40 Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

When it comes to stir fry, if you’re like me, you don’t always start with a recipe. Instead, you probably start with a bunch of odds and ends of meat and/or vegetables that you decide to cook up in to one dish. What you really need then, is a quick and easy stir fry sauce recipe to go with it. Right?!

Basic Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Basic Stir Fry Sauce Recipe 1:
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Basic Stir Fry Sauce Recipe 2:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp oil
1 tsp rice vinegar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: fresh minced garlic, fresh minced ginger
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion chopped, sesame seeds
Suggested Protein: chicken, shrimp, salmon, pork, beef, noodles
 

Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Easy Stir Fry Sauce 1:
2/3 cup water or chicken broth
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp white or rice vinegar
2 tsp sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Easy Stir Fry Sauce 2:
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: fresh minced ginger, fresh minced garlic
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, sesame seeds,
Suggested Protein: chicken, pork, beef, noodles
 

General Tso’s Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

General Tso’s Inspired Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1/2 – 3/4 cup white sugar adjust sugar to your taste
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup hot chicken broth
1 – 2 Tbsp Asian Chilli Garlic Sauce (adjust amount to your taste)
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

General Tso’s Inspired Stir Fry Sauce 2:
1/2 cup white sugar
3 Tbsp chicken broth
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

General Tso’s Inspired Stir Fry Sauce 3:
1/2 cup chicken stock
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
3 Tbsp white granulated sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

General Tso’s Inspired Stir Fry Sauce 4:
4 tsp sesame oil
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: minced garlic, minced fresh ginger, dried red chilies or red chilli flakes, orange zest
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped
Suggested Protein: chicken, tofu
 

Kung Pao Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Kung Pao Style Stir Fry Sauce 1:
2 Tbsp white wine or white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sesame oil
Hot chilli paste or sauce, to taste
1 tsp white vinegar
2 tsp brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Kung Pao Style Stir Fry Sauce 2:
1 Tbsp Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp hoisin sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: dried red chilies or red pepper flakes, minced garlic, minced ginger
Suggested Garnish: green onion, chopped peanuts
Suggested Protein: chicken, tofu
 

Sesame Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Sesame Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup white sugar
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp chile paste
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Sesame Stir Fry Sauce 2:
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp water
1/2 Tbsp toasted or regular sesame oil
1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: minced fresh ginger, minced fresh garlic
Suggested Garnish: sesame seeds
Suggested Protein: chicken, tofu
 

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 tsp soy sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce 2:
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
2-3 Tbsp brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce 3:
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp soy sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce 4:
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 tsp soy sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce 5 (No Ketchup):
1/4 cup water or half water/half pineapple juice
2 1/2 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 1/2 Tbsp white sugar
1 Tbsp tomato puree 1 1/2 tsp. tomato paste
1 tsp soy sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce 6 (No Ketchup):
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
Juice drained from 8oz. can of pineapple
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Additions: bell pepper strips, pineapple chunks
Suggested Aromatics: minced fresh ginger, minced fresh garlic
Suggested Garnish: green onion, chopped
Suggested Protein: chicken, pork, tofu, shrimp 

Korean Style Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Spicy Korean Style Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1/3 cup gochujang Korean chili paste
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp toasted or regular sesame oil
1 Tbsp white sugar
1 Tbsp rice wine or rice wine vinegar
2 tsp gochugaru Korean dried chili pepper flakes

Korean Style Stir Fry Sauce 2:
3 Tbsp mirin
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp toasted or regular sesame oil
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Spicy Korean Style Stir Fry Sauce 3:
2 Tbsp . gochugaru Korean red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp Gochujang Korean hot pepper paste
1 Tbsp white sugar
1 Tbsp corn syrup or honey
2 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp mirin
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 cup chicken broth
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Additions: bean sprouts, baby spinach, chopped cilantro, chopped jalapeno
Suggested Aromatics: fresh minced ginger, fresh minced garlic
Suggested Garnish: sesame seeds
Suggested Protein: chicken, pork, beef, tofu
 

Beef Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Beef stir fry sauce 1:
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Beef stir fry sauce 2:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup medium-dry Sherry or Whiskey
1/4 cup chicken or beef broth or water
1 Tbsp white sugar
2 Tbsp . sesame oil
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Beef stir fry sauce 3:
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp dry sherry
2 tsp sesame oil
3 Tbsp hoisin sauce
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Beef stir fry sauce 4:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Beef stir fry sauce 5:
2/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin
1 Tbsp toasted or regular sesame oil
2-3 Tbsp brown sugar
1-2 Tbsp sambal oelek
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: fresh minced garlic, fresh minced ginger
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped, sesame seeds
Suggested Protein: beef
 

Thai Style Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Thai Style Stir Fry Sauce 1 (Peanut):
2 Tbsp peanut butter
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar

Thai Style Stir Fry Sauce 2:
4 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp white vinegar
2 tsp sugar, white or brown
2 Tbsp water
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Thai Style Stir Fry Sauce 3:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: fresh minced garlic, fresh minced ginger, red pepper flakes
Suggested Additions: Sliced or diced thai red chili peppers
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro, chopped Thai basil
Suggested Protein: chicken, pork, beef, noodles
 

Teriyaki Style Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Teriyaki Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin sweet rice wine
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp sake
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Teriyaki stir fry sauce 2:
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp white vinegar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Teriyaki stir fry sauce 3:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp toasted or regular sesame oil
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Teriyaki stir fry sauce 4:
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar packed
2 Tbsp honey
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Teriyaki stir fry sauce 5:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: fresh minced garlic, fresh minced ginger
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped, sesame seeds
Suggested Protein: chicken, shrimp, salmon, pork, beef, noodles
 

Szechuan Style Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Szechuan Stir Fry Sauce 1:
2 Tbsp dry sherry
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp asian chili garlic sauce
1 tsp sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Szechuan Stir Fry Sauce 2:
2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp sambal oelek
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: minced fresh garlic, minced fresh ginger, red pepper flakes
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped, sesame seeds
Suggested Protein: chicken, beef, pork, noodles, tofu
 

Lemon Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Lemon Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp white or brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Lemon Stir Fry Sauce 2:
2/3 cup chicken broth
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 -3 Tbsp lemon juice
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: minced fresh ginger, minced fresh ginger,
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped
Suggested Protein: chicken, salmon, shrimp
 

Orange Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

Orange Stir Fry Sauce 1:
1/2 cup orange juice
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp grated orange zest
1/2 cup chicken broth
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Orange Stir Fry Sauce 2:
1/2 cup water or chicken broth
Zest from 1/2 orange
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
4 Tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp honey or brown sugar
Sauce Thickening Mixture (see head notes)

Suggested Aromatics: minced fresh garlic, minced fresh ginger, red pepper flakes
Suggested Garnish: fresh green onion, chopped
Suggested Protein: chicken, salmon, shrimp
 

My 10 Best Tips for a Perfect Stir Fry

• 1) Cooking order matters. Uncooked meat should be cooked first. I typically cook it to almost done, then remove it to a plate while I cook the vegetables. I then add the meat back in after the vegetables are cooked. Different vegetables cook for different lengths of time. Carrots are the ones that are the most typical stir fry addition that need extra cooking time. Add them first, followed by softer vegetables (peppers, onion etc)., followed by aromatics (ginger, garlic etc) and finally greens (that just need wilting)
• 2) Don’t overcrowd your wok or vegetables will sweat/steam instead of fry. If you have a lot to cook, cook in batches and remove to a plate, then bring it all together at the end.
• 3) Watch the sodium – both broth and soy sauce can be loaded with it, so consider using low-sodium version of one or both, then adding salt at the end and only if necessary.
• 4) Don’t forget the little things – garlic, ginger, sesame seeds, green onions, nuts (peanuts/cashews) are all great additions to your stir fry for flavouring or garnish.
• 5) Don’t forget the noodles (or rice) – stir fries don’t have to be meat and veg. There are so many varieties of noodles and rice these days. Experiment and find some great combinations. Grains are another great option.
• 6) Don’t forget the citrus – a squeeze of lemon or orange juice to a sauce will really brighten the flavours!
• 7) Keep it hot! In most cases, your wok should be heated over no less than medium-high heat, so things cook quickly. Keep your food moving by stirring, to prevent scorching.
• 8) Cut your vegetables with the length of cooking time in mind. For example, to cook carrots more quickly, cut them as small as possible (matchstick shape works great). Broccoli is another vegetable that takes longer to cook in a stir fry. Either cut in to smaller pieces or blanch/microwave a bit first before adding to the stir fry.Things that cook quickly can be kept larger.
• 9) Be sure to use a cooking oil with a high smoke point. A lot of people are experimenting with coconut oil, but it has a fairly low smoke point. A good quality extra virgin olive oil is a better choice. Or look for avocado oil, which is a healthier oil with the highest smoke point of them all!
• 10) Use your sauce as a marinade! In many cases, you can marinade your meat in your sauce first. Be sure to cover and refrigerate. Drain and reserve the marinade from meat before cooking meat, then add the reserved marinade to your hot skillet and cook the sauce thoroughly.

Stocking a Stir-Fry Ready Pantry

Here are my recommended pantry items, to always be stir fry ready!

• Fresh garlic
• Fresh ginger (keep it in the freezer and grate it as needed!)
• Asian Chilli Garlic Sauce
• Sambal Oelek
• Soy Sauce (a variety is nice – light, dark, low-sodium and regular. Tamari is a great gluten free alternative for soy sauce)
• Sesame Oil (you can also add toasted sesame oil if you want to expand your pantry)
• Hoisin Sauce
• Oyster Sauce
• Fish Sauce (vegetarian and vegan ones are even available now!)
• White Vinegar
• Coconut Milk
• Cornstarch (or Arrowroot Powder, for a gluten free option), for thickening sauces
• Chicken stock (I always have some on hand. I love the Better than Bouillon™ stock concentrate, so I can mix up as needed in small quantities)

Velveting your meat

Ever wonder how Asian restaurants achieve such tender meat? They use a process called Velveting to prepare their meat. It’s an extra step, but definitely produces wonderful results.

The process of Velveting involves marinating your meat pieces for 30 minutes in a basic velveting marinade of:

Basic Velveting Marinade (double, as necessary):
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. Chinese rice wine, dry sherry or white vinegar
2 tsp. cold water
2 tsp. cornstarch

Combine all these ingredients well with your meat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, cook the meat for 1 minute in boiling water or oil. (*I prefer the water method). Remove to a plate and set aside to add to your stir fry or do ahead and refrigerate. Be sure to add the velveted and pre-cooked meat near the end of your stir fry, just long enough to warm it, so it doesn’t over-cook.

Sauce Thickening Recipe

Stir together 2 Tbsp. cornstarch with 2 Tbsp. water until smooth. Add a to your simmering sauce at the end, adding a bit at a time, until it thickens as desired.

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