to a boil.

  • Slowly whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Cook for a few minutes until thickened, stirring constantly.

  • Remove from the heat and allow the sauce to cool.

Video

Notes

One: This recipe makes 1 3/4 cups of sauce. Serving size is about 2 tablespoons per person.

Two: When cookingone pound of chicken, use about two tablespoons of stir fry sauce.

Three: Use 1/4 cup of the sauce to stir fry five cups of veggies.

Four: Store the cooled sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container or jar with a lid for up to two weeks. Or in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 0.2mg | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Course: Sauces and Syrups

Cuisine: Chinese

Author: Tonia Larson

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the sauce for the stir fry made of? ›

Whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, sugar and red pepper flakes if using in a medium bowl until combined. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

What is the secret ingredient in stir fry? ›

This is why you should add ketchup to your stir fry

It just might be the easiest cooking hack to elevate your home cooking to that of your favorite take-out. Not only does the ketchup add to the complexity of the dish, but it also balances it out.

What are the 3 rules of stir frying? ›

Food & Dining

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What oil is best for stir fry sauce? ›

So many different oils, the good news is you can stick with what you know – canola is great! The best oils for stir frys are the oils with the higher smoke points. These tend to be the “thinner” oils such as peanut, grapeseed or canola.

What makes stir-fry taste better? ›

5. Add flavour.
  1. Herbs: basil, oregano, cilantro.
  2. Spices: cumin, coriander, cardamom.
  3. Reduced sodium or no sodium added broth.
  4. Fresh lemongrass, garlic or ginger.
  5. 100% fruit juice.
  6. Citrus zest.
  7. Lower sodium soy sauces (<600 mg sodium per tablespoon)
Sep 16, 2019

What are the seven common ingredients in a stir-fry? ›

The main ingredients to a stir-fry are: Proteins – chicken, beef, pork, seafood, tofu, tempeh, seitan. Aromatics – garlic, green onions, shallots, ginger.

How do I make the perfect stir-fry? ›

How to make a stir-fry
  1. Prepare all the ingredients before turning on the heat. ...
  2. Slice meat and vegetables for maximum surface area. ...
  3. Use a wok or cast-iron pan. ...
  4. The aromatics should be cooked low and slow. ...
  5. But the stir fry needs to be cooked fast and hot. ...
  6. Add ingredients according to cook time. ...
  7. Stir your ingredients often.
Jan 25, 2024

How to make stir-fry more flavourful? ›

Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.

What should you not do when stir-frying? ›

How to stir-fry: 10 common mistakes to avoid at all costs
  1. But first… what IS stir frying? ...
  2. #1: Using the wrong pan. ...
  3. #2: Slicing ingredients too large or thick. ...
  4. #3: Being unorganised. ...
  5. #4: Not getting the wok hot enough. ...
  6. #5: Adding the oil before the wok is hot. ...
  7. #6: Throwing every ingredient in at once. ...
  8. #7: Crowding the protein.

What goes first in a stir-fry? ›

Stir-fry onions first, then add hard vegetables such as carrot and broccoli. Quick-cooking vegetables, such as snow peas, leafy greens and bean sprouts, should be added towards the end of cooking. If using vegies that have a combination of both textures, such as gai laan, add the stems first and the leaves later.

When should you add soy sauce in stir-fry? ›

Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok, then fry the chilli and garlic for 1 min. Add the veg and toss to coat in the oil. Fry for 2-3 mins, then add the soy and chilli sauce, mixing well. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the veg are tender.

What thickens stir-fry? ›

Cornstarch! In his book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman recommends mixing 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the same amount of water, and tossing this into the stir fry just when it's almost done. It thickens in seconds, picking up the flavors of everything already in the dish and coating evenly.

Should you stir-fry with butter or oil? ›

Stir-frying: Butter has a lower smoke point than our favorite oils for stir frying. Use ghee or clarified butter here for best results. Pan-frying: Yes, you can use butter for simple pan-fried recipes! Like sautéing, you'll want to slowly melt the butter and let the moisture cook off before adding your food.

What does cornstarch do in stir-fry? ›

The main uses for cornstarch in Chinese cooking are: Marinating meats to create a velvety texture after stir-frying. Dredging foods prior to deep-frying to achieve a perfectly crispy result. Magically thickening soups, gravies, and stir-fry sauces.

What is the brown sauce in Chinese food called? ›

Oyster sauce is commonly used in Chinese food and adds a savory, salty, umami flavor. Both can be found in most grocery stores. If you like, you can add grated or minced ginger or garlic. Serve your homemade brown sauce with a beef, chicken, or pork stir-fry or chow mein dish.

What sauce do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Soy sauce has been used in Chinese cooking for over 1,000 years. This classic dipping sauce is a staple in Chinese restaurants, as it is served with dim sum dishes and is used together with vinegar, ginger, and chili oil.

What sauce is used in Chinese cooking? ›

THE ESSENTIAL CHINESE SAUCES THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR COOKING
  • Char Siu Sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki Sauce. ...
  • Chu Hou Paste. ...
  • Black Bean Garlic Sauce. ...
  • Plum Sauce. ...
  • Soy Bean Sauce. ...
  • Black Pepper Sauce.
May 18, 2021

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