Vegetable Stir Fry

Why This Vegetable Stir Fry Is a Weeknight Win

Here are all the reasons I have this veggie stir fry on frequent repeat:

• Quick and easy. You only need a few minutes of cooking for this stir fry—you’ll spend more time prepping the veggies! (And I have some tips to shave time off of that too.)
• Nutritious. Different colored veggies pack in different nutrients, so the rainbow of vegetables in this stir fry means you’re covering more bases in terms of vitamins and antioxidants.
• Versatile. Use this vegetable stir fry as a meatless main dish or serve it as a side with Honey Garlic Grilled Shrimp or Teriyaki Salmon.

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Olive oil – Or a neutral cooking oil like avocado or vegetable oil.
• Vegetables – Carrots, red and yellow pepper, snap peas, broccoli, baby portobello mushrooms, water chestnuts, baby corn, and zucchini.
• Garlic and ginger – Fresh is best, with a much punchier flavor!
• Tamari sauce – A gluten-free alternative to soy sauce, but regular soy sauce works just as well.  
• Chicken stock – Vegetable stock is a great substitute for a vegetarian vegetable stir fry.  
• Red pepper flakes – Adjust the amount for more or less heat, or omit entirely if you prefer a milder dish.
• Dry mustard – This adds some depth to the sauce. 
• Sugar – I love a little sweetness in a stir fry sauce, but not so much that the sauce becomes cloying. If you’d like, you can use honey instead.
• Sesame oil – Use toasted sesame oil for nutty flavor.  
• Rice wine vinegar – This adds a tangy element to balance the umami and sweetness.
• Cornstarch – Or arrowroot powder. This thickens the sauce and makes it sticky so it clings to the veggies.
• Green onions – A fresh garnish for flavor and texture. 
• Sesame seeds – You can use white, black, or a combination.

How to Make Vegetable Stir Fry

The complete recipe is at the bottom of the page, but here’s a quick overview of the steps for making this vegetable stir fry.

• Cook the harder veggies. Add the oil to a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the carrots and bell peppers; cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the softer veggies. Stir in the snap peas, broccoli, mushrooms, water chestnuts, baby corn and zucchini. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until they’re beginning to get tender.

• Make the sauce. Whisk the garlic, ginger, tamari sauce, chicken stock, red pepper flakes, dry mustard, sugar, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and cornstarch in a small bowl.
• Add the sauce. Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir to coat. Cook for a minute or two, until the sauce thickens and coats all the vegetables. 
• Serve. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, then serve.

Tips and Variations 

Follow these additional pointers for a perfect vegetable stir fry. 

• Hit up your grocery store salad bar. To minimize your prep time, buy pre-cut vegetables from your grocery store’s salad bar.
• Or get a head start. Alternatively, you can cut all the vegetables a day or two ahead of time and have them ready to go when you’re about to start cooking.
• Add some crunch. Top your stir fry with chopped roasted peanuts or cashews for added texture.  
• Use what you have on hand. Or what’s in season! This stir fry is easy to tweak. Try yellow squash, Japanese eggplant, sliced red onions, etc.

Serving Suggestions  

To make this vegetable stir fry a meal, serve it with cooked quinoa, brown rice, Instant Pot Jasmine Rice, or rice noodles. If you’re serving it as a side dish, it would pair beautifully with Easy Crockpot Asian Meatballs, Honey Garlic Instant Pot Chicken Thighs, or Honey Glazed Salmon.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Store leftover vegetable stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, warm the stir fry in a skillet over medium heat to keep the vegetables crisp, or use the microwave—but keep in mind that it won’t be as crisp that way.

More Easy Stir Fry Recipes

• Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
• Shrimp Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles
• Steak and Vegetable Stirfry
• Easy Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry