Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

5 from 30 votes

Beef and broccoli stir fry made with thinly sliced flank steak, tender-crisp broccoli, and a homemade sauce. Served with a side of rice.

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Comments
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Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.
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Make my beef and broccoli stir fry for dinner!

Beef and broccoli stir fry is always high on my list when I order takeout. There’s just something about the combo of beef, crisp broccoli, and that savory-sweet sauce that always tastes so good. So of course, I had to figure out how to make it at home, and it’s easier than I expected.

My beef and broccoli stir fry recipe has the same flavors I love from takeout, and comes together fast with simple ingredients. A quick sauce, one pan, and a bowl of rice on the side, that’s dinner done.

Happy Cooking!
– Yumna

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Ingredients

Collage to make the sauce for beef and broccoli stir fry
  • Steak: Flank steak is the most popular cut for stir fry and what most Chinese restaurants use. You can also use skirt steak or sirloin.
  • Broccoli: Read my tips on how to cut broccoli into florets. Or, save time and buy a bag of pre-cut florets.
  • Soy sauce: I recommend low-sodium soy sauce if you’re watching your salt intake, or tamari if you’re gluten-free.
  • Oyster sauce: You can also use hoisin sauce.
  • Rice wine vinegar: Look for unseasoned rice vinegar, because the seasoned variety has added sugar.
  • Cornstarch: You can also use arrowroot powder or potato starch.
  • Oils: Sesame oil and avocado oil.
  • Garlic: Here’s a quick tutorial on how to mince garlic.
  • Ginger: Its outer brown skin should be as smooth as possible. If it has wrinkles, it’s been sitting on the shelf for a while. Read my tips on how to peel and mince ginger.
  • Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • Cooked rice or noodles: Or, to pack in extra protein, serve your beef and broccoli over quinoa. (Here’s how to cook quinoa if you haven’t tried it before!)

How to Make Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Sauce ingredients in a bowl before mixing.
Step 1: Add the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch to a bowl.
After well combined.
Step 2: Whisk to combine.
Broccoli florets in a pot of water.
Step 3: Add the broccoli to a pot of boiling water.
Slotted spoon lifting florets out of the water.
Step 4: Drain the broccoli and rinse with cold water.
Beef spread in an even layer in an oiled skillet before cooking.
Step 1: Cook the beef in a single layer in a wok with avocado oil, salt, and pepper.
After cooked and browned.
Step 2: Flip and cook the other side until browned. Transfer the cooked beef to a plate.
Beef removed with garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes added.
Step 3: Add the remaining avocado oil to the pan with the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant.
Broccoli added to the pan before frying.
Step 4: Add the par-cooked broccoli to the pan. Cook until it’s tender-crisp.
After frying with beef added back and sauce being poured over.
Step 5: Return the beef to the pan.
After tossed together and coated with sauce.
Step 6: Pour in the sauce and cook until it thickens.
Beef and broccoli stir fry.

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Author: Yumna Jawad
5 from 30 votes
Beef and broccoli stir fry made with thinly sliced flank steak, tender-crisp broccoli, and a homemade sauce. Served with a side of rice.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings4 servings

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Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Stir until the cornstarch fully dissolves. Set the sauce aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 2–3 minutes, or until they turn bright green and become slightly tender. Be careful not to overcook. Drain the broccoli and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a wok or a large skillet over high heat. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper, and spread it out in a single layer. Sear for 1–2 minutes per side, or until the beef browns. Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside.
  • In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of avocado oil. Add the minced garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Add the blanched broccoli back into the pan and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender-crisp.
  • Return the seared beef to the pan with the vegetables. Pour the sauce over the beef and broccoli. Stir-fry for an additional 1–2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients evenly.
  • Serve over steamed rice or noodles. Garnish with sesame seeds or sliced green onions, if desired.

Notes

The nutrition label does not include rice and is only for the beef and broccoli.
  • My Top Tip: Freeze the flank steak before slicing. Because flank steak is so thin and tender, it can be tricky to slice. Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing to firm up the beef for easier slicing. Remember: Whether it’s cooked or uncooked, cut against the grain! 
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat on the stove in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave for 1-minute intervals until hot. I recommend adding a splash of water or beef broth to loosen it up.
  • Freezing: It tastes best when it’s fresh, but you can freeze leftovers in an airtight container or freezer bag for 2–3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl, Calories: 269kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 1286mg, Potassium: 652mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 464IU, Vitamin C: 61mg, Calcium: 66mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Recipe Variations

  • Add red peppers. Slice a bell pepper into thin strips. Cook them for about 2 minutes after adding the ginger and garlic, but before adding the broccoli.
  • Sneak in some leafy greens. Stir in bok choy or spinach at the end for a fresh, wilted touch.
  • Top it with nuts. Sprinkle cashews or peanuts on top before serving.
  • Serve it with sriracha or chili crisp. A little goes a long way!

Recipe Tips

  1. Cut the broccoli into evenly-sized pieces. My rule of thumb is that the pieces should fit easily on a fork.
  2. Freeze the flank steak before slicing. Because flank steak is so thin and tender, it can be tricky to slice. Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing to firm up the beef for easier slicing. Remember: Whether it’s cooked or uncooked, cut against the grain! Read my tips on how to slice flank steak.
  3. Get the pan really hot before you add the beef. If you don’t, the meat could turn out tough and chewy. You want the steak to cook quickly and efficiently, not low and slow. Brown it quickly at high heat, then take the pan off the heat as soon as the sauce thickens.
  4. Don’t crowd the beef in the pan. You want it to sear, not steam. If you don’t have a big enough pan, work in batches.

Serving Ideas

Close up shot of a large bowl of beef and broccoli rice with chopsticks on the side

More Asian Cuisine Recipes

This beef and broccoli recipe was originally published on March 4, 2019. I recently updated it to be a more traditional-style recipe with broccoli florets instead of broccoli rice. It also has new photos and step-by-step collages to help make this recipe easier.

5 from 30 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Loveintheirtummy says:

    So good.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you so much!

  2. Amira says:

    Restaurant quality at home!! I tried making this again after seeing your IG stories. I used ground beef, half the salt and pepper, as well as half the ginger for my familyโ€™s taste preferences. Thanks for this recipe!

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Aww, love that!! Thanks, Amira! So happy you enjoyed the stir fry!

  3. Elizabeth says:

    Absolutely delicious! We used ground beef instead of steak and it was incredible. I donโ€™t normally like beef and broccoli, but this was soooo good.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Aww yay, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you!!

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