15 minute meal whaaattt?!?
“Is that even possible?” you may ask. And let me just tell you, dear friends, it is a possibility with very delicious results. At least the results of this veggie stir fry are delicious…very delicious. I am a fan of quick and easy meals, and I am a fan of vegetarian meals.
There is something that is just so satisfying about creating such a delicious vegetarian dish that you don’t even notice the missing meat. It’s more challenging to create recipes like this, which means it’s more fun! My wallet also appreciates the efforts…seriously, your weekly groceries will become SO much cheaper if you only eat meat once or twice a week.
If you absolutely HATE vegetarian recipes and need, need, neeeeed meat in your life, just add some diced up chicken, pork, or beef to this stir fry. But I’m telling you, people…you really don’t need it. This is a wonderful dish all on its own. Veggies are so yummy if you cook them right and add the right flavors.
Speaking of flavor….FLAAAVVVOORRRR. This sauce = pure flava.
Made up of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, veggie stock, cornstarch, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes, it thickens up in the pan and coats the veggies perfectly, adding unreal flava flave.
You will be in ❤️. Promise.
Yay for delicious, veggie packed, healthy, and FAST as lightning dinners for those busy weeknights. Woop woop!
So…my life lately. My mind has been a huge, jumbled mess…I will give you a few examples.
Number one: It was last Thursday – 8:30 pm. I had kept score at a basketball game earlier that evening and was still at work finishing up sub plans for the next day (I had work off on Friday so I could fly to North Carolina for a wedding). Let me reiterate one point…it was 8:30 pm…no one is ever at the school that late. The basketball game had ended an hour and a half ago. So I grab a worksheet and head to the work room to make a bunch of copies for the next day. Make the copies. Walk back to my room. Turn the door handle, and it’s LOCKED. Locked.
It is just me and the papers outside my door. My keys, phone, wallet, purse, coat, EVERYTHING are still locked inside my classroom. My heart just dropped so hard. I was beginning to panic because I had basically zero options. Walk down the street to the gas station to use their phone? Can’t do that – have no one’s numbers memorized except people who don’t even live in Kansas. Get a cab home? Can’t do that – don’t have any money to pay the driver and don’t have my military ID to get on base.
My only option was to sleep at the school, which would have caused me to miss my flight the next morning. So I am just walking through the school, trying to figure out what I’m going to do, and I see the athletic director (Denny) still in his office!!! I don’t think I have ever been happier to see anyone in my life. I ran into the office and literally laid on his floor (not exaggerating – I was overwhelmed with excitement) and told him how ecstatic I was that he was still at school. So he gave me his keys, I unlocked my classroom, and was on my way home ten minutes later. THANK GOD he was still there…whew.
Number two: This one is so much worse. Like I said, I visited North Carolina this past weekend for a wedding. My friend and I had to wake up and leave at 7 am on Sunday morning so I could catch my flight back home. So we woke up and drove two hours to Charlotte where she dropped me off. I walk into the airport, head to the kiosk to print my boarding pass, and a message pops up on the screen saying “It is too late to check in for your flight.”
I panic (once again), and check my itinerary on Travelocity to find that my flight was leaving in ten minutes. I thought my flight was leaving an hour later. My heart sunk to my feet (ONCE AGAIN). I waited in the customer service line and embarrassingly explained what happened. The lady was pretty nice and told me she would roll me over to the next flight. All she needed was my ID. I pulled out my wallet, opened it, and there was no ID. I LEFT IT IN ASHEVILLE. I don’t know how much you have flown in the past, but you can do nothing without an ID.
I looked at her and was like…”I don’t have my ID.” She said, “Well…you need an ID.” I looked down and saw my military ID and asked if that would work, and she said yes. SO HAPPY. I had no idea that military IDs worked just as well as a driver’s license.
So other than traveling several hours longer than I had planned initially, the day ended up turning out just fine despite those two COLOSSAL mishaps.
Number three: I forgot my laptop, so I couldn’t post this delicious stir fry while waiting around in the airport for many hours on Friday. Hence why this recipe is being posted today instead of last week. Sorry! This one is much less significant but still documents my scatter brained-ness.
I don’t know what has been up with my brain the last few weeks, but I think the answer to whatever ails me is copious amounts of this veggie stir fry…what do you think?
Print15 Minute Veggie Stir Fry

- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
Ingredients
- For the sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or Tamari for gluten free)
- 1/4 cup veggie stock
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- For the vegetables:
- 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 2 handfuls of snow peas
- 1/2 onion, diced
Instructions
- Chop your veggies and heat a wok or large saute pan over medium high heat
- Add your veggies into the pan and let them cook for about 10 minutes, or until crisp tender, stirring often
- Meanwhile, make your sauce. Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined
- When your veggies are ready, add your sauce into the pan and cook for about a minute, until the sauce has thickened and coats the veggies
This recipe is gluten free
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more quick and easy meals? Check these out:
Simple Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Strips
Best stir fry sauce I’ve ever made. We added some scallops to the veggies and doubled the sauce since we like extra sauce. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
★★★★★
I am SO glad this was so successful for you, Kim!! That makes my day :).
Pretty sure I’d need a HUGE drink after the kinda week you had! Though, a big bowl of this stir-fry would probably fit the bill too :) I love meatless meals that you never the miss the meat. Can’t wait to try this!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Chicken Cutlets with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Thanks, Keri :). Yeah, it’s been quite a week!!
Dang chicka, sounds like you had one hellova week with a bunch of close calls! Glad everything turned out okay and SUPA glad you finally posted this! I LOVE me some veggies, and this stir fry looks just delicious! The sauce sounds amazing! Totally my type of dinnah! Cheers doll!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Tex-Mex Short Rib Chili with Chocolate Stout {Slow Cooker}
★★★★★
That is an accurate summary of my week :). Thanks, Cheyanne!
Yum! Stir frys are such a great quick, easy meal. I like them for using up whatever I have leftover in the fridge from the week. :) And packing lots of veggies into a healthy dish is always up my alley! Looks delish!
Agreed, Jess! Thanks :).
I’m ALL about meals ready in no time! This 15 minute stir fry is just calling my name! Love it, Annie!
Me too! Thanks, Gayle :).
Anything that has 15 minutes in the title is a winner with me! I love the sound of the sauce too, I bet that really brings the vegetables to life.
★★★★★
Agreed, Dannii :). The sauce really does bring so much flavor and “pizzazz” to the vegetables!
I love stir fry’s! Such a fast and healthy dinner. These pictures are GORGEOUS!
Me too, Natalie! Thanks :).
Oh man. I’m getting anxious just reading this post because I can so relate!! Hope things go smoothly for you for a while :)
On another note, this veggie stir fry looks perfect!!
It was definitely and anxiety ridden experience!! Thanks, Sue :).