Our Best Stir-Fries

Stir-Fried Beef with Mango and Cilantro

Hong Kong home cook Edith Lam taught us this speedy stir-fry of meaty steak, sweet mango and a hearty dose of cilantro. Lam used paper-thin shaved steak; for our version, we use boneless beef short ribs cut into thin slices. The beef remains tender, b

By Hisham Ali HassanMarch 27, 2025

Stir-Fried Ginger Chicken with Snow Peas

This is a clean, uncomplicated stir-fry made with easy-to-source ingredients. If you have garlic, it’s a worthwhile addition to the ginger. Make sure to stir the sauce mixture before adding it to the pan; the cornstarch will separate to the bottom. An

By Hisham Ali HassanJune 13, 2025

Indonesian-Style Stir-Fried Red Chili Tofu with Peanuts

In Jakarta, at Warteg Gang Mangga, we loved the spicy, savory-sweet kering tempeh. Crisply fried nuggets of tempeh were tossed with bumbu dasar merah, a red spice paste made by pureeing aromatics, that was cooked to a thick, glaze-like sauce that coat

By Courtney HillJuly 31, 2025

Vietnamese Stir-Fried Pasta with Beef (Nui Xào Bò)

Stir-frying pasta and beef is unusual enough. Now add soy and oyster sauces and you’ve got East-meets-West comfort food. Called nui xào bò in Vietnamese, this dish starts by simmering pasta in a Dutch oven, then using the same pot for stir-frying for

By Hisham Ali HassanMarch 26, 2025

Cantonese Stir-Fried Black Pepper Beef and Potatoes

In Hong Kong, Oi Man Sang Kitchen cook Tang Kwok Keung showed us how to make black pepper beef with potatoes, one of the eatery’s signature stir-fries. Our adaptation simplifies the process by simmering the potatoes instead of deep-frying them. Prior

By Courtney HillJanuary 16, 2025

Thai Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken (Kuay Tiew Kua Gai)

The stir-fried noodles called kuay tiew kua gai are a classic street food in Thailand, but here in the U.S., they’re the lesser-known cousin of sweet-sour-savory pad Thai and soy-centric pad see ew. The name translates, dully, as “stir-fried chicken n

By Courtney HillJune 27, 2024

Korean Spicy Stir-Fried Pork

Jeyuk bokkeum, also known as dwaeji bulgogi, is a popular Korean dish of thinly sliced pork, and oftentimes vegetables, in a vivid red sauce that’s spicy, salty-sweet and super-charged with garlic and umami. Seoul home cook Hakyung Han taught us her v

By Courtney HillApril 5, 2024

Gingery Stir-Fried Pork and Asparagus

This savory-sweet pork and asparagus stir-fry calls on soy sauce, oyster sauce and Sriracha for bold flavor, fast. Minced ginger and thinly sliced scallions bring bright freshness, while rings of Fresno chili contribute crunch and heat. For less of a

By Rose HattabaughApril 5, 2024

Thai Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Shrimp and Basil

“Drunkard’s stir-fried noodles” is a favorite in Thailand and in our comments section. “WOW, this recipe was definitely a banger,” a reader writes. “That sauce just soaks into the noodles.”

By Courtney HillDecember 4, 2023

Thai Stir-Fried Chicken and Asparagus

This weeknight-easy chicken and asparagus stir-fry takes inspiration from pad prik khing, a Thai classic in which long beans and protein are cooked with red curry paste. We tested a variety of Thai red, green and yellow curry pastes—all work delicious

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Peppers and Eggplant with Black Bean Sauce

This salty-sweet stir-fry calls on one of our favorite powerhouse ingredients: black bean sauce. Made from fermented and ground black soybeans, the Chinese condiment is earthy, deeply savory and packed with umami. Jarred black bean-garlic sauce is wid

By Malcolm JacksonOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Kimchi with Bacon

This spicy-sweet stir-fry takes inspiration from a Korean side called kimchi bokkeum. Though typically made with kimchi and pork belly, we found the fatty, smoky qualities of bacon to be an ideal match for brightly acidic pickled cabbage. Gochujang, t

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Gochujang Chicken

Flavor-packed, spicy-sweet gochujang elevates a couldn’t-be-simpler chicken stir-fry. The complexly flavored Korean refrigerator staple is balanced by the pepperiness and pungency of ginger and garlic, plus a splash of salty soy sauce and a spoonful o

By Malcolm JacksonOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Hoisin Pork and Broccoli

In this savory-sweet stir-fry, lightly charred broccoli contrasts tender, succulent meat. The pork tenderloin is thinly sliced before cooking, creating pieces with lots of surface area. We freeze the tenderloin, uncovered, until firm. This makes it ea

By Courtney HillOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Sriracha Eggplant with Basil

In this Thai-inspired stir-fry, we first brown eggplants and onion in hot oil to caramelize the exteriors, then the pan is covered, trapping moisture inside to steam the eggplants until perfectly tender. Two powerhouse ingredients—Sriracha and fish sa

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Lemon-Miso Stir-Fried Zucchini

From zucchini to pattypan, summer squash has a reputation for being bland and uninteresting. To combat this, we brown summer squash quickly over high-heat, facilitating caramelization, then toss it with a light and zingy sauce. Miso contributes salty-

By Courtney HillOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Beef and Tomatoes

This stir-fry of beef with tomatoes, known as “beef tomato,” is a popular dish in Hawaii. It actually has Cantonese origins and was brought to the islands by immigrants. In our six-ingredient version, then we cook them briefly along with aromatic ging

By Courtney HillOctober 17, 2023

Sweet and Spicy Stir-Fried Fish with Snow Peas

This dish pops with vibrant color and spicy, garlicky notes thanks to a powerhouse pantry ingredient: chili-garlic sauce. We whisk it into the cornstarch slurry and briefly marinate the fish so it soaks up all the big flavors. Near the end of cooking,

By Rose Hattabaugh & Hector TabordaOctober 27, 2023

Stir-Fried Tofu and Mushrooms with Lemon Grass

In this Southeast Asian-inspired stir-fry, we toss mild tofu with two powerhouse ingredients, fish sauce and Sriracha, then brown the cubes in hot oil. When the tofu is out of the pan, we stir-fry meaty mushrooms and add citrusy lemon grass and savory

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Zucchini and Kimchi Rice Bowls

Korean bibimbap, a meal-in-a-bowl of rice topped with various vegetables plus meat and/or seafood, then finished with an egg, gave us the idea for these rice bowls. Stir-fried zucchini is tender but almost meaty in texture, and kimchi brings a jolt of

By Courtney HillOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Orange-Miso Chicken

This recipe adds rich umami flavor to thinly sliced chicken thanks to a cornstarch slurry spiked with white miso. To finish the stir-fry, we add more miso plus fresh ginger, orange zest and juice; this mixture thickens lightly thanks to the starch and

By Rose HattabaughOctober 27, 2023

Stir-Fried Black Pepper Beef

This stir-fry is an homage to pepper steak, the Chinese-American takeout staple. A combination of powerhouse ingredients like savory-sweet oyster sauce, spicy black peppercorns and umami-rich soy sauce yields a punchy yet well-rounded dish. Though bee

By Courtney HillOctober 17, 2023

Stir-Fried Masala-Spiced Pork with Peas

This pea-studded pork-and-rice bowl, inspired by southwestern Indian flavors, uses few ingredients for maximum pizazz.

By Courtney HillAugust 9, 2023

Stir-Fried Cauliflower with Chilies and Scallions

Pancetta and sherry stand in for pork belly and Shaoxing in this low-effort, 25-minute cauliflower stir-fry.

Hot and Sour Stir-Fried Potatoes

We don’t often think to stir-fry potatoes, but that’s how they’re cooked in the classic Sichuan dish called tudou si. Cut into matchsticks, the potatoes are soaked to remove some of their starch, then are stir-fried until tender but with just a hint c

Vietnamese-Style Stir-Fried Beef with Tomatoes

Sirloin tips get punchy, savory, multi-layered Vietnamese flavors in this riff on thịt bò xào khoai tây.

By Calvin CoxApril 26, 2022

Honey and Soy-Glazed Stir-Fried Pork

Tossed with a cornstarch slurry that also includes soy sauce, thin slices of pork tenderloin absorb tons of salty-savory flavor. For contrasting texture, we pair the juicy meat with tender-crisp bell pepper strips. The dish is finished with a sauce ma

By Rose HattabaughOctober 27, 2023

Korean Stir-Fried Chicken with Rice

Around communal tables in Seoul, we gorged on the spicy, saucy chicken stir-fry maeun dakgalbi; at home, we adapted it for stovetop cooking.

By Courtney HillOctober 3, 2023

Spicy Peanut-Sesame Stir-Fried Shrimp

Chunky peanut butter and toasted sesame oil bring two layers of nutty flavor to this simple stir-fry.

By Courtney HillOctober 4, 2023

Malaysian-Style Fried Noodles with Sweet Potato

These sweet potato noodles—our riff on mee goreng—are “like sesame noodles on steroids.”

By Courtney HillOctober 3, 2023

Thai-Style Vegetable Stir-Fry with Garlic and Black Pepper

In the Thai kitchen, kratiem prik Thai is an aromatic, flavor-packed paste of garlic, black pepper and cilantro root. It often is used to season meat and seafood, but in this recipe we combine the ingredients (we substitute cilantro stems for hard-to-

By Courtney HillNovember 29, 2021

Peruvian Stir-Fried Chicken and Noodles

In our take on tallarín saltado, a salty-sweet glaze gives garlicky chicken, peppers, and noodles flavor that’s at once familiar and totally unique.

By Malcolm JacksonNovember 8, 2022

Yakiudon with Pickled Ginger

Japan’s dense, chewy noodles balance savoriness with a sharp bite of pickled ginger.

By Diane UngerAugust 7, 2017

Peking-Style Shredded Pork Stir-Fry

Jin jiang rou si, or Peking shredded pork, is a simple stir-fry in which pork is cut into thin strips, quickly cooked and seasoned with an intensely flavorful mixture of which tián miàn jiàng, or sweet bean sauce, is a key ingredient. We’ve adapted th

By Courtney HillFebruary 10, 2020

Sesame Stir-Fried Pork with Shiitakes

Pork tenderloin and kimchi headline this stir-fry, but fresh shiitake mushrooms and a full bunch of scallions add to its umami-rich appeal. For a meatless alternative, substitute a 14-ounce container of extra-firm tofu, drained and cut in 1-inch cubes

By Dawn YanagiharaApril 2, 2018

Turkish Beef with Peppers and Tomatoes

This super-tender beef stir-fry, complimented by subtly sweet onions and peppers, is our 30-minute version of Ali Osman Öztürk’s saç kavurma.

By Courtney HillAugust 9, 2021

Ginger-Shiitake Celery Stir-Fry

A celery salad from “A Spoonful of Ginger” by Nina Simonds inspired this stir-fry. The unique flavor of celery mellows and sweetens slightly with cooking and partners perfectly with nutty sesame oil, peppery ginger and the umami notes of soy sauce and

Khmer-Style Stir-Fried Chicken and Ginger

A surprising use of ginger gives this chicken beautiful, floral sweetness to balance loads of umami. OR Fresh ginger makes a zingy-sweet chicken stir-fry. In our rendition of the Khmer stir-fry known as mouan cha k’nyei, the browned ginger mellows, gi

By Calvin CoxApril 27, 2022

Thai Stir-Fried Beef with Basil (Pad Krapow Neua)

Purists say Thai basil is a must for this dish, but we found that sweeter, slightly more subdued Italian basil yields a perfectly delicious stir-fry. For the fullest herbal flavor and fragrance, we use both chopped basil (mixed with the cooked steak)

By Phoebe MaglathlinOctober 15, 2019

Stir-Fried Orange Beef with Scallions

This stir-fried spin on Chinese orange beef, a perennial favorite that typically calls for deep-frying the meat, uses orange marmalade to add layers of sweetness, bitterness and citrusy brightness. Five-spice powder adds to the complexity with its war

By Courtney HillOctober 13, 2020

Stir-Fried Lemon Grass Chicken

Vietnamese stir-fried lemon grass chicken, called gà xào sả ớt, is a quick, flavor-packed dish that comes together quickly. To create our recipe, we looked to two of our favorite Vietnamese cooks, Andrea Nguyen and Charles Phan, borrowing elements fro

By Courtney HillAugust 9, 2021

Stir-Fried Black Pepper Chicken with Green Beans

This simple stir-fry, a version of a dish we had in Cambodia's Kampot region, gets its bold, savory backbone from a full 3 tablespoons of black peppercorns that are coarsely cracked, then toasted to draw out deep, complex flavors and a rich, heady aro

By Courtney HillJune 3, 2019

Peruvian Steak Stir-Fry with Onions and Tomatoes (Lomo Saltado)

For our take on Peru’s lomo saltado, a quick stir-fry of soy-marinated beef, tomatoes and onions, we mix cumin into marinade for deeper flavor.

By Laura RussellFebruary 5, 2018

Thai-Style Vegetable Stir-Fry with Garlic and Black Pepper

We used components of an aromatic, flavor-packed Thai paste, typically used to season meat, to create a genuinely mouthwatering veggie bowl.

By Courtney HillJanuary 25, 2022

Spicy Stir-Fried Cumin Beef

Once cooking begins, things move along quickly, so have all your ingredients prepared and a serving platter nearby. Toasted cumin seeds added both earthy cumin flavor and crunchy texture. Breaking some of the chilies in half released the seeds, giving

By Dawn YanagiharaDecember 19, 2017

Goan-Style Chili-Fry with Beef, Tomatoes and Potatoes

On the southwestern coast of India, the state of Goa was under Portuguese control for more than 400 years, and its port city served as a trading hub between Europe and points east. Not surprisingly, the food and cooking of the region fuses ingredients

By Calvin CoxSeptember 30, 2021

Potato, Eggplant and Pepper Stir-Fry

In the classic Chinese dish called di san xian, purple eggplant, yellow potatoes and green bell peppers are fried then tossed in a simple, lightly sweetened soy-based glaze-like sauce. The vegetables create an interesting textural combination of silky