Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry with Green Beans
by Amanda Keefer
This Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry is an easy go-to weeknight dinner, and leftovers can easily be repurposed in a Thermos for stress-free lunch the next day.
Homemade Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry
Who doesn’t love a recipe you can make once and eat twice? Stir-fry is such a simple meal to make on even the busiest of weeknights. All you need is a favorite protein, veggies, and the right sauce. We love ours over brown rice (and those 90-second rice pouches are a live saver!)
This Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry recipe keeps things fresh and light with chicken breast, chopped green beans, and mandarin oranges. Simple and delicious!
Even better, it comes together in under 30 minutes and is perfect for school lunches. You can even customize it to better fit your family’s palette!
Tip: Save a few minutes on cooking time! Buy “steam in the bag” fresh Snipped Green Beans from Pero Family Farms. Packaged in a microwavable bag, cooking them in the microwave while preparing the chicken will make dinner even easier.
Key Ingredients
This Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry recipe may sound fancy or complicated, but it truly could not be simpler to cook and assemble. You only need 6 ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (diced)
- ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce
- 2 cups chopped Pero Family Farms® Snipped Green Beans
- 2 Bee Sweet Citrus mandarins, peeled and segmented
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- Garnish with toasted or raw sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, cashews, or sliced almonds; sliced green onion; or raw shredded carrots, if desired.
- Optional: Pack with sugar snap peas, fresh berries, and whole grain crackers to complete this lunchbox meal!
How To Make Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry
This dish is super simple to throw together on a busy weeknight or for meal-prepping. It all comes together in 30 minutes or less!
- Cook the Stir-Fry: First, heat the oil in a good-sized skillet over medium heat. Add the diced chicken breast once the oil is shiny, and cook for 5-7 minutes until it’s cooked through. Add the teriyaki sauce and green beans, and sauté for an additional 5 minutes, until the green beans are vibrant and tender.
- Add the Oranges: Remove stir-fry from heat, add mandarin orange slices, and stir to combine.
- Serve: Over brown rice, garnish as desired, and enjoy!
Variations
- Prefer dark meat? Swap the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Just adjust cooking time to ensure they’re cooked through.
- Kids not a fan of green beans? Swap for another veggie like broccoli, asparagus, bell pepper slices, shredded carrots, or sugar snap peas. Or combine for even more nutrition!
- Out of brown rice? You could also serve over white rice, cauliflower rice, broccoli rice, or quinoa. Or turn this into Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad!
- Want a different protein? This stir-fry would be delicious with shrimp, pork chops or tenderloin, firm-pressed tofu, or even without meat entirely and more veggies. It can easily be made vegan- or vegetarian-friendly!
- Add Some Nuts and Seeds! Garnish with toasted or raw sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts, cashews, or sliced almonds
How To Keep Warm in a Thermos:
For best results, prep your thermos by adding boiling water to it while you heat the leftovers. Then, dump out the water, dry, and add leftovers. This will help keep them warm until lunchtime. Pack brown rice separately.
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 4 days. Portion out into individual containers to easily grab and go as needed.
- Freeze cooked and cooled leftovers or meal-prepped stir-fry in a freezer-safe, airtight container or plastic bag for up to 1 month.
- Reheat thawed or chilled leftovers in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, or in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through. Add a splash of chicken stock or water if dry.
Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry with Green Beans FAQs
Q: What are the main ingredients in this Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry?
A: The main ingredients are olive oil, chicken breast, teriyaki sauce, green beans, mandarin oranges, and brown rice.
Q: How long does it take to make this stir-fry?
A: This Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry comes together in under 30 minutes.
Q: Can you use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
A: Yes, you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the breasts, just adjust the cooking time until the thighs are fully cooked through.
Q: What are some veggie substitution options?
A: Instead of green beans, you could use broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers, shredded carrots or snap peas in this stir-fry.
Q: Can this recipe be made vegetarian or vegan?
A: Yes, you can make it vegetarian by omitting the chicken or vegan by omitting the chicken and using a vegan teriyaki sauce.
Q: How do you properly reheat leftovers of this dish?
A: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway, or in a skillet until warmed through. Add a splash of broth or water if it seems dry.
Q: Why should I make this Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry with Green Beans recipe?
A: It’s yummy and healthy. For starters the green beans are low in calories but packed with vitamins A, C, K, fiber and plant compounds with antioxidant properties. Next, are those yummy
Mandarin Oranges which are an excellent source of vitamin C to support immune health. Also provide fiber, potassium, folate and antioxidants. The brown rice will keep you full and focused, and the chicken breast provides an excellent lean protein source. So overall, this stir-fry packs in lean protein, whole grains, vegetables, fruit and healthy fats for a nutritious and flavorful meal.
More Recipes To Try
If you loved this Mandarin Chicken Stir-Fry with Green Beans, then you’ll love these other lunchbox-friendly recipes:
- Cheese & Bean Quesadilla Bento Box
- Chicken Bistro Box
- Veggie Caesar Pasta Salad
- Chicken Salad Pita
- Black Bean Empanadas
How do you #PowerYourLunchbox? Show us your healthy lunchboxes on Instagram using #PowerYourLunchbox.
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Mandarin Chicken Stir-fry with Green Beans
Equipment
- Thermos
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
- ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce
- 2 cups chopped Pero Family Farms® Snipped Green Beans
- 2 Bee Sweet Citrus mandarins peeled, segmented
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
Instructions
- Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 5-7 minutes, or until cooked through. Add teriyaki sauce and green beans. Cook additional 5 minutes, or until green beans are tender.
- Remove from heat, add oranges and stir to combine.
- Serve over rice.
