Have you ever tasted something both familiar and unexpected at the same time? When I first made this stir fry, I was looking to create something flavorful and different from anything I had made or tasted before. None of the sauce recipes I found seemed quite to my liking, so I tinkered around with ingredients I had in my kitchen. The result was surprisingly tasty. The vegetables used here are my go-tos for a good stir fry but can be switched out with others according to your preference. I have made this peanut butter sauce stir fry many times over the past couple of years but had never written down the recipe until making it for this post in 2015. I recently updated it with fresh photos and even more detailed directions.
Each time, I just mixed and measured the ingredients until I achieved the taste that always led people to ask, with a mixture of surprise and approval, "Peanut butter?!" upon their first bites. Yes, peanut butter. Where does the peanut butter come in, you ask? The special peanut butter sauce, of course. Don't let that throw you off because I promise you'll like it. This is one of those dishes you just have to try to believe. And the ingredients are simple. You probably already have them in your pantry.
Peanut Butter Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Soy Sauce
- Sriracha
- Sugar
- Vinegar
See? Simple. The special peanut butter sauce that accompanies this stir fry has flavors that you'll recognize but still be surprised by. And it's so. damn. good! The kick of Sriracha in the sauce is mellowed out by the other ingredients so it may be necessary to add more of it than you typically would in order to achieve the spice level you are used to. I recommend starting out with just a few pea-sized drops to get the intended flavor of this dish. Don't worry, you can always drizzle more over top after plating.
If you have picky eaters that don't like veggies, this stir fry is a good way to get around that. The sauce covers a multitude of veggie sins and will help ensure every plate is clean. I've gotten into the habit of just letting people try it for themselves before expounding on the ingredients. I'm not going to argue with you to try it. I'll let the flavors do the talking. Another good use for the special sauce is on wings. That's right, girl. Toss a bunch of flats and drums into a bowl of this until well coated and you'll have lip-smacking, sticky-finger magic. More on that soon.
Tips for a Successful Stir Fry
This post is proof that you don't have to go to a restaurant to enjoy a good stir fry recipe. Here are my tips for an easy stir fry at home.
- Ensure the pan is nice and hot before beginning.
- Wondering which oil to use for stir frying? Use a cooking oil with a high smoke point. I like grapeseed oil for my stir fries.
- Cut everything into roughly bite-sized pieces. The goal is to be able to get a bit of each element each time you lift your fork.
- Add ingredients to pan (or wok) in order of how long they would take to cook. For example, carrots are denser and take longer to cook than bell peppers, so you'll want to give them longer time in the pan.
- Don't crowd the pan. You want everything to have enough space to cook evenly without getting soggy. For this reason, cooking in batches helps.
I hope you love this special peanut butter sauce stir fry. Let me know if you have any questions about the recipe in the comments below. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this recipe on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Stir Fry Peanut Butter Sauce Recipe
📖 Recipe
Stir Fry with Special Sauce
Ingredients
Stir Fry
- 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into one-inch chunks
- 1 head broccoli crowns or 4 cups frozen broccoli florets; thawed and drained
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 5 carrots cut into chunks
- ¼ white onion sliced
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- olive or grapeseed oil
- 2-3 cups brown rice steamed
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (heaping tablespoons)
- 3 teaspoons sugar or honey
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
- 3 teaspoons soy sauce
- ground ginger to taste
- Sriracha to taste
Instructions
- Season chicken with ginger, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Set aside. Mix together sauce ingredients in a small bowl to form a dry paste. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to a wok or large skillet and heat over medium-high flame. Add garlic and chicken sauté until cooked through. Set cooked chicken aside in another pan or dish.
- Clean wok or skillet if necessary, then add more oil to cook vegetables. Add carrots first and cook for about three minutes, then add broccoli, peppers, and onions. Season with black pepper and sea salt. (If using a smaller pan, it may be necessary to cook veggies in batches.
- Cook vegetables to desired tenderness, stirring in the remaining garlic in the last two minutes of cooking. (Onion should be translucent and garlic should be fragrant.)
- Turn off flame and add chicken back to pan. Drop sauce by spoonfuls into pan and mix to coat chicken and vegetables well.
- The sauce will soften and become glossy as it warms up to the stir fry ingredients. It will take a bit of mixing to ensure even distribution. This is best done with a dining tablespoon. Serve with warm rice and top with additional Sriracha, if desired.
Notes
Tamara says
Wow! That sauce put a whole different and delicious spin on this stir Fry dish! It was a tad sweet but super savory. My kids devoured their plates in a matter of minutes! So glad I found this recipe!
Taneisha Morris says
As soon as I saw the picture and title of this recipe, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm so glad I did because it's SO AMAZING! Loved it, thank you so much!!
Eric & Shanna Jones says
This peanut sauce was certainly special! Wow! It was the icing on the cake, and we can't wait to make it again.
Kim says
You had me at peanut butter! And a nice variety of veg as well.
Crystal DaCruz says
I love using peanut butter as a base! This stir fry was delicious and easy to make. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Kaluhi says
The best part for me was how well the peanut butter sauce just brought everything to life! Simply perfect! Making this a weekday must have!
Britney says
We loved this recipe! I made it for dinner and it was quick, easy, and delicious! What more can you ask for? Perfection!
Chenee A Lewis says
This is a fantastic weeknight meal and also great for meal prep! I made mine with cauliflower rice and it was perfect. That peanut sauce is amazing!!
Robin says
What better combination is there than stir-fry vegetables and peanut butter? Simply the best!
Kate says
Made this for dinner and I was blown away! So simple to make and extremely flavorful!
Capri says
This dish came together so easily and I loved the peanut sauce! Thanks for the recipe!
Renia says
My dad loved them when I made it for him. Although I was unable to try due to a peanut and soy allergy I was able to live vicariously through his enjoyment.
Lauren says
This recipe is fabulous and SO EASY! You can make a large batch of stir fry with this recipe and pack it for lunches all week or serve your whole family! The whole thing is so healthy, you get protein and lots of veggies (I even added some of my own I had lying around like snap peas and mushrooms) to get a really balanced peanut buttery meal that satisfies any appetite. This recipe actually helped my younger brother eat new vegetables that he couldn't taste over the yummy sauce. I already have plans to make this again this week!
jazzmineama says
Thanks Lauren! I'm glad you and your brother liked it!