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This stir fry sauce brings the best flavor to any stir fry! It’s quick and easy to make and so much better than store-bought sauce.

Homemade stir fry sauce in a jar.

The Only Stir Fry Sauce Recipe You Need

This stir fry sauce is one of my tried-and-true, most well-loved, most frequently made recipes! I first shared this recipe over 4 years ago, and I wanted to highlight it again today because it’s just so good!

Stir fry is one of my favorite easy meals and this sauce is so versatile, you can use it with any stir fry. I like to make my own stir fry sauce rather than buying it at the store because I can control the ingredients and adjust the flavors to my tastes. Plus, it’s so simple to make, there really is no reason not to make your own. It’s healthier and takes just ten minutes, tops.

This sauce is bursting with savory, umami flavors. It’s garlicky and gingery, with plenty of robust flavor to stand up to any combination of protein and veggies you toss it with. It thickens up beautifully when you pour it into a hot skillet, to perfectly coat each bite of your stir fry.

Sauce in small bowl with a whisk.

Quick, budget-friendly and so tasty, you’ll be so glad you have this stir fry sauce recipe in your back pocket. I’ve used this sauce to make Chicken Stir Fry, Beef Stir Fry, Vegetable Stir Fry and Shrimp Stir Fry. Serve your stir fry over white rice or brown rice for a healthy meal the whole family will love.

Excellent stir fry sauce. Just the right mix of sweet, spicy and salty to keep the whole family happy and going back for more.

Happy Dad

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients

  • Chicken Broth: I recommend using a low sodium broth to limit the amount of salt in your sauce. I prefer to use broth rather than water because it is more flavorful.
  • Soy Sauce: Brings umami flavor to the sauce. Look for a low sodium soy sauce to limit the sodium in your meal.
  • Honey: A little honey balances out the salty and savory flavors.
  • Sesame Oil: Just a little bit of sesame oil brings big flavor.
  • Fresh Ginger and Garlic: Don’t be tempted to substitute ground ginger or garlic powder. Fresh garlic and ginger are essential to a flavorful stir fry sauce.
  • Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce. When you add the sauce to the other stir fry ingredients in the hot pan, the cornstarch will thicken the sauce in just minutes.
Ingredients for stir fry sauce recipe with labels.

How to Make Stir Fry Sauce

This recipe is so easy, it’s as simple as combining all of the ingredients and mixing them together. I like to make the sauce in a jar that has a tight-fitting lid. Then you can just shake the jar up to easily mix the ingredients together. You can also make the sauce in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup and mix it with a whisk.

Whisking cornstarch into sauce in small bowl.

How to Make Stir Fry

Now that you have your stir fry sauce ready, how do you use it to make a stir fry? The key is to use the right ratio of sauce to protein to vegetables. This recipe makes one cup of sauce, which is the perfect amount to add to one pound of protein plus six cups of vegetables. This will serve four people. If you want to serve your stir fry over rice, you’ll need four cups of cooked rice.

To make a stir fry:

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok. Add your protein (such as cubes of chicken, slices of beef or shrimp) and cook it until browned and almost cooked through. Transfer the protein to a clean plate.
  2. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan, along with your vegetables. Stir fry until the veggies are crisp-tender.
  3. Add the protein back to the pan. Stir in the stir fry sauce. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and your protein is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.

Kristine’s Tip: Add your veggies to the skillet in batches, starting with firmer vegetables that will take the longest to soften (think carrots and broccoli). A few minutes later, add quick-cooking veggies like bell peppers and snow peas.

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

I like to get a head start on cooking dinner by making this sauce ahead of time. You can store this stir fry sauce in your refrigerator for up to one week, sealed in an airtight container. I keep mine in a jar with a lid. Give it a good shake or whisk to recombine the ingredients before using.

Recipe Variations

  • Vegetarian: You can make this recipe vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  • Vegan: For a vegan stir fry sauce, use vegetable broth and replace the honey with pure maple syrup.
  • Gluten-Free: You can make this recipe gluten-free by replacing the soy sauce with gluten-free tamari, gluten-free coconut aminos or gluten-free soy sauce.
Stir fry sauce in spoon held over bowl of sauce.
Homemade stir fry sauce in a jar.
4.97 from 87 ratings

BEST Stir Fry Sauce

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
The BEST easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipe! Use this simple homemade sauce in your favorite stir fry recipes – chicken, beef, shrimp, or vegetable stir fry. This flavorful sauce is made with fresh ginger and garlic; you can make it spicy or not.
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Ingredients

  • ½ cup low sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth
  • ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • crushed red pepper flakes, sriracha or sweet chili sauce, optional, for spicy sauce

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a jar or bowl. Whisk or shake (with a tight fitting lid on the jar) until fully combined.
  • Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
  • To use stir fry sauce to make stir fry: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok. Add 1 pound of protein (cubed chicken, sliced beef, shrimp, tofu, chickpeas, etc.) and cook until browned and almost cooked through. Transfer the protein to a clean plate. Add 1 more tablespoon of oil and 6 cups of chopped vegetables (broccoli, snow peas, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, asparagus, etc.) to the pan. Stir fry until crisp-tender. Return your protein to the pan. Add 1 cup of stir fry sauce (this full recipe) and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the sauce has thickened, stirring to evenly distribute the sauce. Serve over cooked rice.

Notes

  • To make gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce, gluten-free tamari, or gluten-free coconut aminos.
  • For vegan stir fry sauce use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and pure maple syrup instead of honey.
  • Recipe makes about 1 cup of sauce.
Serving: 1/4 cup, Calories: 79kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 719mg, Potassium: 87mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: Asian
Course: Condiment, Sauce
Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

Recipe originally published January 2020, updated July 2024.

Stir fry sauce with ginger and garlic in a jar with a whisk.
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