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EASY Stir Fry Sauce (The Best 5-Minute Recipe!!)

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

February 28, 2025

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5 from 26 votes

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Stir fry sauce pinterest image.

Elevate your everyday stir fry with this simple, homemade Easy Stir Fry Sauce. It’s a 5-minute sauce made from pantry-staple ingredients, like soy sauce, broth, garlic, and ginger. No cooking required!

Overhead shot of stir fry sauce in small glass jar.

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Spoon lifting stir fry sauce out of bowl.

Stir fry is a classic meal made from endless combinations of meat and vegetables. One way to take a vegetable stir fry, lamb stir fry, and Thai beef stir fry from good to great is with a really amazing sauce.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Stir a few pantry staples together, pour it over the stir fry, and enjoy!

This is the best stir fry sauce! And, it’s made with just a handful of ingredients you probably already have at home. The dynamic blend of sweet, salty, spicy, and umami-forward flavor brings life to any stir fry recipe.

Keep a batch on hand at all times so you never have to suffer through a boring stir fry again!

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients needed
  • How to make it
  • How to Make a Simple Stir Fry
  • What are the Best Vegetables to Stir Fry?
  • How to Make Ahead & Store
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Full Recipe

Why You’ll Love It

  • It doesn’t require any complicated or hard-to-find ingredients.
  • It’s a budget-friendly and easy alternative.
  • You have much more control over the flavor.
  • Homemade sauce always tastes fresh, more vibrant, and well-balanced.
  • It’s easy to customize and can be made vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free.

There’s no cooking necessary to make the sauce itself either. All you need to do is stir the ingredients together, and then you’re ready to make your stir fry.

Ingredients needed

Ingredients for stir fry sauce labeled on tray.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple sauce:

  • Soy sauce – Try to use low sodium soy sauce if you can. If you’re gluten free, make the sauce with tamari or coconut aminos instead. 
  • Stock – Chicken broth or vegetable stock will lend the richest flavor, but water can be used in a pinch. For even more nutrition, swap in my slow cooker bone broth.
  • Brown sugar – A sweetener is always needed to balance the salty flavors. If you don’t want to use brown sugar, replace it with white sugar, honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup.
  • Cornstarch – To help thicken the sauce. Arrowroot or tapioca starch should work just as well.
  • Sriracha – For a spicy kick! Red pepper flakes work too.
  • Garlic and ginger – Freshly grated garlic and ginger add a sharp, zingy flavor. 

How to make it

Whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl or a jar with a lid and that’s it! You can use the sauce right away in a simple stir fry or store it in the fridge for later.

Soy sauce pouring into bowl.
Rice vinegar pouring into bowl.
Stir fry ingredients in bowl with whisk.
Hand whisking sauce.
Fully incorporated stir fry sauce with whisk.

How to Make a Simple Stir Fry

Are you ready to use your sauce right away? ¼ cup should be enough to coat this simple stir fry:

  1. Cut the protein of your choice (like chicken, tofu, shrimp, pork, or steak) into uniform size pieces. Place it in a shallow container, pour some of the stir fry sauce over top, and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Heat some oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated protein and sear.
  3. Add some aromatics to the pan to saute, like onions, garlic, and/or fresh ginger.
  4. Once the aromatics are soft and fragrant, add a medley of fresh or frozen vegetables to the pan. Saute until tender.
  5. Pour the homemade stir fry sauce over the stir fry in the pan. Toss to coat, then serve hot.

What are the Best Vegetables to Stir Fry?

  • Bell Peppers
  • Zucchini
  • Snap Peas
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Onions (yellow, white or red)
  • Snow Peas
  • Cabbage
  • Asparagus
  • Mushrooms
  • Spinach
  • Kale

Click HERE → for my favorite Veggie Stir Fry Recipe!

Close up of veggie stir fry in wok.

How to Make Ahead & Store

  • Keep the sauce in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • It can also be frozen for up to 6 months. Let it thaw in the fridge before using. 

Serving Suggestions

Stir fry sauce doesn’t only have to be used with stir fry. Add it to any of these dishes for layers of complex flavors:

  • Lamb Noodles
  • Lettuce Wraps
  • Roasted Miso Cauliflower
  • Vietnamese Noodle Salad
  • Thai Shrimp Salad

Plus, are you wondering what to serve with your stir fry? Try one of these 30+ Sides for Stir Fry.

Overhead shot of stir fry sauce in small glass jar next to pepper flakes and whisk.

More Simple Homemade Sauces

  • Sauces for Rice Noodles
  • Dumpling Dipping Sauce
  • Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce)
  • White BBQ Sauce
  • Lemon Butter Sauce
  • Bearnaise Sauce
  • Buffalo Sauce

​​Did you make this easy stir fry sauce recipe?

If you made this simple stir fry sauce, I would appreciate it so much if you would give the recipe a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Overhead shot of stir fry sauce in small glass jar next to pepper flakes and whisk.

Full Recipe

Easy Stir Fry Sauce

Elevate your everyday stir fry with a simple, homemade Easy Stir Fry Sauce. It’s a 5-minute sauce made from pantry-staple ingredients, like soy sauce, broth, garlic, and ginger. No cooking required!
5 from 26 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 0 minutes mins
Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ⅓ cup chicken stock (vegetable stock or water)
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1-2 Tablespoons sriracha (depending on how spicy you like it)
  • 4 cloves garlic (grated or minced)
  • 1 Tablespoon grated ginger
  • Optional: Red pepper flakes (if you like it extra spicy)

Instructions

  • In a jar with a lid or in a bowl, combine all of the ingredients and shake or whisk to combine.
  • Use immediately in a stir fry recipe, or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container.

Notes

  • Keep the sauce in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • It can also be frozen for up to 6 months. Let it thaw in the fridge before using. 

Nutrition

Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1265mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

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5 from 26 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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2 responses

  1. Sabrina
    August 31, 2022

    5 stars
    great sauce, thank you, my kind of spiciness and even worth spiking it a bit, love making these kinds of sauces from scratch

    Reply
  2. Margi B
    April 4, 2024

    5 stars
    This has become my go-to stir-fry sauce recipe. I do have to omit the cornstarch, which keeps it thinner, but it still works. So adaptable (the heat) and so yummy!

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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