Health-wise, it’s hard to beat a vegetable-packed stir-fry recipe. Most are also flexible and fast—that is, once you’ve prepped your ingredients. When you don’t have the time to wash and chop a bevy of vegetables, why not reach for a shortcut in a pinch?

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New Taylor Farms Side-Kicks Bok Choy Veggies is a bagged, prewashed blend of chopped bok choy and cabbage, broccoli florets, pea pods, and green onions. Stir-fry on the stovetop with your own sauce and—if you’re making a main dish—some tofu, chicken, or other protein, and ta-da! Dinner is done.

The same goes for new Trader Joe’s Stir Fry Veggie Blend, which has an ingredient list that mimics Taylor’s, minus the green onions.

Both are 100 percent vegetables, so you’re looking at no more than 30 calories per cup, plus a smattering of nutrients like fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. 

More ideas for stir-fry recipe shortcuts

Our list of 10 healthy shortcuts to make vegetables a snap has more suggestions for veggies (and quick recipes) that can bulk up a meal and go from package to plate in minutes. For lightning-fast stir-fries, try:

• Matchstick-cut carrots
• Broccoli slaw
• Baby spinach

For a quick-cooking protein like chicken strips or baked and seasoned tofu, check our guides:

• Our picks for quick poultry and plant-based products
• What’s the best store-bought tofu?

Plastic-free stir-fry recipe alternatives

If you’re trying to cut back on plastic—for the planet’s health and yours—then bagged vegetables are only an occasional shortcut. Instead, look for bulk, unpackaged versions of easy-to-prep vegetables:

• Baby bok choy: Just trim the tender mini cabbages at their base, then chop.
• Broccolini: A cross between regular and Chinese broccoli that’s often sold in bunches.
• Napa cabbage: Even a whole head is quick to slice because it’s so delicate.

Healthy stir-fry recipes

Try one of these recipes from our Healthy Cook, Kate Sherwood. Most can be easily adapted to use the vegetables you have on hand:

• Moo Shu Veggies
• Rainbow Stir-Fry
• Sesame Ginger Baby Bok Choy
• Sesame Miso Bok Choy
• Snow Pea Stir-Fry
• Stir-Fried Asian Greens
• Stir-Fried Vegetables in Black Pepper Sauce