This Chinese Beef and Broccoli recipe is a classic stir-fry dish that is perfect for any night of the week. This easy-to-make beef and broccoli stir fry will become your go-to meal, with its delicious combination of tender beef and crisp broccoli, all tossed in a savory sauce.
To make it even better, you can prepare this beef and broccoli stir fry quickly on your stovetop – no need for special equipment or spending a ton of money on takeout.
So, add this recipe to your meal plan this week, you won't regret it.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick & easy to make in one pan which makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
- The delicious combination of tender beef and crisp broccoli with a savory sauce.
- No need for special equipment or spending a ton of money on takeout!
🧾 Ingredient List
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- beef flank steak
- canola oil
- broccoli florets
- sesame seeds
Beef Marinade
- light brown sugar
- soy sauce
- corn starch
- lemon juice
Sauce
- fresh ginger
- minced garlic
- beef broth
- light brown sugar
- soy sauce
- cornstarch
- sesame oil
- salt
- black pepper
Optional garnish
- sesame seeds
- green onions
🍲 Equipment
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and lemon juice until smooth.
Step 2: Add the sliced beef and marinate for at least 15 minutes up to 1 hour.
Step 3: In a saute pan or wok, over medium heat, add 1 Tablespoon of canola oil and let heat up. Add the broccoli florets and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally with a spatula. Broccoli will be soft and cooked through. Remove broccoli and set aside on a plate.
Step 3: In a saute pan or wok, over medium heat, add 1 Tablespoon of canola oil and let heat up. Add the broccoli florets and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally with a spatula. Broccoli will be soft and cooked through. Remove broccoli and set aside on a plate.
Step 4: Combine the grated ginger, minced garlic, beef broth, light brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Whisk to combine ingredients well.
Step 5: To the saute pan or wok, over medium heat add the remaining Tablespoon of canola oil and stir fry the beef for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally until cooked through. The beef will no longer be pink and cooked through. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.
Step 6: In the same pan, stir in the ingredients for the sauce, the ginger, garlic, beef broth, light brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper into the pan and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes thick and glossy.
Step 7: Transfer the cooked beef to the pan and simmer in the sauce, stirring occasionally, for another 3 minutes.
Add the prepared broccoli to the pan and continue to simmer the ingredients together for another 2 to 3 minutes to warm everything up.
Step 8: Serve beef and broccoli hot or warm, over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onion.
👩🏻🍳Eileen's Tips for Success
- Use high-quality beef flank steak for your recipe. The marinade will tenderize the meat and bring out its flavor.
- If you prefer your beef more on the well-done side, cook the meat a bit longer in the pan until it reaches the desired doneness.
- Adjust the amount of salt and pepper according to taste.
- Try to slice your beef as thinly as possible for stir-frying, this will help the beef cook faster.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Chinese beef and broccoli sauce is made of fresh ginger, minced garlic, beef broth, light brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper.
Yes! You can substitute flank steak with another cut of beef such as sirloin steak or skirt steak.
Be sure to slice the steak thinly so it cooks quickly.
You can certainly prepare the ingredients for the dish in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. However, it is best to stir-fry the beef and broccoli just before serving as this will ensure that you get maximum flavor and texture from cooking it fresh.
📖 Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you increase the flavor of this dish.
- If you don't have sesame oil, substitute with olive oil or vegetable oil.
- For an extra boost of flavor and richness to your sauce, add a splash of Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- If you want a spicy version of this dish, add some red pepper flakes or chili paste to the marinade or the sauce for a kick.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage -Store leftover stir fry beef and broccoli in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze - Beef and broccoli stir fry can be frozen for up to 3 months. Place in a freezer-safe container or bag, remove as much air as possible, seal tightly, and freeze.
Reheating - To reheat the beef and broccoli stir fry, place the stir-fry in a skillet over medium heat and add a splash of water or beef broth to help prevent sticking. Bring to a simmer for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot throughout.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
If you ask my family, you can't have Asian food without a side of fried rice. And, this Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice recipe is always my to-go.
Do you prefer noodles instead of rice? If so, then you are going to want to make this Chicken Chow Mein! It tastes just like restaurant-made chow mein!
This Grilled Asparagus is so easy, it cooks quickly and you only need a few pantry staples to make it. You can't go wrong with this recipe as a side dish for this meal.
🍽 Similar recipes
These Asian Style Instant Pot Ribs are another family favorite! They are melt-in-your-mouth delicious and so tender.
This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken is another one of our family-favorite takeout meals to make at home. Plus, the slow cooker does all the work so you can spend more time with your family.
This Slow Cooker Moo Shu Pork is the perfect way to get all of your favorite Chinese takeout flavors without all the work! Serve it over steamed rice or wrapped in flour tortillas for a delicious meal.
Want to use your air fryer for dinner this week? Add this Air Fryer Kung Pao Chicken to your meal plan. It's sweet, spicy, and bursting with Asian flavor. Plus, it's so much cheaper to make at home.
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Stir Fry Beef and Broccoli
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds beef flank steak thinly sliced Note 1
- 2 Tablespoons canola OIl divided
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds garnish, optional
Beef Marinade
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 4 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- ⅓ cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 6 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional garnish
- sesame seeds optional garnish
- green onions sliced thin, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Breakup lumps of cornstarch.
- Add the sliced beef to the bowl and stir to combine. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes up to an hour.
- In a heated saute pan or wok, over medium heat, add 1 Tablespoon of canola oil and let heat up. Add in the broccoli florets and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally with a spatula. Broccoli will be soft and cooked through. Remove broccoli and set aside on a plate.
- To make the sauce, in a deep mixing bowl, combine the grated ginger, minced garlic, beef broth, light brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Whisk to combine ingredients well.
- To the saute pan or wok, over medium heat add the remaining Tablespoon of canola oil and stir fry the beef for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally until cooked through. The beef will no longer be pink and cooked through. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.
How to make the sauce
- In the same pan, stir in the ingredients for the sauce, the ginger, garlic, beef broth, light brown sugar, soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper into the pan and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes thick and glossy.
- Transfer the cooked beef to the pan and simmer in the sauce, stirring occasionally, for another 3 minutes.
- Add the prepared broccoli to the pan and continue to simmer the ingredients together for another 2 to 3 minutes to warm everything up.
- Serve beef and broccoli hot or warm, over rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chopped green onion. (optional garnish)
NOTES
- I'm not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes
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