The BEST All-Purpose Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (Easy!)
This super easy 5-minute Chinese Stir Fry Sauce Recipe perfectly complements any stir-fried meat and veggies. A delicious, budget-friendly, homemade sauce made with simple ingredients and steps. It’s so good you’ll never buy store-bought or takeout versions again!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
Allow me to introduce you to the BEST, easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipe! I love this sauce because it tastes as good (or better!) than a Chinese restaurant, but is super simple. Just add the ingredients to a mason jar, shake, or whisk, and serve! Homemade sauces are always a hit around here because they’re so easy to customize!
This sauce pairs perfectly with all stir fries- Any beef, shrimp, tofu, pork, chicken breast, chicken thighs, or vegetable stir-fry dish. Serve with white rice, or use my cauliflower rice hack for a low-carb option.
My favorite thing about making stir-fries is that I use whatever fresh produce and protein I have on hand. I typically make it once a week in order to clean out my produce drawer and use up meat I’ve defrosted. It takes less than 30 minutes to make a complete meal of vegetables and protein and this delicious, addicting sauce!
Recipe Highlights
- Budget-Friendly: This recipe tastes better than takeout and store-bought sauce and is much less expensive!
- Easy Recipe: Making your own Chinese stir fry sauce recipe is easy and healthier than alternatives, but it still tastes like a high-quality meal! Perfect for busy weeknights.
- Flavorful: Savory, sweet, and tangy flavors like soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic are all whisked together, bursting with flavor—all the things you love about Asian-inspired recipes in one lovely sauce.
- Easy Swaps & Variations: Adjust this recipe to be vegan or gluten-free, spicy or mild, soy-free, and more.
Watch The Recipe Video
Note: You can also watch this recipe video on YouTube.
Ingredient Notes
Just 8 simple ingredients (mostly pantry staples!) and 1 step. It’s that easy! It’s a for-everyone kind of sauce, and in my house, that’s the BEST.
- Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce because regular soy sauce is very salty. If you’re looking for a gluten-free soy sauce alternative, try Tamari (you seriously can’t tell the difference!). If you’re soy-free, use coconut aminos.
- Chicken Stock (or Chicken Broth): I use Kettle + Fire organic chicken bone broth (my favorite! Use code TASTESLOVELY for 20% off!). You can use chicken, beef, or veggie broth/stock. You can also use water if that’s all you have on hand. If you’re vegan, use vegetable broth.
- Cornstarch: In place of corn starch, you can use all-purpose flour, arrowroot starch, or tapioca flour (which is gluten-free!).
- Honey: Instead of brown sugar, I use honey. You can also use pure maple syrup, coconut sugar, or agave nectar if you want a vegan alternative. You can also use brown sugar if you prefer, but I like using natural sweeteners. It’s really up to you!
- Sesame Oil: This adds richness and depth that is so delicious.
- Rice Vinegar: This is where the sweet, tangy flavor comes from, and I personally love it. It’s a very mild vinegar, so it won’t overwhelm the sauce. You can also use white vinegar in a pinch.
- Fresh Ginger & Garlic: I like to use fresh ginger and mince fresh garlic cloves. It adds such a strong, delicious flavor. In a pinch, you can also use powdered ginger and garlic powder.
Check out the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and amounts.
How to Make Stir Fry Sauce in 5 Minutes!
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl or mason jar, and whisk or shake until combined.
Step 2: Store for later use or add to your stir-fried protein and veggies (instructions below!).
Expert Tips & Recipe Variations
- When you add this sauce to your stir-fried veggies and protein, add the sauce last. Cook the sauce for 3 minutes over medium-high heat to allow the thickening agent to thicken.
- If you need a larger yield, click on the printable recipe in the recipe card below and adjust the number of servings. Changing the number of servings will adjust the ingredient amounts.
- Vegan: If you are vegan, use vegetable broth and agave nectar or pure maple syrup.
- Spice it Up: If you prefer a spicier sauce, add red pepper flakes (to taste). As written, this sauce is very mild.
- Keto/Low-Carb: If you are low-carb, use tapioca flour or arrowroot instead of cornstarch and monk fruit sweetener. Or click here for my Keto Stir-Fry Sauce recipe!
- Gluten-Free: While it seems like soy sauce is gluten-free, it’s not. If you’re gluten-free, use Tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Low-Sodium: I always use low-sodium soy sauce because the saltiness of regular soy sauce is overpowering. If you’re the same or need less salt for dietary reasons, use a low-sodium soy sauce or swap for coconut aminos.
How to Make a Simple Stir Fry Dinner!
Use this to make an easy beef stir fry or chicken stir fry (or vegetable stir fry with no meat) that serves 4, or check out my other homemade stir fry recipes for a fun variety of options. You can use whatever meat and veggies you have on hand. So clean out your produce drawer and enjoy!
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in 2 tablespoons oil, then 1 pound of protein of your choice, cubed.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the protein is cooked through. Transfer the protein to a plate.
- Add another 2 tablespoons of oil and 4 cups of chopped vegetables of your choice in the same skillet. (broccoli, green beans, bell peppers, asparagus, snow peas, bean sprouts, onion, mushrooms, carrots, snap peas, bok choy, zucchini, etc.). Cook for 5-7 minutes until the veggies are crisp-tender.
- Add the protein back to the pan, and pour over all 1-1/4 cups of the sauce. Allow coming to a bubble, which will activate the thickener.
- Remove from the heat and serve with warm cooked rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles.
Serving Tips
- This recipe yields 1-1/4 cups of sauce. This is the perfect amount for an easy beef or chicken stir fry that serves 4 for dinner or a great meal prep option.
- Smother your stir-fried meats and veggies with this sauce and serve warm over white or brown rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. You can even serve it with your favorite Asian noodles. Customize it to your liking!
Storage Tips
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container or mason jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, though you will probably eat them sooner!
- Freezing: If you have leftovers, you can freeze them! Freeze in any freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat it over the stovetop to use for any Asian-inspired recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can use my swaps above to make this recipe even healthier and lifestyle-friendly. It’s super versatile and tastes amazing in all the different ways you make it. Depending on your needs, if I’ve missed something here, please ask me in the comments, and I’d be happy to help you figure out swaps that work for your diet and lifestyle.
This recipe yields 1-1/4 cups of sauce, which is the perfect serving size for a stir fry recipe that serves 4 people. If you want more sauce, the printable recipe card below easily adjusts by increasing the number of servings you need.
You can use cornstarch, Tapioca Flour, or Arrowroot powder. If your sauce is too thin, add an additional 1 tsp at a time and stir for one minute. Continue to add until desired thickness is reached.
If you use vegetable broth, maple syrup, or agave instead of honey, yes! If you are a vegetarian but not vegan, you can use honey.
If you are soy-free, swap the soy sauce for liquid aminos or coconut aminos. You will achieve the same great flavor, without any soy.
Yes! Use low-sodium soy sauce, and low-sodium or “no salt added” broth or stock.
The BEST All-Purpose Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (Easy!)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce*, *Use Low-Sodium soy sauce as the saltiness of regular may be overpowering.
- 1/2 cup Kettle + Fire chicken stock bone broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame seed oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Instructions
Stir Fry Sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl or mason jar, and whisk or shake until combined.
- Makes 1-1/4 cups. You can use immediately, or keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 1 week.
How To Make A Stir Fry
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in 2 tablespoons oil, then 1 pound of protein of your choice, cubed.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the protein is cooked through. Transfer the protein to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add another 2 tablespoons of oil and 4 cups of chopped vegetables of your choice. (broccoli, green beans, bell pepper, asparagus, onion, mushrooms, zucchini, etc). Cook for 5-7 minutes until the veggies are crisp-tender.
- Add back in the protein, and pour over all 1-1/4 cups of the sauce. Allow coming to a bubble, which will activate the thickener.
- Remove from the heat and serve with warm cooked rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles.
Notes
Expert Tips/Recipe Variations
-
- USE LOW SODIUM SOY SAUCE! Using regular soy sauce can be too salty for some people.
- When you add this sauce to your stir-fried veggies and protein, add the sauce last. Cook the sauce for 3 minutes over medium-high heat to allow the thickening agent to thicken.
-
- If you need a larger yield, click on the printable recipe in the recipe card below and adjust the number of servings. Changing the number of servings will adjust the ingredient amounts.
-
- Vegan: If you are vegan, use vegetable broth and agave nectar or pure maple syrup.
-
- Spice it Up: If you prefer a spicier sauce, add red pepper flakes (to taste). As written, this sauce is very mild.
-
- Keto/Low-Carb: If you are low-carb, use tapioca flour or arrowroot instead of cornstarch and monk fruit sweetener. Or click here for my Keto Stir-Fry Sauce recipe!
-
- Gluten-Free: While it seems like soy sauce is gluten-free, it’s not. If you’re gluten-free, use Tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Low-Sodium: I always use low-sodium soy sauce because the saltiness of regular soy sauce is overpowering. If you’re the same or need less salt for dietary reasons, use a low-sodium soy sauce or swap for coconut aminos.
Substitutions
- Soy Sauce: If you are soy-free, you can substitute liquid aminos or coconut aminos in the same quantities. If you are looking for a gluten-free option, try Tamari.
- Chicken Stock: You can use chicken, beef, or veggie broth/stock. You can also use water if that’s all you have on hand.
- Fresh Ginger: In place of fresh ginger, use 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger.
- Cornstarch: In place of cornstarch, you can use all-purpose flour or tapioca flour (which is gluten-free!). Same quantity for all substitutions.
- Honey: In place of honey you can use maple syrup, agave nectar, white sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar. Same quantity for all substitutions.
- Rice Vinegar: In place of rice vinegar you can use white vinegar.
Serving Tips
-
- This recipe yields 1-1/4 cups of sauce. This is the perfect amount for an easy beef or chicken stir fry that serves 4 for dinner or a great meal prep option.
-
- Smother your stir-fried meats and veggies with this sauce and serve warm over white or brown rice or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. You can even serve it with your favorite Asian noodles. Customize it to your liking!
Storage Tips
-
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container or mason jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, though you will probably eat them sooner!
-
- Freezing: If you have leftovers, you can freeze them! Freeze in any freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat it over the stovetop to use for any Asian-inspired recipe.
615 Comments on “The BEST All-Purpose Stir Fry Sauce Recipe (Easy!)”
I must try this next time I’m eating alone as my partner isn’t a big Asian food fan, but I love it!
I sure hope you like it Susan!
I have made this recipe so many times.
My friends and family are always pleased! Thank you so much!
So glad you have made it so many times and your friends and family enjoyed it Liz!
Wow, your recipe is so amazing. I have never known this recipe. Thank for sharing. I will share this recipe for my friends and my family. I think they love it too.
Thanks so much! So glad you like it.
very nice
Thanks!
Very nice!! I added extra honey! It was delicious. No rice vinegar. I had white vinegar and I used less soy.
I am so happy it turned out delicious for you Esmeralda. I love your addition of extra honey and the adaptations you made to suit your taste. That is what cooking is all about! :)
I made this tonight, it was delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
I am so happy it turned out delicious for you Anthony. Thank you so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
I made the maple ginger tonight. Amazing, I made a double batch to share with my daughter’s family. Thank you for making stir fry dishes easy and delicious
I love that you shared it with your daughter’s family Richard. I love it when I come up with a great recipe and share it with friends and family. Thank you so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
This was a very good stir fry sauce. The ratio of chicken broth to soy sauce was spot on and the amount of ginger and garlic was just right. I changed the amount of sesame oil from
a teaspoon to a tablespoon. If I were to make this again I would double or triple the amount of honey (or possibly use brown sugar) as I like my sauces sweet. Overall very good and satisfying sauce that will go well with many different proteins.
I am so happy you liked my stir fry sauce Jessica. I love that you were able to adapt it to suit your personal taste. That is the joy of cooking! :)
solid sauce recipe, thanks so much..! I will be subscribing 😆
So glad you liked it Jack. Thanks so much for subscribing. I really appreciate the feedback.
My family absolutely enjoyed this dish. The recipe was easy to follow and quick to prepare. Thank you.
I am so glad you and your family enjoyed my stir fry sauce Jason. I love to hear that it was easy to prepare and follow.
What a gorgeous idea! We absolutely love this! Definitely need to try these! Thanks u so much
So glad you enjoyed it!
Pretty salty. I was looking for a change from our usual sweet stir fry sauce and this sounded like the savory flavor profile I wanted. I used chicken broth but def wish I had used low sodium broth. The combination of the broth and soy sauce (which was reduced sodium) was just a little too salty for me.
Well shoot! Sorry it was to salty for you. Stir fry sauce can be tricky to get the right salt level.
I love this fry sauce recipe. This is the best recipe to make fry sauce. So easy to make it at home, thank you for sharing it.
I love that it is your favorite recipe Eric. Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
Honestly I am so disappointed by this sauce. Way way way too much ginger. Just ruined a whole bunch of veggies and noodles and chicken :(:(:(
Sorry you didn’t like the stir fry sauce Emily.
It is well balanced and easy to make more than I thought, even after being refrigerated for several days. Highly recommend for everyone.
I love to hear that it was balanced and easy to make Marina. Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it.
I’ve been using this recipe for some time now. Its my ‘go to’ for all my stir frys. I usually make shrimp and veggies or just veggies; I’m a pescetarian. Its always a winner!
FYI I never understood why people leave ‘reviews’ for a recipe they never bothered to cook. Sure you can look at a photo, maybe a list of ingredients are important but how can you judge a recipe without taste!?! Its such a disservice to the individual(s) who has been kind enough to share with us. Be fair not square.
Oh my goodness thank you so much for your kind comment! I am so glad you have enjoyed my stir fry sauce recipe for a while now! It is so versatile and goes with any combo of meat or veggie. Thanks so much for the feedback, it really means the world to me!
Hello,
I saw people saying that the sauce was liquid. My husband is a chef but I like to impress him but he showed me why it was liquid: you have to get a bowl of cold water to dissolve the corn starch! Quite a difference! In case you want to add that tip on your site.
I added sriracha sauce to give it a kick, I didn’t have ginger but it was still amazing! 😋
Do you think it’s a good idea to use powder ginger instead?
It’s was simply delicious, I thought I made a lot but my kids ate so much so I used it all. I need to buy most of the ingredients again 😉
Thank you again, I like to impress my family. 😉😂
Lu
Thanks so much for sharing that tip Lu! What a lucky gal you are to have a husband who is a chef! Yes, ground ginger works beautifully!
Hi, what can I use instead of ginger? Thank you 🙏
If you don’t have ginger or hand or do not like it, I would probably just omit it Lu. Common substitutes for ginger are:
cardamom
allspice
mace
I have made it when I didn’t have ginger on hand and it was still delicious!
Taught my g-daughter this recipe to teach her how to read a recipe and cook it. Came out delicious.
Thanks, Natalie.
I LOVE that you taught it to your granddaughter Eric! What a wonderful memory for you both.:)
Look so tasty and good. I love the way you write! I can literally hear your voice as I read your words. You crack me up with your wit and self deprecating humor. Thanks for that! Can’t wait to try these! I want to make this a lot. Can I double this recipe?
Thank you so much for your kind words Lasesana! You absolutely made my day! Yes, you absolutely can double the stir fry sauce recipe. I do it all the time!