Need dinner on the table in no time and on a budget? This Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is for you! It’s full of flavor, ready in under 30 minutes and a 100% kid-approved recipe that we make time and time again!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Just like my Orange Chicken and Mu Shu Chicken recipes, this 30-minute meal is perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table ASAP.
- Family Favorite: This Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is one of our go-to weeknight meals that everyone in the family LOVES. Stir fry recipes are such a crowd pleaser!
- Flavorful: The combination of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey creates a delicious balance of savory and sweet.
- Healthier Than Takeout: Making beef and broccoli at home means you can control the ingredients that go into the dish creating a healthier version of your favorite takeout dinner.
The Ingredients
- Soy Sauce: This is the base of our sauce, giving that salty umami flavor.
- Sesame Oil: Toasted sesame oil adds a nutty depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Honey: A hint of sweetness to balance out the salty soy sauce.
- Garlic & Ginger: These aromatics are essential for a flavorful stir fry.
- Corn Starch: Helps thicken the sauce so it clings to the beef and broccoli.
- Beef: I love using sirloin, but flank, skirt, or tri-tip work well too!
- Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli adds the perfect crunch and loads of nutrients to this dish.
- Vegetable Oil: Perfect for high-heat cooking, ensuring your beef sears beautifully.
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Variations and Substitutions
- Protein Swap: Feel free to swap out the beef for chicken, shrimp, or even tofu for a vegetarian version. Just adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Veggie Boost: You can easily add other veggies like bell peppers, snap peas, or carrots for extra color, nutrients and texture.
- Low-Sodium Option: If you want to reduce the salt content, use low-sodium soy sauce.
- Gluten-Free: Swap the soy sauce for tamari or a gluten-free alternative.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic and ginger. Place the beef in a Ziploc bag (or glass bowl). Pour in half of the sauce mixture to coat the beef. Marinate for either 20 minutes on the counter or covered overnight in the fridge.
Step 2: Whisk the cornstarch and water together and add to the remaining sauce mixture.
Step 3: Heat a wok or large sauté pan over high heat, add 2 teaspoons oil and add the beef. Cook for 4 minutes and remove beef to a clean bowl.
Step 4: Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil to the pan and cook the broccoli for 2 minutes.
Step 5: Add the beef back into the pan. Make a well in the center and pour in the sauce. Cook until the sauce is thick and everything is heated through, about 2 minutes.
Step 7: Serve over steamed white rice, brown rice or noodles.
Tip and Tricks
- Cut the Beef Against the Grain: Slicing the beef against the grain ensures tender, melt-in-your-mouth pieces.
- Don’t Overcook the Broccoli: You want the broccoli to remain crisp-tender, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
- Use a Hot Pan: Make sure your wok or pan is nice and hot before adding the beef. This will give it that beautiful sear.
FAQs
Absolutely! Frozen broccoli works great in this recipe. Cook until it’s tender but still crisp not overcooked and mushy.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can easily reheat it in a pan or the microwave.
Steamed white or brown rice is a classic choice, but this stir fry is also delicious with noodles or even cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
Flank steak is the best cut for beef and broccoli stir fry due to its tenderness and flavor when sliced thin. Sirloin, skirt steak, and tri-tip are also great options for quick cooking and rich taste.
More Quick and Easy Dinners
This easy stir fry dish is one of those go-to meals you’ll find yourself making on repeat! With its bold flavors and ease of preparation, beef and broccoli is sure to become a family favorite. Let me know what you think of this recipe by leaving a comment and rating below!
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Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (i like to use toasted)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped or grated
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 pound boneless sirloin, tri tip, flank or skirt steak (sliced into 2 x 1/2 inch strips)
- 1 package (14 ounces) frozen or fresh broccoli florets
- 3 teaspoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic and ginger.
- Place the beef in a Ziploc bag (or glass bowl), pouring in half of the sauce mixture to coat the beef. Marinate for either 20 minutes on the counter or covered overnight in the fridge.
- Whisk the cornstarch and water together and add to the remaining sauce mixture.
- Heat a wok or large sauté pan over high heat, add 2 teaspoons oil and add the beef. Cook for 4 minutes and remove beef to a clean bowl.
- Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil to the pan and cook the broccoli for 2 minutes.
- Add the beef back into the pan. Make a well in the center and pour in the sauce. Cook until the sauce is thick and everything is heated through, about 2 minutes.
- Serve over brown rice.
Video
Notes
- Cut the Beef Against the Grain: Slicing the beef against the grain ensures tender, melt-in-your-mouth pieces.
- Don’t Overcook the Broccoli: You want the broccoli to remain crisp-tender, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
- Use a Hot Pan: Make sure your wok or pan is nice and hot before adding the beef. This will give it that beautiful sear.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a sauté pan or microwave.
This recipe is soooo good! Just as it is! But (and I try not to be one of those who alter recipes but thought this might be helpful for those trying to eliminate sugars), the second time around I replaced the honey with monk fruit sweetener and not only did no one (5 year old and husband) notice a difference but I thought it tasted amazing too. Just an added tip for those watching their sugar!
This was great! Five year old, two year old and husband all happy!
Looks delicious. Looking forward to more recipes.
I was looking for something to make for kiddos tonight using the thin pork chops and I am going to try this recipe.
I steamed the broccoli separately as well. My daughter does not like the hard stems if not! I also cubed the meat into small pieces then slow cooked it by itself for three hours. Turned out perfect for my family!
This is a fast and easy recipe to make for dinner. I steamed the broccoli for a few minutes before putting it in the pan because we like our broccoli more on the soft side rather than the crunchy side. Turned out wonderful!
We had this last night. It was amazing!
I just made it and it was DELICIOUS!! Very easy to make too.. Thank you
this looks delicious . . . where do you get the little chopstick people?
I’m Chinese, so stir fries are a staple. But I like your ratios of sauce, so I make this with chicken all the time for my toddler, and it turns out great! But it does cook faster if you cut the chicken up into small pieces – 2-3 minutes cook time is exactly the amount of time I use as well.
Hmm I think chicken would probably work! Slice it thin just like you would the steak. It will cook faster. So remove it from the pan once it is cooked through, probably 2-3 minutes! Let me know how it comes out!
Can I replace steak with chicken? Do I need to adjust the recipe at all?
It means to push the ingredients out of the way so that you’re pouring the sauce onto the pan itself instead of directly on top of everything in the pan! 🙂
What does ” make a well” mean?