Skip to main content

In just 30 minutes, you can eat these incredible stir-fry recipes

Trying to make a healthy dinner for your family but feeling a bit pressed for time? Stir-fry to the rescue! One of the fastest, easiest, and tastiest meals you’ll ever make, stir-fry is also versatile; you can find a bounty of stir-fry recipes for meat lovers and vegetarians alike. Mix and match whatever vegetables you have on hand, add some protein (if that’s your thing), along with a few spices or sauces for flavor. Toss everything into a wok or skillet, and you can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less. And, since everything cooks in one pan, there’s less cleanup and more time after dinner to spend with the family.

We’ve pulled together some of our favorite stir-fry recipes — no fancy ingredients required (most use items you should already have on hand), including a variety of options to suit even the most discriminating eaters in your family. As a bonus, these delicious stir-fry recipes are a sneaky way to get your kids to eat more veggies. These easy stir-fry recipes offer a ton of flavor, without a lot of effort, time, or mess, so give them a try!

Stir-fry recipes that go from skillet to plate in under 30 minutes

Easy shrimp stir-fry with green pepper, pineapple & bacon

A tiny bit of bacon adds tons of smoky flavor to the veggies and shrimp in this sweet ’n’ spicy shrimp and veggie stir-fry. In just 20 minutes you’ll have a flavorful and filling meal with just 180 calories and a full 21 grams of protein per serving.

Tip: You can help manage the salt by using reduced-sodium tamari sauce.

Spicy orange beef & broccoli stir-fry

This healthy beef stir-fry features fresh broccoli, ginger, bell peppers, and tangy fresh citrus to give you a meal that’s destined to become a new family weeknight favorite. Plus, it’s ready in 30 minutes and boasts just 238 calories per serving. 

Tip: Try freezing the beef sirloin for about 30 minutes to make it easier to cut into thin slices before stir-frying. 

Chicken stir-fry

The quintessential stir-fry recipe, this chicken classic is bound to become a staple in your home. It’s so easy to make and you can use whatever veggies you have on hand. No matter how you change up the ingredients, it will always be fabulous. The garlic ginger soy sauce with honey creates the perfect blend of sweet and savory goodness.

Spicy pork & green bean stir-fry

The Sichuan peppercorns — which are actually a dried berry husk — give this lip-tingling stir-fry a slightly woodsy flavor followed by a slow-burning heat. Ready in just 20 minutes, this home-cooked creation is better than any takeout you could order.

No meat? No problem! These stir-fry recipes are vegetarian delights

Ginger vegetable stir-fry

A bed of brown rice can take this simple vegetable mix of baby corn, pea pods, and water chestnuts and make it filling enough to be a main course. The soy-and-ginger sauce adds a distinctive Asian flavor, and at just 56 calories per serving, you can feel free to have a second helping.

Garlicky Swiss chard and chickpea stir-fry

A perfect side dish, this seasonal salad is hearty enough to be elevated to main course status. Fresh and satisfying flavors, plus raisins, nuts, and fresh herbs take a simple salad to a whole new level. With 15 minutes of prep time and about 20 minutes in your wok or skillet, this nutrient-rich, super-tasty meal is one everyone is going to love! 

Cashew satay spiralized vegetable stir-fry — vegan and paleo

No need for a bed of rice, this paleo and vegan-friendly spicy cashew stir-fry is made with spiralized vegetables for the carb-conscious eater in you. Made in just one pan in under 20 minutes, with a satay-style cashew sauce, it’s the perfect gluten-free vegetarian dinner and can even be made ahead for yummy meals all week long!

Cooking for your family doesn’t need to be stressful or time-consuming. When you learn how easy it is to make stir-fry at home, you’ll skip the takeout, eat healthier, and save money, too. Clear out your produce bin, grab a few staples from your pantry, and get ready to wow your family with our Asian-inspired delights. 

Editors' Recommendations

Kim Renta
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kim has written for Bloomingdales, Movado, and various e-commerce wine sites. When she's not writing about wine and…
This incredible app helps you find furniture that looks like it’s from premium brands – for a fraction of the cost
Trying to save money on furniture in your next redesign? This app can help you find name-brand lookalikes
Living room with multiple types of lighting

When searching for new and affordable furniture to spruce up your interior, it can be frustrating to find the right items for your design. Of course, you want quality pieces that look stunning, but sometimes the name brand isn’t always best for you or your situation. While luxury and name brands often have what seem to be the perfect items, the prices aren’t always suitable for your home furnishing budget. That’s why apps like Craftle have come to your aid.

Craftle is a unique app that may be a game changer in your next redesign. If you’re looking for ways to save money while still creating a luxe look in your space, then this could be just what you need.
What is Craftle?
Craftle is an app that works to find similar or lookalike products for a fraction of the price of the original name-brand item. For example, if you love a West Elm sofa but don’t love the high price tag, Craftle’s lookalike finder can search for a similar sofa design for a cheaper price. If you’re looking to save money in your next redesign or are working with a limited budget, Craftle’s lookalike search finder could save you hundreds.

Read more
You can buy a whole Caribbean island for less than some homes in the U.S.
Imagine waking up on this private island every morning?
travel shows streaming now tourist map plan vacation

Whether you've been in the market for a new home or not, you know house prices have been soaring in the U.S. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the median home sales price is $428,700, an increase of nearly $60,000 from just a year ago. The mean sale price of homes in the U.S. is even higher: $507,800.

The pandemic began the shift, dropping mortgage rates to the point where many first-time homebuyers entered the market. Our homes became our oasis. But soon after, houses became nearly impossible to find, and with that short supply, demand was at a fever pitch. While recovery began in 2022, increased mortgage rates began to price people out of the market for home ownership. So, what to do if you can't afford to buy in the U.S? How about purchasing a Caribbean island instead?

Read more
A Super Bowl party isn’t complete without these delicious, easy-to-make eats
These Super Bowl party foods will be a touchdown with all your guests
Football party chicken wings and dip

If you’ve agreed to be the host to watch this year’s big game, you know how important Super Bowl party food is. Along with the football pools, voting on the best commercials, and the half-time show, nothing will get the Monday morning quarterbacks talking more than the plethora of delicious snacks put forth for Super Bowl Sunday feasting.

This is one event where there is no need to go gourmet. The very best Super Bowl party foods are the traditional, beloved, comfort food classics that are synonymous with football’s biggest day of the year! From dips to wings, this is the Super Bowl party food that will make your event a hit.

Read more