Description
Sizzling zucchini chicken stir fry dances with crispy perfection straight from your air fryer, bringing Asian-inspired flavors to weeknight dinners. Lean protein and fresh vegetables combine in a quick, healthy meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
Vegetables:
- 3 medium zucchinis, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
Garnish:
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Marinate chicken cubes in soy sauce, grated ginger, and minced garlic for 15 minutes at room temperature to enhance flavor penetration.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F, ensuring even heating for optimal cooking.
- Drain excess marinade from chicken and pat dry with paper towels to promote crispy exterior.
- Toss chicken cubes with olive oil and arrange in a single layer inside air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding.
- Cook chicken for 10-12 minutes, shaking basket halfway through to ensure uniform browning and crispy texture.
- While chicken cooks, slice zucchinis and chop red bell peppers into uniform pieces for consistent cooking.
- Remove chicken from air fryer and set aside, keeping warm.
- Quickly sauté zucchini and bell peppers in sesame oil for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
- Return chicken to basket, add green onions, salt, and black pepper, and toss gently to combine.
- Drizzle rice vinegar over mixture and cook for additional 1-2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Transfer to serving plate and garnish with sesame seeds and fresh cilantro.
- Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Maximize flavor absorption by letting chicken marinate at room temperature, allowing seasonings to penetrate deeply.
- Pat chicken completely dry before cooking to achieve a golden, crispy exterior that locks in moisture.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and perfect browning on all sides of the chicken pieces.
- Adjust cooking time based on chicken cube size, checking internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety without drying out the meat.
- For a low-carb version, serve over cauliflower rice or mixed greens instead of traditional rice.
- Swap chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian-friendly alternative that maintains the dish’s vibrant flavor profile.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Quick-cook vegetables separately to preserve their crisp texture and prevent soggy results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg