My Vegetable Stir Fry is perfection! Made with fresh vegetables and the perfect stir-fry sauce, this fantastic dinner is done from start to finish in just 30 minutes.
If you are looking to add more vegetarian recipes to your diet, let me introduce you to your next favorite dinner. This delicious stir-fry is made with fresh vegetables. Even with all that chopping and prepping, you can still get this dinner on the table in just 30 minutes. You will drool over this mouth-watering recipe each time you hear those vegetables hit the pan and start to sizzle, just knowing the taste sensation that is coming your way.
How to Make Vegetable Stir Fry
Here is a step-by-step overview of how to stir-fry vegetables. For the full recipe including all measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Cook the Vegetables
Add the vegetables, except the snap peas, to a hot skillet. Stir and cook covered for five minutes. Then add the sugar snap peas and cook for an additional minute or two. Then add in the baby corn and water chestnuts.
Make the Sauce
While the veggies are cooking, mix the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl.
Put it All Together
When the vegetables are tender, pour the sauce over them. Continue cooking to allow the sauce to thicken, about one to two minutes. You will know the recipe is finished when the sauce has darkened in color and turned shiny. Serve over rice while warm.
Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients
- Teriyaki sauce: Forms the savory foundation of the stir-fry sauce. While you can buy teriyaki sauce, I love to make my own. It is easy and so delicious. I share how to adjust the sauce for lower sugar, less sodium, and to be gluten-free.
- Soy sauce: A key flavor of stir fry, adding depth and saltiness to the sauce. Choose low-sodium soy sauce to allow better control over the salt levels. For a gluten-free stir fry sauce, be sure to use a gluten-free soy sauce.
- Hoisin sauce: Made from fermented soybeans, garlic, vinegar, and various spices, it adds a depth of flavor and tang to the sauce.
- Water: Adds to the base of the sauce without affecting the flavor.
- Garlic: Adds a delicious and savory flavor to the sauce that is amazing with the vegetables.
- Ginger: Introduces a zesty and bright kick. Read more about adding ginger to recipes below.
- Garlic Chili paste: Brings a hint of heat to the stir-fry sauce. Add more or less depending on how spicy you would like the dish. It can typically be found in the international aisle of your local grocery store, or you can conveniently order it from Amazon.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce and gives it a velvety consistency that perfectly coats the vegetables.
Tips and Tricks
- Cooking with ginger: I love to buy a tube of ginger because I can keep it in my fridge and it lasts forever. Alternatively, you can buy a ginger root and keep it in the freezer to keep it fresher longer and use it in more than just this recipe.
- Stir fry vegetables: Stir fry recipes are super customizable, which is part of what makes them so great, even for picky eaters! The best vegetables for stir fry are any that you and your family like. I recommend having your vegetables prepared (washed and diced) before starting the recipe so that things can move along quickly.
- Using frozen stir-fry vegetables: Since these vegetables are already cooked, I recommend whisking together the ingredients for the sauce and combining them with the frozen vegetables. Cook until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are heated through.
- How to serve: Serve your stir-fried vegetables and sauce over a bed of cooked white or brown rice or noodles. For a low carb option, serve your veggie stir fry over quinoa or cauliflower rice. I also love adding this in as a great side dish.
- Adding meat to stir fry: You can easily add protein to this recipe, but I would cut back on some of the vegetables so that there is enough sauce to coat everything. I have some great stir fry recipes with meat, like Chicken Stir Fry Recipe and Beef Stir Fry Recipe.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover vegetable stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. I recommend storing the vegetables and the rice separately. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat and serve with fresh or reheated rice. Always use your best discretion when it comes to eating leftovers.
What to Pair with Vegetable Stir Fry
If you make this easy Vegetable Stir Fry recipe or any of my other recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Vegetable Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium red bell peppers diced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper diced
- 3 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 2 heads of broccoli cut into florets
- 1 cup sugar snap peas (117 grams)
- 1 cup baby corn drained (148 grams)
- 8 ounces sliced water chestnuts drained (227 grams undrained)
Sauce
- 1/2 cup water (118.3 ml)
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce (118.3 ml)
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce (78.9 ml)
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons ginger (or 1 to 2 inches freshly grated)
- 2 teaspoons garlic chili paste
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the vegetables, except the snap peas, to the skillet. Stir to combine. Cover and cook for five minutes, stirring once or twice. Add in the sugar snap peas, and continue cooking for another minute or two.2 medium red bell peppers, 1 medium yellow bell pepper, 3 medium carrots, 2 heads of broccoli, 1 cup sugar snap peas
- Add in the baby corn and water chestnuts.1 cup baby corn, 8 ounces sliced water chestnuts
- While the vegetables are cooking, mix together the ingredients for the sauce. When the vegetables are tender, pour the sauce over them. Continue cooking to allow the sauce to thicken, about one to two minutes. You will know the recipe is finished with the sauce has darkened in color and turned shiny.1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce, 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 4 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons ginger, 2 teaspoons garlic chili paste, 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Serve over rice.
Recipe Video
RP says
Hi Lisa,
Can’t begin to express how much your “joy” comes through in your descriptions with your recipes … I always look forward to your back stories too!
Quick question … would you please confirm that these are Sesame Seeds you’re using as a garnish with the Vegetable Stir Fry?
Thanks!
Yes! What you see sprinkled on in the photos is sesame seeds.