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. Store in the fridge or freezer for later!

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.

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.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to products for making this recipe. If you use those links, I may earn a commission. Learn morehere.

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 try to make my own stir fry sauce recipe and found that it was really easy to make.

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 could 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 time to start cooking the sauce. Start by heating the olive oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger.

For this step, you can use powdered garlic or minced ginger if you prefer. See the FAQs below for the amounts.

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Step Four: Liquids

Once the olive oil is hot, it’s time to add the soy sauce mixture that was previously made. 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. You’ll want to add the mixture slowly while whisking constantly to prevent clumping. Cook until the sauce has thickened.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (8)

Step Six: Sauce Storage

Once the stir fry sauce has cooled, move it to an airtight container or jar with a lid and store it in the fridge.

Use this stir fry sauce for vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp or pork.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe Tips and FAQs

1. What kind of vinegar should I use? I used rice vinegar when making this recipe. You can also try substituting white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

2. What kind of barbecue sauce should I use?

Barbecue Sauce: Some of you have very strong opinions regarding barbecue sauce. You can use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce, make homemade barbecue sauce, or use a tablespoon of hoisin sauce instead.

3. 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 it can be made without it or substitute the sesame oil with olive oil.

4. Can I substitute another kind of liquid? For this recipe, I used chicken broth for the liquid. You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version. Or change the flavor by using orange juice or pineapple juice instead.

5. I don’t have any minced garlic. Can I use garlic powder instead? To substitute the 3 teaspoons of minced garlic with 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder.If you love garlic, you can increase the amount of minced garlic in this recipe.

6. 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.

7. Do you have any suggestions for making this stir fry sauce spicier? To make this stir fry sauce spicier, add sriracha sauce, chili sauce, or red pepper flakes.

8. How can I freeze this stir fry sauce? Put it into one largeairtight container or in a couple of smaller containers if you only plan to use a little at a time. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw completely before using.

9. Does this stir fry sauce only last two weeks? From the research I did, that is what I found but feel free to use your best judgment and freeze what you can’t use. (see #8 above)

10. How much sauce do you use when making stir fry? I used 2 tablespoons of stir fry sauce for one pound of chicken. Plus, an additional 1/4 cup when I added 5 cups of veggies. See my chicken stir fry recipe here.

11. Can I add peanut butter to make a peanut butter sauce? Yes! Collin commented below and said he added a couple tablespoons of crunchy unsweetened peanut butter.

12. What can stir fry be served over? Try it with white rice, brown rice, fried rice, cauliflower rice, Chinese noodles, angel hair pasta, zucchini noodles, or quinoa.

13. Can I make this into agluten free stir fry sauce? Yes. Be sure to use all gluten freeingredients. Here are a few I found on Amazon:gluten free soy sauce,gluten free barbecue sauce, gluten free rice vinegar, gluten free sesame oil, and gluten free cornstarch.

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (11)

Stir Fry Sauce Recipe

Yield: 14

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This stir fry sauce recipe can be used for vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp,and pork. It is super easy to make and totally adaptable. Store in the fridge or freezer for later!

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, broth, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and pepper. Set aside.
  2. In another small bowl, mix cornstarch and water together. Set aside.
  3. Mix together oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger in a saucepan.Cook over medium heat until oil starts to simmer.
  4. Whisk in the soy sauce mixture and bring it to a boil.
  5. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch mixture. Cook for a few minutes until thickened, stirring constantly.
  6. Allow the sauce to cool. Store in the refrigerator in a jar with a lid for up to two weeks.

Notes

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

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 14Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 56Total Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 372mgCarbohydrates: 6gSugar: 4g

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? ›

Secret 6: Add Garlic

If you prefer not to add any aromatics to your stir fry, please consider adding garlic for a better flavor. Garlic is a magical ingredient that elevates stir-fry dishes to new heights. Its pungent aroma and robust flavor add depth and complexity to any recipe.

Do you cook in stir fry sauce or add it after? ›

Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking. A proper sauce for stir-fries combines something salty—soy sauce, usually, though fish sauce also works—with something a little bit sweet.

What is the secret to a successful stir fry? ›

The key to stir-frying is to constantly stir. Your veggies must have enough room to move around in the wok. A -crowded wok will lead to veggies that are soggy instead of crunchy. If your wok is getting too full, cook your meat and then veggies in batches.

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? ›

If possible, a stir-fry is always more delicious with fresh vegetables and ingredients. While you can use frozen or canned vegetables, fresh ingredients tend to provide a better taste to your meal. Once you are ready to cook your stir-fry, place all the ingredients on your counter and begin prepping.

What are the three rules of stir-frying? ›

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.

How to make 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

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

  • Part 1 of 4:Preparing the Ingredients. Select vegetables to use.
  • Almost any combination of vegetables can be used in a stir fry. ...
  • Bell peppers.
  • Snap peas.
  • Carrots.
  • Water chestnuts.
  • Green or red cabbage.
  • Broccoli, or broccoli rabe.
Jan 12, 2024

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's the difference between stir fry sauce and soy sauce? ›

Soy sauce is an ingredient or table condiment. Stir fry sauce is a convenience product with several ingredients so the home cook doesn't have to season the food themselves. For example, you can season ground beef with several ingredients, OR add an envelope of taco seasoning or chile seasoning.

When to add onions to 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.

How much sauce do you put in a stir-fry? ›

For a basic stir fry, you'll want about 3 tablespoons of sauce. Most of the liquid will cook off, leaving you with just the flavors. If you'll be serving the stir fry over rice or other grains, you'll want about 1/3 cup of sauce and may want to thicken it up with a bit of cornstarch or flour.

What is the key to the best stir-fry? ›

Here is the general order of operations for a stir-fry:
  1. Heat Wok Following "Hot Wok, Cold Oil" ...
  2. Add Aromatics. ...
  3. Add Longer-Cooking Ingredients. ...
  4. Add Shorter-Cooking Ingredients, If Applicable. ...
  5. Add Sauce/Slurry. ...
  6. Add Garnishes.

When to add soy sauce to 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 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 (jiàng yóu, 酱油), the most common of Chinese sauces, sounds simple, and for the most part, it is. However, there are many types, each unique to different Asian cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc.).

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

Is hoisin sauce the same as stir fry sauce? ›

You can cook hoisin sauce into a wide range of stir fry, vegetable and meat-glazed dishes. Fans of this condiment will also use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or dumplings. Because it combines sweet and savory flavors, hoisin sauce is different from the saltier oyster sauce.

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