Easy 3 Ingredient Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry That’s Ready in 10 Minutes

This easy chicken and broccoli stir fry uses just 3 ingredients and takes 10 minutes — a perfect low-energy meal for MS. Anti-inflammatory, gluten-free, and surprisingly delicious.

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I’ll be honest — there are days when MS takes the wheel, and cooking feels completely impossible. Not just hard. Impossible. The kind of day where standing at the stove for 30 minutes isn’t happening, and the idea of chopping vegetables sounds like a full workout.

This recipe was born on one of those days.

I had leftover chicken in the fridge and a 12-ounce bag of broccoli slaw sitting in the crisper drawer. I wasn’t planning to make anything special. I just needed to eat. Ten minutes later, I had a bowl of something warm, nourishing, and genuinely delicious — and I’ve been making it on repeat ever since.

This easy chicken and broccoli stir fry is everything an MS-friendly recipe should be: minimal ingredients, minimal effort, maximum nourishment. It’s the kind of meal that meets you where you are.

Why This Recipe Is Perfect for MS Low-Energy Days

When you’re managing MS naturally, fatigue isn’t just tiredness. It’s a whole-body experience that can make the simplest tasks feel monumental. The last thing you need is a complicated recipe with twenty steps and a pile of dishes.

This recipe has exactly three main ingredients: leftover cooked chicken, a bag of broccoli slaw, and coconut oil. That’s it. You don’t need to chop anything. You don’t need to marinate anything. You don’t even need to pre-cook the chicken if you’re using leftovers — which is the whole point.

Start to finish, it takes about ten minutes. And because it all happens in one pan, cleanup is minimal too. On the hard days, that matters enormously.

Why Broccoli Slaw Is an MS Superfood in a Bag

Broccoli slaw is one of those ingredients I keep on regular rotation — and not just for convenience. It’s genuinely one of the most nutrient-dense things you can throw into a pan.

A standard 12-ounce bag typically contains shredded broccoli stems, carrots, and red cabbage — all three of which are powerhouses for people managing MS. Broccoli is rich in sulforaphane, a compound studied for its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Carrots bring beta-carotene and antioxidants. Red cabbage is loaded with anthocyanins, which help reduce oxidative stress — a key contributor to neurological damage.

Together, they create a colorful, fiber-rich base that feeds your gut microbiome and supports immune regulation — both of which matter deeply when you’re working to calm the body down naturally.

What You Need to Make Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

• 1–2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces (leftover rotisserie or baked chicken works perfectly)
• 1 bag (12 oz) broccoli slaw
• 1–2 tablespoons coconut oil
• Himalayan pink salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: garlic powder, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, or pumpkin seeds

Equipment

• One large frying pan or skillet
• Spatula or tongs

How to Make It: Step by Step

Step 1: Warm the Chicken

Heat coconut oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add your cooked chicken pieces and let them warm through — about 2 minutes. You’re not cooking the chicken from raw here, just bringing it back to life. Stir gently so it heats evenly without drying out.

Step 2: Add the Broccoli Slaw

Open the bag and pour the entire contents right into the pan. No chopping required — this is the beauty of broccoli slaw. Stir everything together and add your seasonings: salt, pepper, and any optional spices you like.

Step 3: Cook Until Tender

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the slaw softens and turns slightly translucent — about 5 to 7 minutes. You want it tender but not mushy. The broccoli will turn a brighter green as it cooks, which is your visual cue that it’s nearly ready.

Step 4: Serve

Transfer to a bowl and top with sesame seeds, hemp seeds, or pumpkin seeds if you’d like a little crunch and extra nutrition. That’s it. You’re done.

Easy Ways to Customize Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

One of the things I love most about this recipe is how flexible it is. Once you have the base down, you can build on it in any direction depending on what you have on hand and how you’re feeling.

Add garlic or ginger

A sprinkle of garlic powder or ground ginger takes the flavor up a notch with almost zero extra effort. Fresh ginger, if you have the energy to grate it, adds an even brighter, more warming note — and both have well-documented anti-inflammatory properties.

Add heat

If you like spice, a pinch of red pepper flakes stirred in at the end adds a nice kick. Capsaicin — the compound that makes peppers hot — is also a natural anti-inflammatory, so there’s even a wellness bonus here.

Make it more filling

Add frozen cauliflower rice directly to the pan in the last few minutes of cooking. It thaws and warms quickly, bulks up the meal, and keeps everything grain-free and low-glycemic. No extra pots, no extra prep.

Finish with seeds

Hemp seeds, sesame seeds, or pumpkin seeds all add a satisfying crunch along with healthy fats, magnesium, and protein. I love hemp seeds in particular — they have a mild, nutty flavor and they’re one of the most complete plant proteins available.

Ways to Serve It

This easy chicken and broccoli stir fry is satisfying all on its own, but it also plays well with others. Here are a few of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

• Straight from the pan, in a big bowl, on the couch — no judgment
• Over cauliflower rice for a more complete meal
• Alongside a simple bowl of bone broth soup
• Packed in a container for a nourishing lunch the next day
• Wrapped in lettuce leaves for a fresh, light variation

How Long Does It Last?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this chicken and broccoli stir fry will keep well for 3 to 4 days. It reheats beautifully in a pan over low heat with a tiny splash of water or extra coconut oil to prevent sticking. The slaw softens a bit more on day two, but the flavor is just as good — maybe even better.

Common Questions

Can I use raw chicken instead of leftover chicken? Yes — just cook the raw chicken first in the coconut oil until fully cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F), then proceed with the recipe. It will add a few extra minutes to your cook time, but it’s still a very simple process.

Can I use a different oil instead of coconut oil? Absolutely. Avocado oil is another great choice for high-heat cooking and has a very mild, neutral flavor. Both are anti-inflammatory options that work beautifully here.

Can I add a sauce to this? Yes! A simple drizzle of coconut aminos (a soy-free, gluten-free alternative to soy sauce) stirred in at the end adds a wonderful umami depth. It’s one of my favorite additions when I want something a little more flavorful.

Is this recipe good for a flare? It’s one of my go-to recipes during a flare precisely because it’s so low-effort. The ingredients are gentle, anti-inflammatory, and easy to digest. If you’re in the middle of a hard stretch, this is the kind of food that nourishes without overwhelming you.

Why This Recipe Earns a Permanent Spot in My Rotation

Here’s what I’ve learned about managing MS naturally: the best recipes aren’t always the most elaborate ones. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is keep it simple — grab what’s in your fridge, add some color and good fat, and give your body something real to work with.

This easy chicken and broccoli stir fry does exactly that. It’s ready in ten minutes, made from three ingredients you probably already have, and delivers a genuinely satisfying meal with real anti-inflammatory benefits.

On the days when MS makes everything harder, this recipe doesn’t ask much of you. And somehow, it still manages to feel like a win.

If you try it, I’d love to know how it goes. Did you keep it simple, or did you add something to make it your own? Leave a comment below — I read every single one.

🍐 Finish the Night Right: Add a Simple MS-Friendly Dessert

For a super-easy dessert, you’ve got to try the Easy Caramelized Cinnamon Pear Recipe below. Pair it with this chicken and broccoli stir fry dinner recipe, and you have dinner and dessert in twenty minutes!