Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Published 3/19/2023
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Make beef and broccoli in your own kitchen with tender pieces of flank steak, sauteed broccoli, and a yummy dark sauce.
Best Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Beef and broccoli is hands-down my favorite takeout recipe. I’ve been trying to recreate this Chinese-American dish for ages and I think we’ve perfected it!
Our beef and broccoli recipe is inspired by the classic takeout dish and made with super tender beef, an easy dark sauce, and fresh broccoli. The sauce is sweetened with honey and made with beef broth, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic.
What does beef and broccoli taste like?
Beef and broccoli is a savory dish that has flavors of soy, garlic, and hints of sweetness.
Why you’ll love it!
Easy to make
30-minute meal
High-protein
Serving of veggies
What is in beef and broccoli?
- Beef: beef and broccoli is made with thin slices of beef. We’re using flank steak.
- Broccoli: we always recommend using fresh broccoli so that the end result doesn’t come out mushy.
- Sauce: beef and broccoli sauce is made from the basis of beef broth and soy sauce but uses other ingredients such as honey, chili garlic sauce, garlic, and ginger.
What kind of beef do you need for beef and broccoli?
We recommend using flank steak for beef and broccoli because it’s inexpensive and easily tenderized. Other cuts of beef that work include:
- skirt steak
- Sirloin
What is beef and broccoli sauce made of
Beef and broccoli sauce is made primarily with beef broth and soy sauce. You also need freshly grated ginger, garlic, honey, chili garlic sauce, water, and cornstarch.
How to thicken sauce
The easiest way to thicken your sauce is with cornstarch. We recommend dissolving the cornstarch in the sauce before adding it to the dish, but you can also make a cornstarch slurry.
How do you make beef tender?
The best way to tenderize beef for beef and broccoli stir fry is with a meat tenderizer. Pound the flake until it’s around 1/2 inch thick. This will tenderize the tendons in the beef making it easier to chew and digest.
Is beef and broccoli healthy?
Beef and broccoli is high in protein and made with a hefty serving of veggies. You can make the sauce healthier by using an all-natural sweetener such as honey or maple syrup instead of sugar.
Add-Ins
There are many add-in opportunities for this recipe. Add any of the following veggies for more color and nutrition:
- Bell pepper
- Onion
- Mushrooms
- Cauliflower
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Serving Suggestions
Storage
If you have leftover beef and broccoli stir fry, let it cool completely. Then, transfer it into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
To reheat: reheat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds.
Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 lb. flank steak
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, separated
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil, separated
- 6 cups chopped broccoli, ~12 oz
Sauce
- ½ cup beef broth
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Other Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons white sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- Place flank steak out on a cutting board and massage the flank with 1.5 teaspoons of salt. Cover with parchment paper. Use a meat tenderizer to tenderize the flank steak. Pound each side of the flank steak for 1-2 minutes and until it is 1/2 inch thick.
- Then, slice your flank steak in half lengthwise and cut each half into thin strips against the grain. Let the flank steak rest for at least 15 minutes.
- While the flank steak rests, heat a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. When the oil is hot add the broccoli to the pan and season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Saute the broccoli for 3-4 minutes or until cooked to your liking. We like our broccoli with a bit of bite to it. Remove the broccoli from the pan and set aside.
- Add all of the ingredients for the sauce to a bowl and whisk together until the cornstarch has dissolved.
- Heat the remaining sesame oil in the same pan. When the oil is hot, add all of the flank steak to the pan. Sear the meat for about 1-2 minutes to brown and then add the sauce to the pan. Toss the meat with the sauce.
- The sauce will begin to thicken right away. Allow the meat to cook in the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes or until cooked.
- Add the broccoli back to the pan and toss with the meat and sauce. Cook until the broccoli is warm. About 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve over rice, with noodles, and enjoy
Tips & Notes
- This beef and broccoli recipe is saucy. If you don’t like a saucy beef and broccoli add more broccoli.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
Love this recipe! Sauce is soo good and it keeps well, so works well for weeknight meal preps
One of my all time favorites!