If you’re staring down a long day and the thought of cooking feels impossible, let me introduce you to your new best friend: the rotisserie chicken stir fry. Seriously, this recipe is a game-changer for busy people like us. I’m Anna, and I live for finding ways to sneak huge flavor into meals that take less time than ordering takeout.
My whole cooking philosophy revolves around making everyday eating joyful, not stressful. That’s why I love leveraging pre-cooked ingredients. We’re talking vibrant veggies, a killer savory-sweet sesame sauce, and perfectly shredded chicken, all coming together in about 20 minutes flat. This isn’t just fast food; it’s *real* food, fast.
I’ve tested this recipe countless times after soccer practice or when I’ve had a marathon meeting day. It always delivers that satisfying crunch and rich flavor you crave without the fuss. Trust me, once you see how easy this rotisserie chicken stir fry is, it’s going straight into your regular rotation!
Table Of content
Assembling Your Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry Ingredients
The beauty of this rotisserie chicken stir fry is that most of the heavy lifting is already done for us! We are scaling this perfectly for four hungry people, so make sure you have all your bits and pieces ready before you even think about turning on the stove. Having everything measured out means you can focus totally on the high heat and fast movement of the stir-fry process.
Sauce Components for the Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry
This sauce is what pulls the whole dish together! It’s savory, a little sweet, and clings beautifully to the vegetables and chicken. You’ll be whisking these liquids together first, so get a small bowl ready for this crucial step in your rotisserie chicken stir fry adventure.
- Cornstarch: Just 2 teaspoons to thicken everything up nicely.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: 3 tablespoons. Since we are adding oyster sauce, I prefer low-sodium to keep the salt from sneaking up on us.
- Oyster Sauce: 1 tablespoon, for that deep, umami flavor.
- Chicken Broth: We need about \u00be cup of broth here—this adds volume and keeps the sauce from getting too heavy.
- Sesame Oil: 1 tablespoon. This goes in the sauce to infuse that nutty aroma early on.
- Honey: 1 tablespoon. This balances the saltiness perfectly.
Fresh and Frozen Elements for Your Quick Dinner
Don’t be shy with the veggies! Using a frozen mix is my secret weapon for a quick dinner because it’s perfectly pre-cut. You’ll need 3 cups of your favorite stir-fry mix—mine usually has broccoli, peppers, carrots, and snap peas—but use what you like!
For the fresh aromatics, we need just a little bit of punch:
- Yellow Onion: We’re using \u00bd of one, thinly sliced.
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced fine. Smells like heaven, right?
- Ginger: 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger. If you’re in a pinch, you can use \u00bd teaspoon of ground ginger, but fresh is worth the extra minute!
- Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon for sautéing everything in the pan.
The Star: Pre-Cooked Chicken and Garnishes
This is where the speed comes in! We are using 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken. Make sure you pull off all the skin and bones first, of course. Shredding it into bite-sized pieces helps it heat through quickly without drying out.
For the final flourish, we add color and crunch right at the end:
- Green Onions: Slice 2 green onions for garnish.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: 1 teaspoon to sprinkle on top for that nutty finish.
Essential Equipment for the Best Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry
You don’t need a fancy setup for this, thank goodness. Since we are cooking fast, you need tools that can handle medium-high heat and quick movement. For your rotisserie chicken stir fry, grab a large, heavy skillet or, even better, a wok if you have one. That wide surface area is key!
Beyond the cooking vessel, make sure you have:
- Measuring cups and spoons—precision matters when making that sauce!
- A small bowl for whisking the sauce components together.
- A whisk or fork to make sure that cornstarch slurry is perfectly smooth.
- A sturdy spatula or wooden spoon for tossing everything quickly.
That’s it! Simple gear for a super quick and flavorful rotisserie chicken stir fry.
Step-by-Step Instructions for a Flawless Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry
Okay, this is where the magic happens, and it happens FAST. Since we’re aiming for a total cook time of 15 minutes, get your mise en place done first—that means your sauce is mixed, your veggies are ready, and your chicken is waiting patiently nearby. We want to move smoothly through this process for the best rotisserie chicken stir fry!
Preparing the Savory Sesame Sauce
This is the very first thing you should do before heating the pan. In that small bowl we talked about, start by whisking the cornstarch right into the soy sauce. You have to dissolve that cornstarch completely before adding liquids, or you’ll end up with tiny white clumps. Trust me, I’ve made that mistake!
Once that slurry is smooth—it should look thick and dark—whisk in the oyster sauce, chicken broth, sesame oil, and honey. Give it one last good whisk until everything is combined, and then set it aside. It’s ready when you are!
Cooking the Aromatics and Vegetables
Now, turn your heat up to medium-high. You want the skillet or wok nice and hot before adding your tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil shimmers a bit, toss in your thinly sliced yellow onion. Let those cook for about 2 minutes until they start to look soft and translucent.
Next up are the frozen vegetables—all 3 cups of them! Stir-fry these vigorously for about 5 to 6 minutes. You want them to be tender-crisp, not mushy. Keep them moving so they cook evenly and get a little color. When they look good, toss in your minced garlic and that fresh grated ginger. Stir them constantly for just 30 seconds until you can really smell that amazing fragrance. If you cook them longer, the garlic burns, and nobody wants burnt garlic!
Combining Chicken and Thickening the Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry
This is the moment we’ve been waiting for! Add your 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken to the pan. Now, here’s a big tip for a great rotisserie chicken stir fry: avoid over-stirring once the chicken is in. We just want to gently toss it to coat it in the aromatics and warm it through.
Pour that prepared sauce right over everything. Keep tossing gently for about 2 minutes. You’ll see the sauce bubble up and thicken quickly thanks to that cornstarch. It should coat everything beautifully, making your vegetables and chicken glossy. Stop stirring the second it coats everything nicely!
Finishing and Plating Your Meal
As soon as the sauce is thick, pull the skillet right off the heat. We don’t want anything to scorch now. Sprinkle those sliced green onions and the toasted sesame seeds right over the top. They add freshness and texture that makes this dish pop.
The best way to serve this? Immediately over a big bed of hot, steamed jasmine rice. That rice soaks up every last drop of that incredible sesame sauce. Enjoy the speed and flavor!
Tips for Success with Your Weeknight Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry
Even though this rotisserie chicken stir fry is designed to be super simple, a few little tricks can take it from good to absolutely amazing. It’s all about managing that high heat and keeping your sauce working for you, not against you.
First tip: Heat is everything! Make sure your pan is properly hot before anything goes in, especially the vegetables. If the pan isn’t hot enough, the frozen vegetables will steam instead of stir-fry, and you’ll end up with soggy broccoli instead of that lovely tender-crisp texture we need.
When you’re incorporating that sauce, watch it closely. The cornstarch thickens fast! If you find your sauce is too thin after 2 minutes, just mix another half teaspoon of cornstarch with a teaspoon of cold water and drizzle that in while stirring constantly. Let it bubble for about 30 seconds, and it’ll tighten right up. If it gets too thick, splash in another tablespoon of chicken broth.
Also, remember my rule about the chicken: gentle tossing! If you stir aggressively once the chicken is in, it shreds too much and starts to feel stringy. We want nice, tender chunks soaking up the sauce in this rotisserie chicken stir fry.
- Use a Wok or Large Skillet: Surface area matters! You need room to move everything around without crowding.
- Prep Sauce First: Never try to measure liquids while the vegetables are actively cooking. Get that sauce mixed and ready to pour.
- Taste Before Serving: Always taste the finished dish before plating. A tiny dash more soy sauce or honey can make a huge difference depending on the sweetness of your specific frozen vegetable mix.
Follow these little checkpoints, and your rotisserie chicken stir fry will come out perfect every single time, even on your most chaotic evenings!
Storing and Reheating Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Stir Fry
It’s rare that we have leftovers of this amazing rotisserie chicken stir fry because it disappears so fast, but if you do manage to save some, storing and reheating it is super easy. The key here is keeping the rice and the stir-fry separate if you can, or at least making sure everything is cooled down quickly.
You want to get any leftovers into the fridge within two hours of cooking. Store the stir-fry mixture in an airtight container. If you served it over rice, it’s best to store the rice separately, too. This stops the rice from getting soggy in the fridge!
Reheating is best done on the stovetop if you have time, but the microwave works just fine for a quick lunch. Don’t crank the heat too high when reheating, or that beautiful chicken we shredded will get tough.
Here is my quick guide for handling what remains of your rotisserie chicken stir fry:
| Storage/Reheating Method | Instructions & Timing |
|---|---|
| Refrigeration | Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Cool down quickly after cooking. |
| Stovetop Reheat | Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add stir-fry and cook 3-5 minutes, stirring until heated through. Add a splash of broth if it seems dry. |
| Microwave Reheat | Place in a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely, and heat in 60-second intervals until steaming hot (about 1-2 minutes total). |
If you notice the sauce has thickened up a lot in the fridge—which it will—just add a tiny drizzle of water or extra broth when reheating to bring back that perfect glossy coating for your leftover rotisserie chicken stir fry.
Common Questions About Making This Quick Dinner
I get asked so many questions about this recipe, which just proves how much everyone needs a reliable rotisserie chicken stir fry in their life! Since this is meant to be a super quick dinner, sometimes people wonder about substitutions. I’ve gathered the most common queries I receive here.
Can I use fresh chicken instead of rotisserie chicken in this rotisserie chicken stir fry?
That’s a great question! Yes, you absolutely can swap in fresh chicken breast or thighs if you prefer. If you do this, you’ll need about 1 pound of raw, boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces. You’ll cook this first, right after the onions, until it’s no longer pink inside. Remember, the absolute most important thing when using raw chicken is food safety: you must make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer before you move on to adding the sauce.
How can I adjust the sweetness or saltiness of the sesame sauce?
This is totally up to your taste buds! The recipe uses low-sodium soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of honey to create a nice balance. If you like things sweeter, add another half-tablespoon of honey. If you want a deeper, saltier flavor—maybe you’re using regular soy sauce instead of low-sodium—then cut the soy sauce down to 2 tablespoons and taste before adding any extra saltiness. That sesame sauce is flexible; just trust your palate!
What other vegetables work well in a vegetable stir fry like this?
The beauty of any good stir-fry is its adaptability. If you don’t like the mix in your bag or just want to use up what’s in the crisper drawer, go for it! For this rotisserie chicken stir fry, I always recommend things that hold up well to high heat. Try adding some sliced mushrooms, slivered zucchini, or maybe some chopped water chestnuts for an extra crunch. Just keep the total volume around 3 cups so your sauce doesn’t get too diluted!
Sharing Your Quick Dinner Creations
I truly hope this rotisserie chicken stir fry saves your weeknight dinner routine! Seriously, when you can get a flavorful, veggie-packed meal on the table in 20 minutes, that’s a win in my book. I always feel so much better eating something homemade, even when I’m exhausted.
Now, I’d absolutely love to hear what you thought! Did the sesame sauce turn out perfectly? Did your family gobble it up? Don’t keep the good news to yourself!
Please leave a quick rating below—five stars if it saved your sanity!—and drop a comment telling me how it went or if you tried any spice variations. Happy cooking, friends! Follow me on Pinterest for more quick dinner inspiration!
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Amazing rotisserie chicken stir fry in 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
This rotisserie chicken stir fry is a fast, flavorful meal ready in 20 minutes. Use pre-cooked chicken and frozen vegetables for a simple dinner solution packed with colorful veggies and a savory-sweet sesame sauce. It is great for busy weeknights and meal prepping.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables (broccoli, carrots, peppers, and snap peas)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Steamed jasmine rice or brown rice (for serving)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with soy sauce until smooth. Add oyster sauce, chicken broth, sesame oil, and honey. Whisk again and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook 2 minutes until softened.
- Add frozen vegetables and stir-fry 5–6 minutes, stirring often, until tender-crisp.
- Stir in garlic and ginger; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add shredded rotisserie chicken and pour in the prepared sauce. Toss gently until the sauce thickens and coats everything, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and top with green onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve hot over steamed rice.
Notes
- Avoid over-stirring once chicken is added to keep it tender and intact.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) if you are not using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stir-fry
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 440 calories
- Sugar: Not specified
- Sodium: Not specified
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: Not specified
- Unsaturated Fat: Not specified
- Trans Fat: Not specified
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: Not specified
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: Not specified

