Stir Fry Sauce is the perfect recipe to keep on hand. Use this great sauce to turn your favorite meat and veggies into a great dinner!
Stir Fries are one of our go to meals. I love that we can get great flavor and every major food group in one pan on the stove top. We can usually get them cooked and on the table in 30 minutes too. It makes them perfect for a busy family weeknight meal.
This is our go to stir fry sauce. You’ve likely seen it many times before on Simple Joy, but it was time for it to have its own dedicated post. Your family will absolutely love this recipe and all the possible stir fries you can make with it. Don’t miss the links above the recipe card with all of our favorite stir fries.
Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients
Part of what makes homemade stir fry sauce so good is being able to control exactly what is in it and adjusting the flavor to be what you like, including the heat and sweetness. This list outlines what we are using and why. For the measurements of each ingredient, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Water: Adds volume to the sauce without affecting the taste at all.
- Teriyaki sauce: This tangy and slightly sweet sauce brings a great flavor that is complemented by the other ingredients. While you can buy teriyaki sauce, it is easy to make your own and the flavor is amazing.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Adds a unique flavor profile almost always found in stir fry sauce recipes. Because of the other ingredients, you will want to use low-sodium soy sauce.
- Hoisin sauce: Made with fermented soybean paste, this brings a nice tang to the sauce.
- Garlic: Adds a flavor profile that is perfect in this sauce.
- Ginger: Read more about your options for ginger below.
- Chili paste: Made from hot chilis, I share more about this wonderful ingredient below. This can be difficult to find, but there are some great sweet chili sauces out there if you can’t find just straight chili paste.
- Corn starch: Helps to thicken the sauce to coat the veggies and protein.
Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
While you can buy teriyaki sauce for stir fry, it is easy to make your own and the flavor is amazing. In my Teriyaki Sauce Recipe, I share how to adjust the sauce for lower sugar, less sodium, and to be gluten-free.
Teriyaki Sauce
How to Make Stir Fry Sauce
This easy stir fry sauce comes together by simply whisking all of the ingredients together. For the full recipe including all ingredients and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post. I share how to use this sauce in stir fry below.
Using Ginger
When adding ginger to recipes, you have two options. You can buy fresh ginger as a root, peel it, and use a zester to grate some off for your recipe. You can then store the leftover root in your freezer to use later. You can grate it into recipes right from frozen.
You can also buy ginger in a tube and keep it in your fridge, which is usually what my family does because of the convenience and how long it lasts. It isn’t as cost-effective, but it’s a great way to measure out exactly what you need and not waste any.
Chili Paste
Made from hot chilies, this condiment brings a great flavor profile to the sauce. While my favorite brand isn’t particularly hot, if you are nervous about heat I recommend starting with one teaspoon. Taste it and add more if desired.
You can find chili paste in the international aisle of your grocery store or order it from Amazon.
Making Gluten Free Stir Fry Sauce
Since this stir fry sauce recipe is made with soy sauce, it is not gluten-free. If you make Homemade Teriyaki Sauce, make sure to use a gluten-free alternative. To make a gluten-free stir fry sauce, use a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari. Though it is thicker and a little less salty, tamari can be used in place of soy sauce in recipes. You will likely need less cornstarch to thicken this recipe if you use tamari. Always double-check your ingredients to make sure they do not contain gluten if you are cooking for someone who eats gluten free.
How to Make Stir Fry
Stir fries are a great way to sneak in some veggies and they come together in under 30 minutes. The base is made up of a few things: protein, vegetables, sauce, and rice. What you choose for each component is up to you and your taste preference.
- Protein: Chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp. To make a vegetarian stir fry, leave out the meat or use tofu. I like to use about pound of meat when making stir fry. Many of these types of stir fries are linked right above the recipe card below.
- Vegetables: Broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots are my family’s favorite stir fry vegetables. Mushrooms, onions, snap peas, baby corn, and zucchini are also great additions.
- Sauce: This stir fry sauce is perfect and ties everything together. This recipe makes 1 1/3 cup of sauce which is perfect for a batch of stir fry.
- Rice: For serving. For a lower-carb option, use cauliflower rice.
Once you cook the protein, add in your favorite vegetables and cook until the veggies are soft. Then add the prepared sauce and allow it to thicken. Serve warm with prepared rice. If you follow one of my stir fry recipes below, you will use a whole batch of this sauce.
Chicken Stir Fry
Storing
This sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. I recommend storing it separately from the other stir fry ingredients. It can be whisked together while your stir fry cooks or made ahead of time.
Stir Fry Recipes
Here are some stir fry recipes that are perfect with this sauce.
If you make this recipe for stir fry sauce or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Stir Fry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water (118.29 ml)
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce (118.29 ml)
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce (78.86 ml)
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons ginger (or 1 to 2 inches freshly grated) read more about using ginger here
- 2 teaspoons chili paste read more about chili paste here
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
Instructions
- Whisk the ingredients together.
- Read above for instructions to use this in a stir fry. (See note.)
Notes
Marguerite Paull says
Love all your recipes
I’m so glad to hear that!
Kenny says
Look absolutely Delicious. One thing wrong. I can’t finish the recipe there’s no cooking instructions. 🤔
I apologize for the confusion. There are instructions within the post for how to use this with a protein and vegetables. I have now linked it within the recipe card so if you click that it will take you to that section in the post.