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This healthy stir fry sauce recipe is delicious! It’s loaded with flavor and so simple to make. Whip up a batch of this homemade sauce in advance for easy weeknight dinners! {Can be made gluten-free and vegan}
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Healthy Stir Fry Sauce – So Easy!
I’ve been trying to find a good easy stir fry sauce recipe for years now. One that’s super flavorful, easy to whip together and can be made in advance for those busy weeks.
There are a ton of recipes out there, but I’ve never really found one that I love.
We’ve been working on perfecting our stir fry sauce recipe and I’m pretty sure that we finally nailed it.
This simple sauce is so full of flavor and pairs well with so many different vegetables and protein sources (try it in this Healthy Chicken Stir Fry orShrimp Noodle Stir Fry)!
Read on to learn more about what goes into making the perfect healthy stir fry sauce.
Why We Love this Homemade Stir Fry Sauce Recipe
- Less processed than store-bought or takeout
- Easy to make
- Can be used in lots of different dishes
- Family-friendly
- Perfect for meal prep
Ingredient Notes
This recipe requires simple ingredients that you can commonly find at your grocery store. Aren’t those the best types of recipes?
Here are the ingredients that we used for the stir fry sauce:
- Soy sauce: Used for the base of the sauce to provide extra flavor. Use low-sodium soy sauce to limit sodium intake.
- Broth: Chicken stock provides extra liquid to the sauce while infusing some additional flavor. We typically use no salt added chicken broth, but you can also use vegetable of beef broth as well.
- Sesame oil: Adds a slight nutty flavor to the sauce. You can use regular or toasted sesame oil.
- Rice vinegar: Incorporates a slight tanginess and provides that classic Asian flavor. You can also sub in white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey: Infuses a bit of extra sweetness into the sauce.
- Natural peanut butter: Adds an extra dose of nutty flavor. I like to use natural peanut butter with no added salt or sugar.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves work best, although pre-minced garlic will work in a pinch.
- Ginger: Use fresh for best results. You can store fresh ginger root in the freezer to preserve it for longer.
- Corn Starch: Helps to thicken the sauce once added to the pan with the other stir fry ingredients.
- Red pepper flakes: Provide a kick of heat. Add more or less depending on your taste preferences.
How to Make Homemade Stir Fry Sauce
This simple stir fry sauce can be whipped together in a matter of minutes. You can use it immediately or save it for later!
- In a mason jar or medium-sized bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce until well combined.
- You can also toss all of the ingredients into a mini blender, like the Ninja (that’s what we use), to ensure that the sauce is smooth and blended.
- You can either store the sauce in the fridge for later use or add desired amount of sauce to your stir fry.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- One thing to keep in mind is that it’s important that you allow your stir fry to cook in the sauce for at least 2-3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly. You need a few minutes to allow that cornstarch (or arrowroot) to do its thing!
- I like to make up a double or triple batch of this sauce and store half in the freezer (we love to use these Souper Cubes) for quick and easy meals!
Storage Guidelines
Refrigerator: You can keep this sauce in an airtight container inthe fridge for up to a week.
Just be sure to give it a good shake or stir before pouring it in with your stir fry as the ingredients will settle to the bottom. You want to make sure that all of the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the sauce.
Freezer: You can freeze this sauce in a freezer safe airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to defrost in the fridge before using.
Recipe FAQ
What is the difference between stir fry sauce and teriyaki sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is composed of four main ingredients generally including soy sauce, sake (or mirin), sugar and ginger. It can be used as a basic Asian seasoning or marinade.
Stir fry sauce can be made up of a range of ingredients depending on the recipe you’re following or the brand of sauce that you purchase. This particular sauce recipe has a strong peanut undertone and is made up of reduced sodium soy sauce, broth, natural peanut butter, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, fresh ginger garlic cloves, cornstarch and pinch of red pepper flakes. Both types sauces are similar in the sense that they add lots of delicious flavor to a variety of meals.
How do I make my stir fry sauce thicker?
If you want a thicker sauce, you can add additional cornstarch or flour.
To thicken with cornstarch: Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water for each cup of sauce.
To thicken with flour: Mix 2 tablespoons of flour with ¼ cup cold water for each cup of sauce.
Is stir fry healthy?
Stir fry can definitely be a healthy balanced option since it generally consists of a wide variety of fibre and nutrient-rich vegetables and protein from sources such as chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu.
It tends to be even healthier when you make your ownstir fry sauce from scratch since you can control exactly what’s going into it rather than relying on store-bought sauces which can be full of sodium, added sugar and preservatives.
That’s why this healthy homemade stir fry sauce can be a great option for your favourite stir fries since it can be easily adapted to meet your dietary needs.
What can you use instead of soy sauce in stir fry?
I totally get it. Not everyone loves soy sauce. Sometimes I like using other substitutes too! If you’re looking for alternative options, you can sub in tamari sauce or coconut aminos. Both provide a similar taste, while also being a gluten-free option.
Vegetables that Work Well with Asian Stir Fry Sauce
You can really use any fresh veggies that you’re feeling, but some of my favourites are:
- Broccoli
- Sugar snap peas
- Snow peas
- Sliced bell peppers
- Shredded cabbage
- Sliced mushrooms
- Bok choy
- Bean sprouts
- Green beans
- Thinly sliced carrot
- Cauliflower rice
- Green onions
Protein Sources that Pair Well with Healthy Stir fry Sauce
Similar to the vegetables, this savory sauce is super versatile and goes well with your favorite stir-fried meat or other protein sources, including:
- Chicken breast
- Shrimp
- Beef
- Pork
- Tofu
- Chickpeas
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Sesame seeds
Grains to Serve it With
Serve your delicious stir fry along with any of the following:
- Brown rice
- White rice
- Rice noodles
- Soba noodles
- Angel hair noodles
- Quinoa
Ingredient Substitutions
One thing that I love about this flavorful sauce is that you can switch out the ingredients to make it compliant with any dietary restrictions!
Instead of natural peanut butter:
Try almond butter, cashew butter or sun butter to make it nut-free!
Instead of chicken broth:
Use beef broth or vegetable broth to make it vegan.
Instead of honey:
Sub in maple syrup, brown sugaror agave nectar to make it vegan.
Instead of cornstarch:
Try arrowroot powderor tapioca starch as a thickener.
Don’t have rice vinegar?
Try rice wine vinegar or regular vinegar instead.
Don’t have fresh garlic or ginger?
Try subbing in dried ginger or garlic powder or ginger or garlic paste instead.
To make gluten-free:
Use coconut aminos.
So many ways to make this stir fry sauce happen!
Looking for other healthy recipes? Check these out:
- Healthy Orange Chicken
- Healthy Muffins
- No Bake Protein Bars
- Healthy Chicken Soup
- Turmeric Latte
- Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin
- Oatmeal Bars Recipe
- Healthy Crockpot Recipes
- How To Make Hot Wings
- Lettuce Wrap
- Spinach Egg Muffins
- Baby Smash Cake
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Course Sauce
Best Healthy Homemade Stir Fry Sauce Recipe {Easy!}
By: Elysia
Servings 6 servings (or a total batch of 1 1/2 cups)
This healthy stir fry sauce recipe is delicious! It's loaded with flavor and so simple to make. Whip up a batch of this homemade sauce in advance for easy weeknight dinners! {Gluten-free and vegan-friendly}
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce or use tamari sauce or Bragg’s liquid aminos
- 1/2 cup no salt-added chicken broth
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey can also sub in maple syrup
- 2-3 inches fresh ginger finely grated
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
In a mason jar or bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce until well combined. You can also blend in a mini blender if preferred.
Add desired amount of sauce to stir fry. Allow stir fry to cook in sauce for at least 2-3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
Notes
- The total batch makes about 1 1/2 cups of sauce. The nutritional information is for about 1/4 cup of the sauce. This is a general estimate as it will depend on how large your stir fry is and how much sauce you add to each serving.
- I highly recommend making up a double or triple batch of this stir fry sauce and freezing the leftovers. That way, you can simply thaw it out and use the already prepared sauce for quick and easy meals throughout the week. I love using these Souper Cubes to freeze extra sauce. They make meal prepping so easy!
Nutrition
Calories: 105kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 5gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 674mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 0.1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
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This recipe was originally posted in October 2019 and was updated June 2023 to include more helpful tips and photos.
