This Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is so quick and easy to make – whip it up in 30 minutes with strips of tender beef, healthy broccoli and simple ingredients.
Nothing beats those quick and easy recipes when you have a bunch of hungry people complaining in the kitchen 😉 But it’s even worse to take little kids out to eat, so this is one of my favorite ways to make takeout right at home!
What I love most about this recipe? I don’t have to run to a specialty store to buy seven different sauces and spices. I have most of these in my pantry all the time – the one I buy especially for Asian-inspired recipes is toasted sesame oil.
But that’s one, and not seven, so I figure it’s fine to call it fuss-free 😉
Ingredients you’ll need
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!
Ingredient notes
Beef: Please do yourself a favor and use a tender cut of beef that cooks quickly.
Something like beef round cut into strips is perfect. I know there’s many delicious recipes for crock pot beef and broccoli out there, but this one is a quick variation so you need a quick-cooking cut of beef.
Beef broth: if you don’t have any beef broth on hand, you can use chicken broth. the sauce will be less rich, but still delicious.
Toasted sesame oil: this does add a nice flavor, but it’s an ingredient I know not everybody has on hand. Just use a neutral oil to replace it, and sprinkle the dish with sesame seeds before serving, if you have those.
Brown sugar: calm down, people, it’s just 1 teaspoon 😉 if you want to avoid the sugar, use honey/maple syrup or skip it completely.
Broccoli: I used fresh, but frozen broccoli is OK, too. I would defrost before using it, and you’ll have to be OK with it being a little more mushy.
How to make a Beef and Broccoli stir fry
1. Start by whisking together all ingredients for the sauce in a medium bowl.
Then, add the beef and stir well. Set this aside while you continue with the recipe, this will allow the beef to marinate for a few minutes.
2. Now, stir-fry the broccoli florets in a little oil until they’re just tender.
As soon as the broccoli is done, remove it from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
3. Add the beef and all of the marinade to the pan. Cook it until the beef has reached your preferred doneness.
This will only take 30 seconds to 2 minutes if you use the right cut of beef! So make sure you do not overcook your meat.
4. Finally, stir the broccoli into the beef. Cook it for 30-60 seconds, until the broccoli is heated through and the sauce has thickened to your liking.
Make sure to check for seasoning and add additional soy sauce or salt as needed!
Recipe tips
- make sure you use the right cut of beef and cut it into even strips against the grain for best results
- don’t overcook the beef or it will turn out tough
- don’t overcook the broccoli either, or it will get smashed when you stir it into the beef and sauce
- if you want, you can marinate the beef in the fridge for a couple of hours. I do not recommend marinating this specific cut for longer or even overnight, as it doesn’t need tenderizing. You only marinate it to get the flavor.
Serving ideas
We love this served over rice, but Asian noodles work really well, too – when I make noodles, I toss them in the skillet with the beef and broccoli to coat them in the sauce. So good!
This would also work well with zucchini noodles for a low carb dinner, for you crazies out there 😉
More restaurant style dinners made at home
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. Sign up for my email list, too!
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Recipe details
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Beef:
- ½ cup beef broth
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon dried onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried garlic powder or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger or more to taste
- minced fresh garlic and minced fresh ginger to taste
- 1 pound beef round cut into strips; or another TENDER cut
For the Broccoli:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound broccoli in florets
Instructions
- Marinate beef:Whisk beef broth, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, cornstarch and spices (and fresh garlic/ginger, if using) together in a medium bowl. Stir in the beef and set aside.
- Cook broccoli:Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the broccoli and stir fry until just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Cook beef:Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the beef with the marinade to the hot pan and stir-fry until beef is just cooked, 30 seconds to 2 minutes (depending on how done you want it).
- Finish dish:Stir the broccoli into the beef and simmer for 30-60 seconds, until sauce has thickened. Add more soy sauce or salt to taste.
Notes
Ingredient notes
Beef: Please do yourself a favor and use a tender cut of beef that cooks quickly. Something like beef round cut into strips is perfect. I know there’s many delicious recipes for crock pot beef and broccoli out there, but this one is a quick variation so you need a quick-cooking cut of beef. Beef broth: if you don’t have any beef broth on hand, you can use chicken broth. the sauce will be less rich, but still delicious. Toasted sesame oil: this does add a nice flavor, but it’s an ingredient I know not everybody has on hand. Just use a neutral oil to replace it, and sprinkle the dish with sesame seeds before serving, if you have those. Brown sugar: calm down, people, it’s just 1 teaspoon 😉 if you want to avoid the sugar, use honey/maple syrup or skip it completely. Broccoli: I used fresh, but frozen broccoli is OK, too. I would defrost before using it, and you’ll have to be OK with it being a little more mushy.Recipe tips
- make sure you use the right cut of beef and cut it into even strips against the grain for best results
- don’t overcook the beef or it will turn out tough
- don’t overcook the broccoli either, or it will get smashed when you stir it into the beef and sauce
- if you want, you can marinate the beef in the fridge for a couple of hours. I do not recommend marinating this specific cut for longer or even overnight, as it doesn’t need tenderizing. You only marinate it to get the flavor.
Allison says
It was fabulous!!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Allison!
Johanna Snider says
Delicious! My teenagers approved.
Nora says
That’s the best compliment, Johanna! Glad the recipe was a success.
Kim says
Loved this recipe!! Will definitely make this again.
Directions are easy / simple.
I did make a few adjustments such as adding carrots before I added the broccoli. Also, I used honey instead of brown sugar. Lastly, I added a Serrano pepper w/ seeds to add some heat.
Nora says
I’m so glad, Kim! Love your suggestions, too.
Tracy says
This was so easy and very tasty!!!!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Tracy!
Susan says
I usually fail at making chinese type of food. But this is actually AN EASY recipe and it tasted good too! Yay! Thanks for the recipe!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Susan!
Karen Cassidy says
I was walking through the store today, googling for recipes to make for dinner tonight. I am SO happy that I found yours! We just finished eating and everyone said it should go into our rotation. The cooking time was perfect! Broccoli was delicious, the meat was tender and the sauce was super yummy! Thank you!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Karen!
Sally says
Sautéing broccoli never takes only 5 minutes. This is ***.
Nora says
I’m going to remove the foul and derogatory language from your comment, but I do want to answer the cooking part and explain why the broccoli sautés for about 5 minutes, in case other readers are wondering about this.
Broccoli turns mushy FAST. It will continue cooking from residual heat as it sits on the plate while you’re browning the beef. It will also continue to cook when you add it to the sauce. Overcook your broccoli in the first step, and it will turn into a mushy mess. Hence the “5 minutes, until just tender”. If you were going to serve it right away, you are right and you probably would need to cook it for more than 5 minutes. But you’re not serving the broccoli after 5 minutes.
If your broccoli has huge florets, then please split them into more bite-sized pieces. And if your broccoli is still raw after 5 minutes, then please use common sense and cook it for a little longer.
And please stop trash talking recipes people put their time, money and effort in. Just ask a normal question if you don’t understand or don’t agree with something, like a normal human being would in a regular conversation. There is an actual human receiving and reading your comments, and the world could be a much better place if we would talk with more kindness and dignity when we converse online.
Susan says
I agree in that broccoli turns mushy fast and that is what usually happens to me but I only sauteed for 5 minutes and put a lid on it for about 2 and it was great! No mushy broccoli. Sauce is great too.
Nora says
I’m glad it worked out so well for you, Susan! Thanks for sharing.
SUSAN LOUIS says
I’ve made this around a dozen times now and it’s still a favorite! Because I don’t like sweet entrees, I started to omit the brown sugar when I first made this but I’m so glad I followed the recipe exactly – it’s perfect!! 😘
Emily P says
This recipe is simple and amazing. My husband is super picky and has been altering his diet to eat healthier. This recipe has been a great addition to our meal rotation. Thank you!!
Marcy Walters says
We had this for dinner tonight. So good. I used 1/2 pound sirloin steak from the butcher, so nice pice of beef. It was for my husband & only so cutting the recipe in half was perfect. I had the ingredients and made it with the ingredients as listed except the sugar and that is only because my taste. We will use this again.
Deborah says
Made this had everything in my pantry including thr toasted sesame oil. Easy and delicious. Will make again.
Angelia says
This was amazing!
jenn says
easy and so so delicious!
May says
I followed recipe exactly as it stated and it was perfect and easy!
Anna says
This is delicious! I love it and so does my family
Alessandra says
This recipe was SO DELICIOUS!! Incredibly easy and everybody loved it. Thank you!
Nora Rusev says
I’m so glad, Alessandra!
Kathy Harding says
Loved it. Nice to make this without a mix with unidentified ingredients. Good and easy. Thank you.
Nora Rusev says
I’m so glad, Kathy!
Isabel says
Delicious! I love this beef and broccoli stir fry recipe. Very easy, clear and only few ingredients.
Thank you very much.
God bless you!
Nora Rusev says
I’m so glad to hear this, Isabel. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, I appreciate it very much.
Judy Hixon says
Very good and easy. Will definitely make again
Sue G. says
This really was quick and easy.
Well done, chef! Tasty and efficient, can’t beat that.
Thank you.
Nora Rusev says
I’m so glad, Sue! Thanks for your review, I appreciate it.
C.Meadows says
Delicious! Quick. Had all ingredients on hand.