Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal
Chicken breast in a soy, garlic, and brown sugar sauce, with the broccoli and cornstarch added on the day so they stay green and glossy.
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes7
hours30
minutesChicken breast in a soy, garlic, and brown sugar sauce, with the broccoli and cornstarch added on the day so they stay green and glossy.
Ingredients
In the bag: 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in large chunks
In the bag: 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
In the bag: ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
In the bag: ⅓ cup brown sugar
In the bag: 1 tbsp minced garlic
In the bag: 1 tsp grated ginger
In the bag: 1 tbsp sesame oil
Day of: 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
Day of: 2 tbsp cornstarch
To serve: steamed rice, sesame seeds, sliced green onion
1 gallon-size freezer bag
Permanent marker for the label
Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
- Label the bag with the recipe, date, cook time and day-of additions before you fill it.
- Put the chicken, broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in a gallon freezer bag. Press out the air, seal, and freeze flat.
- The day before: move the bag to the fridge, on a plate, 24 hours ahead.
- Empty the bag into the crockpot and cook 6–8 hours on LOW.
- Whisk the cornstarch into ¼ cup of the hot sauce, stir it back in, and add the broccoli.
- Cook 30 minutes more with the lid on, until the sauce is glossy and the broccoli is bright green.
- Check the thickest piece of chicken reads 165°F and the broccoli is still bright green.
- Let the pot rest 10 minutes with the lid off so the sauce settles.
- Cool leftovers within 2 hours and refrigerate in shallow containers for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Broccoli frozen raw in the bag turns olive and soft. Keep it fresh and add it at the end.
Why the broccoli goes in late
Broccoli frozen raw in the bag cooks for hours and ends up olive green and mushy. Added fresh in the last half hour, it stays bright and has a little snap. The cornstarch thickens the sauce into the glossy kind you expect from a takeout order.
Swaps and what to avoid
Honey can replace the brown sugar in the same amount. Snap peas or sliced bell pepper work in place of some of the broccoli. Use low-sodium soy sauce as written, because regular soy makes the sauce too salty after reducing. Do not stir the cornstarch in dry, since it clumps.
Serving Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
Steamed rice is the natural base. A sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced green onion finishes it. Leftovers keep 3 days in the fridge, and the sauce thickens, so add a splash of water when you reheat.
Mistake: skipping the step of whisking cornstarch into a bit of hot sauce first. It guarantees a smooth, glossy result.
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal at a glance
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Servings: 6 servings
- Ingredients: 13, led by In the bag: 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, In the bag: 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth, In the bag: ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, In the bag: ⅓ cup brown sugar
Tips for Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal
Broccoli frozen raw in the bag turns olive and soft. Keep it fresh and add it at the end.
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal FAQ
How long does Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal take?
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal takes 7 hours 30 minutes of cooking after 15 minutes of prep.
How many people does Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal serve?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What do I need to make Chinese Chicken and Broccoli Freezer Meal?
13 ingredients, led by In the bag: 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, In the bag: 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth, In the bag: ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, In the bag: ⅓ cup brown sugar. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
