By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 11, 2023
This Vegetable Stir Fry recipe is filled with broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, carrots, and more covered in a delicious homemade sauce! The beauty of this recipe is that everyone will get their five servings of veggies without even realizing they’re being healthy. Plus, the gorgeous colors delight your eyes as much as they delight your taste buds. Learn how to stir fry veggies for the perfect side dish for every meal.
What’s in Stir Fried Vegetables?
This veggie stir fry recipe is really more of a jumping-off point. Start here with the most delicious, flavorful sauce, and customize with your favorite vegetables.
- Vegetables: I’m using mushrooms, sugar snap peas, carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli florets. But feel free to skip or add any veggies you like.
- Soy Sauce: I’m using low-sodium, but your favorite is more than welcome.
- Oyster Sauce: This sweet and salty sauce adds a delicious dimension.
- Brown Sugar: This adds sweetness to the stir fry sauce. Maple syrup works as well.
- Cornstarch: This thickens the sauce.
- Sesame Oil : Adds a nutty and earthy note. You can adjust the amount to your taste.
- Garlic: Mince, mince, mince!
- Ginger: Fresh ginger is preferred, but ground ginger works too.
- Olive Oil: Use this for the actual stir-frying.
- White Rice: I love serving stir fry with white rice, but you can use your favorite rice or grain. Or skip it and just make the vegetables.
Variations on Vegetable Stir-Fry
There are so many ways to customize this easy vegetable stir fry recipe!
Swap out any of the veggies for your favorites. Try adding bok choy, green beans, edamame, asparagus , zucchini, yellow bell pepper, snow peas, baby corn, water chestnuts, or cauliflower.
Add some protein, like chicken, beef, pork, or tofu . We have amazing recipes for beef stir fry and chicken stir fry if you want to try!
For a spicy stir fry, add in some crushed red pepper flakes, gochujang, or chili oil crisp!
You can also serve this stir fry over brown rice, rice noodles, or leafy greens instead of white rice. And don’t forget to top it all off with slices of fresh garlic and sesame seeds.
Yes! This stir fry contains tons of different veggies that are packed with vitamins and nutrients. The sauces can be a bit high in sodium, but I always opt for the low-sodium versions to make this dish healthier.
Always start by stir frying the onions and harder veggies, like bell peppers and carrots. Mushrooms can be added in the middle of cooking. Stir fry the softer vegetables last, including the peas and broccoli, so that they don’t turn mushy.
Yes! Grab your favorite frozen mixed vegetables, and add them to the pan all at once. Stir fry just until thawed, then add the sauce.
The most important thing when making a stir fry is to make sure not to overcrowd the pan. If the pan is overcrowded, the vegetables will steam rather than pan fry, leading to a mushier stir fry. I recommend using the largest pan (or wok!) you have for this dish.
If your vegetable stir fry seems lumpy, you may not have whisked the sauce together enough. The sauce contains cornstarch, a thickening agent that works best when dissolved in a cool or room-temperature liquid and added to a hot pan of food. If the cornstarch is not fully dissolved in the sauce first, it can clump up when exposed to heat, leading to a lumpy stir fry.
How to Store and Reheat Healthy Vegetable Stir Fry
Store leftover vegetable stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in the microwave in 30-second intervals until hot.
This dish is a great meal prep idea because it’s healthy and it stays fresh all week.
How to Freeze Stir Fried Vegetables
Freeze stir fried veggies whole or in individual portions in airtight containers or resealable bags for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Easy Vegetable Stir Fry
So many veggies, and so many options to go with it. For appetizers, I like to go with fresh Crab Rangoon or crispy Egg Rolls . For the main course, I like pairing this with these spicy Korean Chicken Wings , or a refreshing Cucumber Salad . And I love pouring this stir fry over fluffy Basmati Rice, drizzled with yum yum sauce or sweet chili sauce.
It also makes the best side dish for dishes like Cashew Chicken , Honey Chicken , and Chicken Lettuce Wraps .
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Sauce
- ▢ 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (see note)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ▢ 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 inch fresh ginger minced
For the Stir Fry
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ ½ onion sliced
- ▢ 1 bell pepper any color, sliced
- ▢ 2 carrots sliced into coins
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- ▢ 2 cups snap peas
- ▢ 2 cups broccoli florets
- ▢ 1 cup white rice cooked according to package
- ▢ Sesame seeds optional, for garnish
- ▢ Chopped green onion optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a mason jar or bowl. Shake or whisk until combined. Set aside. 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 inch fresh ginger
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add in the onion, bell pepper, carrots, and salt and cook for 2-3 minutes. ½ onion, 1 bell pepper, 2 carrots, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the mushrooms and cook for another 2 minutes. 8 ounces mushrooms
- Pour in the sauce and stir to coat the veggies.
- Once the sauce has thickened, turn the heat down to low.
- Add in the snap peas and broccoli florets and cook on low for another couple minutes. 2 cups snap peas, 2 cups broccoli florets
- Serve with rice and sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onion over the top. 1 cup white rice, Sesame seeds, Chopped green onion
Becky’s Tips
- Soy Sauce: Use an equal amount of tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten free alternative.
- Cut the vegetables into similarly-sized pieces so that they cook evenly.
- Sauté the vegetables until crisp-tender, not soft. This will prevent a mushy stir fry.
- Let the sauce come to a simmer after adding it in order to allow the cornstarch to activate and thicken.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Stir Fry Recipes We Love
- Chicken Stir Fry
- Beef Stir Fry
- Pork Stir Fry
- Beef Lo Mein
- Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
- Chicken Lo Mein
- Easy Beef and Broccoli
- Cashew Chicken
Vegetable Stir Fry Recipe
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (see note)
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch fresh ginger minced
For the Stir Fry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion sliced
- 1 bell pepper any color, sliced
- 2 carrots sliced into coins
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 2 cups snap peas
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup white rice cooked according to package
- Sesame seeds optional, for garnish
- Chopped green onion optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to a mason jar or bowl. Shake or whisk until combined. Set aside. 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 inch fresh ginger
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add in the onion, bell pepper, carrots, and salt and cook for 2-3 minutes. ½ onion, 1 bell pepper, 2 carrots, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the mushrooms and cook for another 2 minutes. 8 ounces mushrooms
- Pour in the sauce and stir to coat the veggies.
- Once the sauce has thickened, turn the heat down to low.
- Add in the snap peas and broccoli florets and cook on low for another couple minutes. 2 cups snap peas, 2 cups broccoli florets
- Serve with rice and sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onion over the top. 1 cup white rice, Sesame seeds, Chopped green onion
Notes
- Soy Sauce: Use an equal amount of tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten free alternative.
- Cut the vegetables into similarly-sized pieces so that they cook evenly.
- Sauté the vegetables until crisp-tender, not soft. This will prevent a mushy stir fry.
- Let the sauce come to a simmer after adding it in order to allow the cornstarch to activate and thicken.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
