Cabbage Stir Fry with Chicken
Cabbage Stir Fry with chicken is a fast, well balanced meal that cooks in one pan and fits into a busy family routine!
When you need dinner on the table extra fast but also want something balanced and filling this cabbage stir fry with chicken solves that exact problem. It’s build on the same principles I use when developing quick meals for busy households: simple ingredients, one pan, and a method that delivers protein and vegetables without a million steps! This egg roll style bowl is affordable, reliable and ready in 20 minutes making it a practical solution for hectic weeknights!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick – As written, you can have this recipe ready in just 20 minutes for an easy dinner!
- Nutritious – When made with monkfruit sweetener, each serving has under 300 calories and just 8 net carbs with a hearty dose of protein for a wholesome meal you can feel good about.
- Meal Prep Friendly – Every bit of this can be prepped ahead of time so that you can make this dish fresh with minutes to spare on a hectic weeknight!
Cabbage Stir Fry Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this healthy chicken recipe. Scroll to the printable recipe at the bottom of the page for measurements and exact instructions.
- Olive oil and sesame oil – This adds loads of flavor and a great color on the chicken, cabbage, and carrots.
- Shredded cabbage and carrots – You can use a mix of green and purple cabbage if you like the added color (we do!). You can shred these yourself or use a bagged store-bought coleslaw mix for convenience. A broccoli slaw mix could be a good crunchy substitute as well.
- Chicken – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts to keep this lean and convenient. Feel free to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or ground chicken instead if you prefer. These should be cut into small bite-sized pieces for quick cooking.
- Minced garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar sweetener, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and additional sesame oil – These combine to make an amazing sauce for great flavor. Feel free to make this during your prep day and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. Use low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos if you are sensitive to salt.
- Optional toppings: chopped green onions, sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, peanuts, etc.
How to make Cabbage Stir Fry
This quick dinner recipe is so simple. You just need a large skillet, spatula, and a jar or bowl. Here’s a step-by-step guide for this healthy meal!
- Make the Sauce: Make the sauce by adding the garlic, soy sauce, sweetener, rice vinegar, and chili garlic sauce in a jar, give it a good shake and set aside.
- Cook chicken: Sauté the chicken for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally until golden brown on all sides and cooked through.
- Add veggies and sauce: Add the shredded cabbage and carrot to the skillet. Stir occasionally as it wilts. Once it has become tender, add the chicken back into the skillet, pour the sauce over the mixture, and toss.
How to Serve Egg Roll in a Bowl with Chicken
Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, and red pepper flakes if desired. We love this as a complete meal on its own because it’s full of veggies and protein! If you want to stretch the meal further, add some Brussels Sprout Fried Rice (or cauliflower rice to keep it low-carb).
Storage and Reheating Directions
- Refrigerator – Allow leftovers to cool completely, then store in an airtight container up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer – Spoon the cooled dish into a freezer bag and press as much air out as possible (double bagging can help prevent freezer burn). Store up to 3 months and allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before warming it up.
- Reheating – You can reheat this in the microwave (50% power, stir between 1-minute increments) or in a pan on the stove (medium low, stir frequently).
Stir Fry Tips, Tricks, and Variations
- Spice it up. If you like heat in your food, add some red chili flakes to your sauce or consider adding a drizzle of sriracha mayo.
- Consider different proteins. Ground beef, ground turkey, firm tofu, even sliced mushrooms could be used in place of the chicken if you would like.
- Add toppings for texture. Green onions, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, fresh ground pepper or red pepper are all great options to add a burst of flavor and a great combination of textures. A drizzle of sriracha sauce or yum yum sauce can be fantastic. If you’re not gluten-free or low-carb, those crunchy noodles or an egg roll wrapper cut into wonton strips would be nice, too.
Pro Tip: Our original Egg Roll in a Bowl with ground pork is super popular because it is hearty, diet friendly, and stores well for great leftover lunches. This chicken version is just as convenient, inexpensive, and tasty! Make a double batch tonight and freeze your leftovers for a crave-worthy meal you can reheat anytime without sacrificing your taste buds.
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Get the Recipe: Cabbage Stir Fry with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into small bite-size pieces
- 6 cups shredded cabbage, green or a mix of green and purple
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- Optional toppings: green onions, sesame seeds, peanuts, crushed red pepper
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sweetener, brown sugar or golden monkfruit if keto
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into small bite-size pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oils in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Saute the chicken for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally until brown on all sides and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the shredded cabbage and carrot to the skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, add the garlic, soy sauce, sweetener, rice vinegar, and chili garlic sauce to a jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously.
- Once the cabbage has wilted and become tender add the chicken back to the skillet and pour the sauce over the meat and vegetable mixture. Using tongs toss the stir fry so it is coated in the sesame sauce.
- Cook the stir fry, stirring regularly for 5-6 minutes until the cabbage has reached your desired consistency.
- Top with green onions, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, and red pepper flakes if desired.
