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March 26, 2021

Healthy Stir Fry Recipes (Mix & Match)

Dairy Free Gluten Free Vegan Vegetarian Fish + Seafood Main Dishes Meat Mix + Match Recipes Poultry Vegetarian Stir Fry
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Stir fries are one of my favorite dinners: they’re quick, easy, and so versatile. So I’m excited to share these mix and match healthy stir fry recipes with you!

Mix and match recipes involve a few key components that you can switch around based on what you have on hand. In the case of stir fry, you can mix and match vegetables, proteins, and sauces to your heart’s content.

healthy stir fry recipes and stir fry sauces

Mix + Match Healthy Stir Fry Recipes

Stir fries are the perfect easy weeknight meal.

They only require one pan, they’re easy to get on the table in a matter of minutes, and all the ingredients are super flexible!

Plus, stir fries have the perfect formula for a balanced meal: vegetables and protein stir fried together with a flavorful sauce, served over a whole grain like brown rice or noodles. The combination is satisfying, yummy, and so incredibly easy – my kind of recipe!

So how do you go about mixing and matching stir fries? Here’s my method!

Step 1: Choose a stir fry protein.

There’s no wrong place to start when it comes to stir fries, but I like to start with proteins.

I usually choose between shrimp, diced chicken breast, sliced beef, and cubed tofu based on what I’m craving, what we have to use up in the freezer, or what’s on sale!

Mix & Match Stir Fry Recipes protein ingredients

A quick note on beef: you’ll want to opt for a lean, tender cut like top round (which cooks quickly), rather than one with lots of connective tissue and fat marbled in (which only gets tender when cooked slowly, like in a stew).

You can always chat with a butcher at the meat counter and ask which cut they’d recommend for slicing thin and stir frying!

Step 2: Gather veggies.

Stir fries are great for using up veggies from your fridge!

Just about any veggie works, fresh or frozen, and there’s no limit to the number of veggies you can toss in.

Some of my favorites include bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, snap peas, broccoli, and edamame (which are soybeans, so they could easily double as a protein source! I include them with veggies because they cook up similarly in a stir fry).

Mix & Match Stir Fry Recipes vegetable ingredients

Step 3: Choose a stir fry sauce.

The sauce is probably my favorite part of a stir fry.

It adds so much flavor and really lets you change the whole meal by mixing and matching just this one component!

I have four basic stir fry sauces that I rotate between, and they’re all equally easy to make.

Just combine all the ingredients in a mason jar or bowl and shake or stir to combine!

These are my go-to stir fry sauce recipes:

Stir Fry Sauce Recipes in a Jar

Sriracha Stir Fry Sauce:

1 teaspoon sriracha (or more if you like it extra spicy!) + 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce + 2 tablespoons rice vinegar + 1 tablespoon honey + 1 clove crushed/grated garlic + 1 teaspoon minced/grated ginger

Peanut Stir Fry Sauce

3 tablespoons peanut butter + 3 tablespoons soy sauce + 3 tablespoons rice vinegar + 1 tablespoon honey + 2 teaspoons minced/grated ginger

Teriyaki Sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce + 2 tablespoons rice vinegar + 3 tablespoons orange juice + 2 tablespoons honey + 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

Ginger Soy Stir Fry Sauce

1 tablespoon minced/grated ginger + 2 tablespoons soy sauce + 3 tablespoons rice vinegar + 2 tablespoons honey + 1 tablespoon sesame seeds + 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

Step 4: Get cooking!

The method is the same for any combination of protein, veggies, and sauce!

chicken and veggie stir fry ingredients in a skillet

First, cook your protein.

I like to do this first so that you can get nice caramelized edges on your protein and don’t have to worry about tossing raw chicken into cooked veggies later on.

Heat a large pan or wok over high heat with a drizzle of sesame oil.

Add protein (sliced or cubed if necessary) and cook while stirring occasionally – this usually takes 3-4 minutes for shrimp and thinly sliced steak, and 5-7 minutes for cubed chicken and tofu.

Once the protein is cooked through, remove it from the pan and set it aside.

Next, cook the veggies.

Add another quick drizzle of sesame oil to the pan if necessary, then add all the veggies.

I like to par-cook heartier veggies like broccoli florets and sliced carrots by microwaving them with a splash of water for a minute or two, then toss them in with the rest of the veggies I’m using, or you can just cook these first in the pan for a little longer – up to you.

Cook the veggies until tender (or just tender – depending how soft you like them) while stirring occasionally – this usually takes 5-7 minutes, depending on how crisp or tender you like your veggies.

Finally, add the sauce and protein back into the pan.

Cook for a minute or two, until the sauce thickens and glazes everything.

If you want to mix brown rice or brown rice noodles into the mixture now, go for it.

Otherwise, just serve the protein and veggies on top of a bed of whole grains, and you’ve got a complete meal!

Healthy Stir Fry Recipes

The combinations are endless, but here are some of my favorite healthy stir fry recipes:

Tofu Stir Fry with Sriracha Sauce, Carrots, Peppers, Edamame, and Snap Peas over Brown Rice Noodles

Tofu Stir Fry with Sriracha and Veggies

Beef Stir Fry with Ginger Soy Sauce, Broccoli, Mushrooms, and Onions over Brown Rice

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Ginger Soy Sauce

Shrimp Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce, Broccoli, Mushrooms, Peppers, Onions, Mushrooms, and Brown Rice Noodles with Peanuts

Shrimp & Peanut Noodle Stir Fry

Chicken Stir Fry with Teriyaki Sauce, Carrots, Peppers, and Snap Peas over Brown Rice with Cashews

Cashew Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry with rice

Do you love mix & match recipes, too?

Check out my other mix + match style recipe posts:

  • Overnight Oatmeal 6 Ways (vegan, gluten free with GF oats) 
  • Avocado Toast 12 Ways (vegan options, gluten free on GF bread)
  • Lettuce Wraps 3 Ways (gluten free)
  • Grain Salad Bowls (vegan and gluten free options)
  • Healthy Sandwiches (vegan options, gluten free on GF bread)
  • Healthy Smoothies (vegan options, gluten free)
  • Sheet Pan Dinners (vegan and gluten free options)
  • Stuffed Peppers (vegan and gluten free options)

What’s your favorite stir fry combination?

I’ve been on a kick with peanut sauce lately, but I’m always a fan of sauces packed with fresh ginger!

- anne
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Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

you might also like:

easy coconut curry recipe

Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk

Mix & Match Sheet Pan Dinners

Healthy Stuffed Peppers (Mix & Match Recipes!)

Healthy Pasta Dinner Ideas (Mix & Match)

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38 comments
  • Anna April 26, 2018 · 11:37AM:
    Omg yessssss. This is amazing. I cannot wait to try these sauces and I love that they are all in one post. Thank you!!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2018 · 11:38AM:
      Yay, you're welcome! Enjoy! :)
      Reply
  • Erin April 26, 2018 · 12:53PM:
    I’m in a huge cooking rut and this is exactly what I needed to get me out! Thank you!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2018 · 1:16PM:
      Yay! Let me know which combos are your fave!
      Reply
  • Sarah April 26, 2018 · 1:28PM:
    I just did this last week, but your sauces seem to be more simple (yet still flavorful) than the one I made. Will be referring to this often! Thank you!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2018 · 1:58PM:
      Enjoy and let me know how you like them!
      Reply
  • Carly April 26, 2018 · 2:03PM:
    Hey Anne, I know you liked this guy's sardine recipes so maybe you will like this link as well... http://www.frenchguycooking.com/stir-fry-generator
    Reply
  • Carly April 26, 2018 · 2:08PM:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBoV65FSbkQ I forgot to add this to the above :)
    Reply
  • Karen April 26, 2018 · 2:09PM:
    Thank you for these!!! I've been in a stir fry rut - and these are the perfect inspiration. I'll just sub in some coconut aminos for the soy sauce and I'm good to go!!! Now I can't wait for dinner.
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2018 · 2:21PM:
      Tamari is another soy sauce alternative that's (usually - double check the label) gluten free, if that's what you're going for! :) Enjoy!
      Reply
  • Kris S April 26, 2018 · 3:34PM:
    Easy! Love it!
    Reply
  • India April 26, 2018 · 4:12PM:
    What an amazing post. I love how simple the sauces are -- makes it way less intimidating. Thanks, Anne!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 26, 2018 · 4:31PM:
      I'm so glad you found it helpful!
      Reply
  • Sarah B. April 27, 2018 · 4:38PM:
    Anne, your mix and match series are some of my very favorite posts (well, of course, other than anything about dear Riese). Keep them coming!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 30, 2018 · 9:28AM:
      Aw, thanks Sarah! :) Let me know if there are any other mix and match posts you'd especially like to see... brainstorming ideas for what other sort of recipes/themes would work well as a mix and match and would love input!
      Reply
  • Brittany Audra
    April 27, 2018 · 10:12PM:
    LOVE the simple yet delicious-sounding sauce recipes!! Thank you; can't wait to start experimenting!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 30, 2018 · 9:26AM:
      Let me know which are your faves! :)
      Reply
  • Christine Desimone April 29, 2019 · 7:57PM:
    Can you tell me approx. how much protein (10 oz, 12 oz. ??) you usually use, and how much of the veggies (5 cups, 6 cups, ??). I'm a bit of a stir-fry novice :) Thanks!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 30, 2019 · 7:35PM:
      Serving sizes will vary based on hunger, but to get you started, for one serving, I'd start with 4 to 6 ounces of protein, 2 cups of veggies, and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup rice. See how that feels and adjust up or down next time! :)
      Reply
  • Martha January 22, 2020 · 8:36PM:
    Thanks for the great recipes for stir fry sauces and the stir fry ideas. So simple yet so full of flavor. Just what I needed for making a quick but good tasting stir fry on a week night. Thanks for sharing your clever recipes!
    Reply
    • Anne
      January 23, 2020 · 2:31PM:
      I'm so happy to help! Let me know which combinations you like best.
      Reply
      • martha January 31, 2020 · 8:39PM:
        Right now I'm obsessing on the peanut one. Tonight it's shrimp, red onion and green beans with the peanut sauce :) I do keto so I replace the honey with a keto friendly sweetener and I add a bit of garlic. It's delicious, even non keto family like it. Thanks again!
        Reply
        • Anne
          February 1, 2020 · 2:27PM:
          Glad you're enjoying it!
          Reply
  • Molly February 10, 2020 · 11:36AM:
    Great post!!! Love the breakdown on your stir fry!! Curious how long the sauces will keep in the refrigerator if I want to have them at the ready for a quick weeknight meal?
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 10, 2020 · 1:02PM:
      Hmmm, great question! I'd guess probably a week max? I would just make sure it didn't smell weird. ;)
      Reply
      • Lizbeth May 3, 2020 · 12:54AM:
        Can you make the sauces ahead and freeze them, then thaw them when you’re ready to use them?
        Reply
        • Anne
          May 3, 2020 · 1:12PM:
          I haven't tried this, so I'm not 100% sure, but I don't see why not - let us know how it goes if you try it!
          Reply
  • Lizbeth May 3, 2020 · 12:51AM:
    I love all the different sauces - can’t wait to play with them! Another protein choice is to add eggs after the sauce, just before you take the pan off the burner. You make a well in the center of your stir fry, then drop in a couple of eggs and scramble them. Can replace other proteins or be in addition to them.
    Reply
    • Anne
      May 3, 2020 · 1:09PM:
      Yum, great idea - thanks for sharing!
      Reply
  • Marcela May 3, 2020 · 2:50PM:
    Love the Stir Fry sauces! Thank you!
    Reply
  • Stan Quick February 16, 2022 · 9:50PM:
    I just finished prepping vegs, protein and noodles and rice for a batch of stir-fry freezer meals. Thank you for the wonderful ideas for sauces and combinations!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 17, 2022 · 12:09PM:
      Awesome, great idea to turn them into freezer meals!
      Reply
  • Lizabeth May 16, 2022 · 3:02PM:
    Love the Teriyaki and the Ginger Soy sauces. I usually swap out the orange juice for pineapple juice in the teriyaki, and add a clove (or two!) of minced garlic to the ginger-soy sauce. Our favorite proteins are actually lean ground pork or lean ground beef, and for minimal prep, packaged broccoli slaw or coleslaw mix and matchstick carrots. I usually julienne a red bell pepper, and some yellow onion and add those, too.
    Reply
    • Anne
      May 16, 2022 · 3:07PM:
      Great tips! Thanks!
      Reply
  • DONNIE Belton September 11, 2022 · 8:28AM:
    After retiring I needed something to do with my extra time so I started trying different recipes. This really helped. I could go in my kitchen and stay for the whole afternoon and come out with a whole different meal. I wanted something different to eat, plus doing something different with my extra time. I make something different every week. I love cooking and what ever I make weather it comes out good or bad I still feel good about it because I learn from mistakes. Knowing the next time I would do it differently. Thanks Donnie Belton
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 12, 2022 · 10:53AM:
      Hi Donnie! Love hearing that you are enjoying experimenting in the kitchen, and so glad this mix + match post was helpful!
      Reply
  • Selena Smyth February 1, 2023 · 5:29AM:
    Love these sauce recipes and I can’t wait to try them all!! Thank you so much! I have a question for you, do you know if there is a premixed sauce out there with like sesame, fish oil, soya sauce. The Asian sauces that are common as base flavours is what I’m looking for. Thank you so much!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      February 1, 2023 · 9:57AM:
      Hmmm I don't know, but if you find one, let me know - would love that too!
      Reply
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anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
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I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

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