Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (2024)

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15 minute recipe! This easy Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry recipe boasts veggies, lean protein, probiotics and tons of flavor all in one dish. 204 calories and 2 Weight Watchers SP
Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (1)

Stir fry is one of the stars of the 30-minute meals world and this chicken kimchi stir fry recipe puts a new spin on one of our favorite meals. If you’re looking for a vegetarian version, my Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice is another easy option.

Grab a bottle of kimchi at the grocery store (or make your own), chop some chicken and zucchini, and cook it in about 15 minutes flat!

Along with amazing flavor (hello, garlic and chilies), you get all of the probiotic benefits that fermented foods like kimchi have to offer.

Serve this recipe with stir-fried veggie dishes such as Miso Green Beans and Vegetable Quinoa Stir Fry.

What is kimchi?

Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish that is a staple in Korean cuisine. It’s often made with cabbage, similar to sauerkraut, but with far more spice and zip than sauerkraut. Think garlic, ginger and chilies. Good stuff!

Kimchi can be found in the refrigerated food section of many grocery stores, with more and more local brands showing up each month.

While kimchi is known for its flavor, it’s also a powerhouse when it comes to gut health. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which help to form health gut bacteria. See this study for more info.

Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (2)

Can I use substitute other ingredients?

Yes! One of the benefits of stir fries is that they’re incredibly versatile.

Prefer a vegetarian meal or don’t have chicken breasts on hand? No problem.

For a vegetarian option, swap out the chicken and add tofu instead.

If you prefer to stick with meat, try chicken thighs, sliced pork tenderloin or shrimp instead of chicken breasts.

In place of zucchini, use broccoli, snap peas, snow peas, yellow squash, mushrooms or asparagus – or a combination of veggies.

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Tips for making this chicken kimchi stir fry

This stir fry really is simple to put together and follows the same formula of most stir fry recipes.

My number one tip for cooking any stir fry is to prep your ingredients ahead of time. Since stir fries are cooked at high heat, things move quickly! You don’t want to be caught chopping when it’s time to add the next ingredient.

Start by cooking the chopped chicken breasts. I do this in two batches, which allows the chicken to brown a bit rather than steaming. If you cook all of the chicken at once, the chicken will start to release a lot of liquid, which inhibits any browning.

Zucchini slices always cook faster than I expect and I’m not a fan of overcooked zucchini (I mean, who is, right?) Cook until it is just tender – it will continue to cook when the rest of ingredients are added.

Stir in the kimchi, some liquid from the kimchi bottle, and a little soy sauce and sesame oil. Cook until heated through, which will take just a minute or so.

Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (4)

Other healthy stir fry recipes:

Chicken Wonton Stir Fry {Cookin’ Canuck}
Thai Shrimp Stir Fry {Cookin’ Canuck}
Tempeh Stir Fry with Peanut Ginger Sauce {Jessica in the Kitchen}

Printable Recipe

Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (5)

Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe

15 minute recipe! This easy Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry recipe boasts veggies, lean protein, probiotics and tons of flavor all in one dish. 204 calories and 2 Weight Watchers SP

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees

Cuisine: Chinese, Korean

Keyword: Chicken Stir Fry, Kimchi Stir Fry

Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 203.6kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 teaspoons avocado oil or canola oil, divided
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoons minced ginger
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced, green & white sections separated
  • 1 medium to large zucchini cut into thin half-circles
  • 1 ¼ cups kimchi (cabbage kimchi)
  • 3 tablespoons liquid from kimchi jar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoons sesame oil

Instructions

  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray.

  • Add half of the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through and starting to brown. Transfer the chicken to a clean dish. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

  • Carefully wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.

  • Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in the skillet. Add the garlic, ginger and white sections of green onion. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.

  • Add the remaining oil, then stir in the zucchini. Cook until the zucchini is just tender, but no overcooked, about 2 minutes.

  • Add the kimchi, kimchi liquid, soy sauce and sesame oil. Cook for 1 minute.

  • Remove from the heat and stir in the cooked chicken and green sections of green onion. Serve with brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 2 (Blue - Freestyle SmartPoints), 4 (Green), 2 (Purple)

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cups | Calories: 203.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.9g | Protein: 31.2g | Fat: 6.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.1g | Cholesterol: 81.3mg | Sodium: 898.5mg | Fiber: 1.3g | Sugar: 1.2g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (6)

Chicken Kimchi Stir Fry Recipe - Cookin Canuck Easy Dinner Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between stir fried kimchi and kimchi? ›

In Korean, Bokkeum is translated as “cooked” or “stir-fried.” Kimchi Bokkeum differs from regular kimchi in that it's lightly cooked in oil or butter.

How to stir fry chicken and keep it juicy? ›

Chicken is sliced into thin, even-sized pieces and then marinated briefly in a mix of baking soda, cornstarch, wine, and seasoning. This seals in moisture and tenderizes the chicken. The high heat and constant tossing of a wok or skillet cook the chicken fast to keep it tender and juicy.

What do you mix kimchi with? ›

I like to add kimchi to soups to give it a tart tangy spicy flavour. You can add it to tofu rolls, to fried rice, to grilled cheese sandwiches. You can replace sauerkraut with kimchi in hot dogs, mix it up in potato salad and stir fried veggies.

What is kimchi made of? ›

Kimchi can be made from a variety of vegetables, and even fruits, but the most recognized version — baechu kimchi — is made with cabbage. Alongside cabbage, it often contains radishes, scallions, carrots, garlic, ginger, chili flakes, and other flavorings. Kimchi has a sour, salty, savory, and often fiery taste.

Is fried kimchi still healthy? ›

But heating kimchi kills the healthy, helpful bacteria that are a product of the fermentation process. So if you are using kimchi in a recipe that requires cooking, be sure to serve a little extra raw on the side to maintain the benefits of the live cultures for your health (there are many!).

What does kimchi do for your body? ›

Because it's a fermented food, it boasts numerous probiotics. These healthy microorganisms may give kimchi several health benefits. It may help regulate your immune system, promote weight loss, fight inflammation, and even slow the aging process. If you enjoy cooking, you can even make kimchi at home.

How do Chinese restaurants get their chicken so tender? ›

How do Chinese Restaurants tenderise chicken? There are actually a few different ways to tenderise chicken the Chinese restaurant way: marinating in a cornstarch/cornflour sludge then deep frying or blanching in water before proceeding to cook in the stir fry.

What are the 3 rules of stir-frying? ›

Food & Dining

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What is the secret ingredient in stir fry? ›

According to Food & Wine, ketchup is the ultimate way to take the flavor of homemade stir fry up a level, thanks to its sweet and sour flavor profile. It just might be the easiest cooking hack to elevate your home cooking to that of your favorite take-out.

What can I add to kimchi to make it taste better? ›

Fresh Cabbage Kimchi

The finishing touch? A flavorful combination of garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, fish sauce, and sesame oil.

What can I add to kimchi to make it better? ›

You can enhance kimchi with a bunch of seasonings and add-ins, traditional or otherwise. These give a distinct flavor to the final product. Love lots of deep, umami, flavor? Try adding salted shrimp, oysters, or mushrooms.

How long does kimchi last in the fridge? ›

If you have store-bought kimchi that's been opened, it will be good for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to 6 months when refrigerated. Signs of your kimchi going bad include mold growth, an alcoholic smell, and an extremely sour taste.

Can I eat kimchi everyday? ›

Cabbage and radish kimchi, a popular fermented vegetable dish, in particular were effective in reducing the risk of obesity and abdominal obesity in both men and women.

Can you buy kimchi in the grocery store? ›

You can buy kimchi at most grocery stores. It's typically hanging out in the refrigerated produce section or near the sauerkraut and refrigerated pickles. If you can't find it at your local grocery store, try a specialty Asian market or restaurant.

What are the three types of kimchi? ›

There are over 180 recognized varieties of kimchi. The most common kimchi variations are: Baechu-kimchi (배추김치) spicy napa cabbage kimchi, made from whole cabbage leaves. Baechu-geotjeori (배추겉절이) unfermented napa cabbage kimchi.

Is stir-fried kimchi good? ›

Stir-fry your kimchi for 5 minutes, then it will turn into very delicious side dish! A side dish for what? Yes, I mean rice, cooked rice. Spicy, salty, and a little sweet fried kimchi really goes well with a good bowl of rice.

What does stir-fried kimchi taste like? ›

Stir-fried kimchi tastes sour, spicy, and sweet with a hint of umami. Stir-fried kimchi is sweeter and less pungent in flavor than uncooked kimchi. When frying the kimchi, sugar is added to balance the sour and pungent flavor of the fermented kimchi.

Are there different kinds of kimchi? ›

Actually, though, baechu (napa, or Chinese, cabbage) kimchi is only one of an estimated 200 existing types of the traditional side dish. Kimchi can be made with many different kinds of vegetables and can also include fish or meat. Some kinds don't even have pepper flakes (gochugaru) as an ingredient.

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