Garlic Butter Chicken Stir-Fry

Quick and easy Garlic Butter Chicken Stir-Fry, packed with savoury, garlicky flavors. Ready in under 30 minutes for a perfect weeknight meal!

When you need a quick, flavorful dinner that hits all the right notes, this Garlic Butter Chicken Stir Fry is a game-changer. It’s rich, savoury, and comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal effort. With tender, golden-brown chicken bites coated in garlicky, buttery goodness, and a slight kick from optional bird’s eye chilies and curry leaves, this dish will instantly become one of your weeknight go-tos.

I first made this dish when I only had chicken, that final knob of butter in the fridge and lots of garlic. When I tossed it all in the pan with some salt, and I loved the outcome! I elevated the dish further here with additional ingredients like chillies and curry leaves, but you can easily have a fast meal in just 15 minutes.

This dish takes succulent pieces of chicken and stir-fries them with aromatic garlic, rich butter, and an optional hint of spice from bird’s eye chilies. It’s a super simple yet intensely flavorful stir-fry that pairs perfectly with a bowl of fluffy rice and a fried egg, making it a complete meal in no time. The addition of curry leaves brings a subtle, earthy depth, but you can easily skip them if they’re not available.

This dish is a weeknight lifesaver, using simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and fridge.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Quick and easy: You can have this dish ready in just 15 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights.
2. Minimal ingredients: The recipe uses just a handful of everyday pantry staples, yet delivers maximum flavor.
3. Garlicky and buttery: Garlic and butter forms a rich, comforting combo that pairs beautifully with tender chicken.
4. Customizable: You can adjust the heat with chilies, and switch up the protein or add vegetables if desired.
5. Great with rice or noodles: Serve it over rice with a fried egg for a simple yet indulgent meal.

Key Ingredients for Garlic Butter Chicken Stir Fry

• Chicken thighs or breasts (300g): Tender, bite-sized pieces of chicken that absorb all the buttery, garlicky goodness.

• Salt and Pepper: A pinch of salt and pepper to the chicken bites will add flavour and retain juiciness in the chicken.

• Cornstarch: Optional, but this helps the chicken develop a nice golden crust.

• Unsalted butter: Adds richness to the dish and forms the base of the sauce.

• Garlic: A key player in this dish, bringing bold flavor.

• Bird’s eye chilies (optional): For those who love a bit of heat, these chilies pack a punch!

• Curry leaves (optional): Adds a subtle aromatic flavor.

• Soy sauce: Balances the flavors and adds a touch of saltiness. You can also just use salt.

• Sugar: A small pinch of sweetness adds subtle depth to the sauce.

Key Steps to Making Garlic Butter Chicken Stir Fry

1. Prepare the chicken

• In a bowl, season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and cornstarch (if using).

• Toss to coat evenly.

• Let this marinade for 5 minutes.

2. Heat the oil

• Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.

• Once hot, add the chicken pieces in a single layer and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown on the surface.

3. Add butter and aromatics

• Push the chicken to one side of the pan or create a small space in the middle.

• Add the unsalted butter, minced garlic, chilies, and curry leaves (if using).

• Let the butter melt and bubble for about 30 seconds, then stir everything together, allowing the garlic to become fragrant.

4. Season

• Add the sugar and soy sauce to the stir fry.

• Toss to coat all the chicken pieces evenly in the garlicky butter sauce.

5. Serve immediately

• Turn off the heat.

• Serve the garlic butter chicken stir-fry hot with steamed rice, a fried egg, and your favourite vegetable stir-fry on the side.

6. How to Serve

• With Rice: This stir-fry is best served over steamed white or jasmine rice, letting the rice soak up all that garlicky, buttery sauce.

• With Noodles: Another option is to add cooked noodles to pan, and give a quick stir fry to combine!

• With a Fried Egg: Add a perfectly fried egg on top for extra richness and that lovely runny yolk.

• With Vegetables: Pair with a simple veggie stir-fry or a fresh salad to balance out the richness of the dish.

Tips & Tricks

• Get a good sear on the chicken: The optional cornstarch coating gives the chicken a slight crust that holds up well in the buttery sauce.
• Don’t burn the garlic: Keep an eye on the garlic when melting it into the butter. You want it fragrant, not bitter.
• Adjust the spice: If you’re sensitive to spice, skip the bird’s eye chilies or reduce the amount.
• Substitute the curry leaves: If you can’t find curry leaves, the dish is still fantastic without them — they’re just a nice extra layer of flavor.