January 16, 2016

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

This is my idea of fast-food chic.

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

It’s like a cheat meal, but without the messy cheating.

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

I’ve found that a girl can only eat so many sad pieces of chicken or limp bowls of lettuce before going HAM on chocolate, pasta, and potentially an actual ham, so to stay skinny + sane a good healthy diet needs variety, contrast, and a dose of fat & carbs along the way. This Thai-inspired, wannabe take-out dish is perfect for when you need a feel-good indulgence, so I’ve gotten into the habit of making it every few weeks – It’s a splurge meal that’s a little less splurge-y, a little more healthy, super-quick, and conveniently portioned for two.

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

This recipe is sort of like a budget version of Pad Thai, the budget-ness being that it’s a lot simpler, faster, and less carby. Your typical Pad Thai has a whooole lot of ingredients (like 15+) and is mostly noodles with a touch of meat, so I significantly scaled things down to make this flexible for your work-week routine. The major changes are using pre-cooked chicken (or leftovers!) in lieu of cooking meat, allowing veggies to dominate the dish as opposed to noodles, and preparing a fuss-free sauce with a list of everyday ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now.

The only real cooking this recipe has is for the veggies – Toss ’em in sesame oil, then roast for 20ish minutes. While the veggies do their thang, shred/slice the chicken, heat up some quinoa or rice to pair on the side — totally optional! — and whisk together the crunchy peanut butter sauce – That’s it! It’s crazy simple, with a taste that’s a touch sweet, a bit savory, lots salty, and teeming with texture.

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

This recipe is easy to scale, so if you’re having guests and/or want leftovers for later in the week, just double it up! It reheats really nicely in the microwave, so it’s a convenient option to have. And for the sauce, if crunchy PB isn’t your style feel free to swap in the smooth stuff, or use low-sodium soy sauce to cut down on salt. This is really easy to customize based on what you have on hand, so go with your gut and get cooking. x

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggies

Yield: 2 servings

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

  • STIR FRY:
  • 3 small Bell Peppers (any color!)
  • 1 small Yellow Onion
  • 2 tsps Sesame Oil
  • 1/2 lb Pre-Cooked Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • Scallions, Sesame Seeds, or Peanuts to garnish (optional)
  • Rice, Quinoa, or Rice Noodles to serve (optional)
  • Cooking spray to grease
  • SAUCE:
  • 1/4 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter + more for drizzling (I used Peanut Butter & Co. Crunch Time PB)
  • 2 1/2 tbsps Sweet Chili Sauce (I used Frank’s Red Hot)
  • 1 tsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire
  • 1/2 tsp Crushed or Minced Garlic
  • 1 tbsp Chicken Broth or Water

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 450F. Lightly grease baking sheet with cooking spray.
  2. On cutting board slice peppers and onion, then transfer to greased baking sheet. Drizzle with sesame oil, then toss until evenly coated. Roast for 20 – 25 minutes until veggies begin to blacken/blister.
  3. Meanwhile, slice pre-cooked chicken into strips. Next, in small mixing bowl melt the peanut butter in microwave for 30 seconds, then combine with all other sauce ingredients, mixing well until smooth. Drizzle PB sauce over chicken, tossing to coat.
  4. Warm chicken in skillet over medium-low flame, OR microwave for 1 -2 minutes – Your call! When ready, pile chicken atop roasted veggies, then immediately plate and serve. You can drizzle more melted PB on top, garnish as desired (scallions, sesame seeds, or crushed peanuts work best), and pair with rice, quinoa, or rice noodles.

Dinner for Two: Easy Thai Chicken Stir Fry w/ Quick Fire-Roasted Veggiesthaiiii.

posted by Christine in: Dinner for Two
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