Easy Soy-Free Chicken & Broccoli

This Easy Soy-Free Chicken & Broccoli makes for a simple and flavorful dinner any night of the week!  Perfect for anyone who loves the taste of Chicken & Broccoli but has a soy allergy, this easy meal is made with a short ingredient list and is ideal for busy days!

The use of coconut aminos, in place of soy sauce, makes this dish perfect for anyone who has a soy allergy.  (Read more about coconut aminos below!)  The Chicken & Broccoli sauce is sweet from the honey, and balanced with savory notes from the coconut aminos, chicken broth, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.  The added garnishes of sesame seeds and cayenne pepper finish it off beautifully!

It brings me so much joy to be able to recreate the experience of dishes that I love for both myself and others who often have to miss out due to allergies.  That said, even those without allergies who have enjoyed this dinner with me have absolutely loved it! 🙂

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INGREDIENT NOTES:

Coconut Aminos: What are coconut aminos?  They’re a fantastic alternative for soy sauce in cooking, made from the sap of coconut trees.  This one is my current favorite recommendation for the best flavor.  I have not tested this recipe with traditional soy sauce!  If you don’t have allergies and feel inclined to experiment, I would definitely recommend a low-sodium variety.

Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Chicken broth adds savory depth of flavor to the sauce, and complements the coconut aminos perfectly!

Honey: Chicken & Broccoli is served in a sweet sauce, and the honey provides sweetness as well as texture.

Toasted Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil adds subtle rich and nutty flavor to the sauce, as well as enables all the components to cook evenly.

Garlic: I like to mince the garlic with a garlic press for this recipe to keep things quick!

Fresh Ginger Root: Fresh ginger is hugely important for the flavor of this recipe!  (Don’t swap it for dried!)  Peeling and grating the ginger admittedly is the only preparation step that takes much time, but it’s 100% worth it!

Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps the sauce to thicken sufficiently.

Broccoli: The florets from 3 medium heads of broccoli is the perfect amount to be in balance with the chicken!  If you love details, this equated to 14.5 oz of cut florets for me!

Pre-cooked Chicken Breast: No need to cook the chicken from scratch!  Save time and grab a pre-cooked variety from your local store.  We use one with a super tender texture, prepared with olive oil, salt, and pepper!

Basmati Rice: The taste and texture of basmati rice works perfectly served beneath the saucy chicken and broccoli.  Cook it according to your package instructions.

White Sesame Seeds: The sesame seed garnish adds a nice touch both visually as well as for taste and texture!

Cayenne Pepper: A tiny dusting of cayenne really ties all the flavors together for me!  A little goes a long way, so start small and add to taste.

Kitchen Equipment:

• 1 Pot

• Garlic Press

• Peeler

• Grater

• Knife & Cutting Board

• Kitchen Scale, optional

• 1 Medium Bowl

• 1 Wok

Servings: Approx. 4

Ingredients:

• 1/3 Cup Coconut Aminos
• 1/2 Cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
• 3 Tablespoons Honey
• 2 1/2 Teaspoons Toasted Sesame Oil
• 3 Cloves Garlic, pressed
• 1 Tablespoon Grated Fresh Ginger Root 
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 3 Medium Heads Broccoli**, cut into bite-sized florets
• 10 oz Pre-cooked Chicken Breast**, cut into bite-sized pieces

**see Ingredient Notes above

TO SERVE

• 1 Cup Dry Basmati Rice, prepared according to package instructions
• White Sesame Seeds, to taste
• Cayenne Pepper, a tiny dusting, to taste

Directions:

PREP

Cook the rice, then set it aside (While the rice is cooking, crush the garlic, and peel and grate the ginger.  Chop the broccoli, and cut up the chicken if needed.)

COOK & SERVE

In a medium bowl, stir together the coconut aminos, chicken broth, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch until they are evenly mixed and the cornstarch has dissolved

In a wok, over medium heat, add the broccoli florets and the sauce mixture

Cook the broccoli in the sauce until tender (Look for a somewhat softened texture, but not too mushy!)

Add the pre-cooked chicken pieces

Cook for another couple of minutes until the sauce has thickened and everything is well-coated

Serve over rice, and top with sesame seeds and a tiny dusting of cayenne pepper to taste

Enjoy!

[Leftovers can be stored airtight in the refrigerator.]