Ever since I added bacon to a stir fry for the first time over 10 years ago, I have had a hard time resisting adding it almost every time now! Just a little bit of bacon adds a huge amount of flavor to this meal. The unexpected salty bites are irresistible.
Once the veggies are prepped, this dish comes together in just minutes. I make a variation of this stir fry at least once a month and there are seldom any leftovers. We love this so much.
How To Stir Fry
Start with a wok or a large deep skillet to stir-fry. I’ve tried classic woks, countless skillets, and frying pans over the years. I now use this everyday pan to stir-fry and I absolutely love it. I typically use tongs or a fish spatula for stir-frying. You can use any sturdy wooden or metal spatula, but fish spatulas really are the ultimate turner, stirrer, stir-fry tool. Cut similar ingredients roughly the same size. Smaller pieces will cook faster, so making sure things are similar will keep things cooking evenly.
If you’re cooking more than a pound of meat, you’ll want to split it up and cook small batches. Small batch cooking helps brown and seal the meat and keep it tender. Adding too much meat will reduce the temperature of the pan, produce more liquid, and cause the meat to stew instead of sear. Cooking too much meat at a time can result in tough meat that hasn’t absorbed much flavor. After the meat has cooked, add the firmer vegetables to the skillet first and then add softer vegetables as the firmer vegetables begin to soften. When the vegetables have softened, add the meat and any sauces to the pan. Stir, heat everything once more, and reduce the sauce as needed.
Stir Fry Recipes
For more great stir-fry meals, check out Sean’s favorite Steak Stir Fry, and if you have an abundance of summer squash in the house, this flavorful Southwest Chicken Skillet from The Weekday Lunches and Breakfasts Cookbook is a winner. Do you have a seafood lover in your life? Try the Salmon and Vegetables Stir Fry by Aggie’s Kitchen or Kielbasa and Shrimp Fried Rice for a meal that everyone loves. Tender chicken pieces are sautéed to perfection, along with crisp broccoli florets in this Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry. The Garlic Lover’s Vegetable Stir Fry by Kalyn’s Kitchen and the Ginger Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry are vegetable-filled favorites too.
Spicy Chinese Vegetable Stir Fry with Chicken and Bacon
Freezer Meal Tip: Let the stir-fry mixture cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or resealable container. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave. Kitchen Tip: I use this skillet to make this recipe. (And the kids love these chopsticks!) {originally published 8/21/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 4/27/20}
