This beef and broccoli recipe uses a homemade sauce that is so addictive you’ll never want to order takeout again. Plus, it’s cheaper to make at home and ready in under 30 minutes!
Why This is the Best Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Here’s why you should try this homemade takeout recipe tonight:
- Flavorful: This classic Chinese dish features tender slices of beef and crisp broccoli coated in a rich, beef-y sauce flavored with garlic and ginger.
- One Skillet: Who doesn’t love an easy clean up?
- Better Than Takeout: By making this dish at home, you get to choose the cuts of beef and the freshness of the veggies. You also control the amount of salt and sugar!
- Save Money and Time: This easy beef and broccoli not only tastes better than takeout, it’s cheaper and quicker! You can whip up this dish in less than 30 minutes and for less money.
Love homemade takeout? You will likely also enjoy our recipes for crockpot pepper steak, quick beef and noodles, homemade bang bang shrimp and easy air fryer orange chicken!
Should I Use Frozen or Fresh Broccoli?
We love using fresh broccoli in this beef and broccoli stir fry, but frozen will also work fine. We like our broccoli a little firmer, and with fresh broccoli, you can control how much it cooks. Frozen broccoli will always be a little softer compared to fresh.
If you do opt to use frozen florets, be careful when adding them to the skillet. The water droplets will cause the oil to pop.
What You’ll Need
It doesn’t take a ton of ingredients to make this dish, and you will likely find most of them already in your pantry! Scroll down to the recipe card for the exact amounts of each ingredient.
- Steak: We use flank steak, which is lean and tender when thinly sliced against the grain.
- Broccoli: Fresh is ideal, but you can also use frozen florets.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic will give you the best flavor.
- Ginger: We love the punch of fresh ginger in this recipe, but you can also use dried.
- Sesame Oil: You can substitute olive oil or avocado oil, but sesame oil has the most flavor.
- Beef Broth: You can sub vegetable broth if you’d like.
- Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness of the dish. You can also use coconut aminos instead.
- Cornstarch: For thickening the sauce.
- Mirin: Mirin is a sweet cooking wine; a hearty pinch of granulated or dark brown sugar can be substituted.
- Rice Vinegar: This is a popular Asian vinegar that adds wonderful flavor to the sauce. Feel free to substitute white vinegar if you don’t have access to it.
- Sriracha: A delicious spicy and tangy hot sauce that adds a nice kick to the sauce. If you can’t find it, try adding a little hot chili oil instead.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli
This beef and broccoli recipe is exploding with flavor, but it’s surprisingly easy to make in just one skillet. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full detailed instructions.
- Sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Set it aside.
- Broccoli: Add the broccoli florets to hot sesame oil and cook in a large skillet for 3 to 5 minutes. Once cooked, remove the broccoli and set aside.
- Beef: Turn the heat up to medium-high heat and add more oil to the same skillet. Add the beef and cook the meat for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Add the Sauce: Lower the heat on your skillet and add the sauce. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until sauce has thickened.
- Finish: Add the broccoli and stir everything together. We love to serve beef and broccoli over rice with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
This dish is pretty straightforward, but there are a few tips and tricks that are helpful to keep in mind:
- Prep: This beef and broccoli recipe comes together really quickly. Have everything prepped in advance so you can cook with ease!
- Broccoli: If the broccoli is browning too much, remove the skillet from the heat, cover it, and let the broccoli continue to steam. We like the broccoli to be a crisp-tender, but if you like softer broccoli, just cook it a little longer.
- Steak: Cut the flank steak when you first remove it from the refrigerator. This will help with nice even cuts. Then let the meat rest for 20 to 30 minutes before cooking, to come to room temperature.
- Cutting the Meat: Cut the meat against the grain to help keep the meat tender. To cut against the grain, you’ll want to look at the lines in the meat and cut parallel to them.
What Should I Serve With Beef and Broccoli?
When it comes to a classic like this, we like to keep it simple. And that serving this stir fry with brown or white rice. If you want to be a little adventurous, try our coconut rice or parmesan garlic rice. While not traditional, both would be tasty!
How to Store Leftover Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This saucy broccoli and beef recipe stores and reheats really well, making it perfect for meal prep and easy lunches.
- Store: Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in an air-tight container in the fridge. Store any rice separately so it doesn’t soak up the sauce.
- Reheat: You can reheat beef and broccoli either on the stove in a covered sauce pan, or in the microwave. You may need to add a little bit of water to thin the sauce.
- Freeze: You can definitely freeze leftovers, but remember that broccoli will get softer over time. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Transfer to the fridge to thaw overnight, before reheating.
Other Tasty Beef Recipes to Try
Beef dishes are a staple in our house, check out a few of our family favorites!
Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil, can substitute olive oil divided
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1 pound flank steak, sliced thin into strips about a 1/4” thickness
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
Sauce:
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce, use low sodium to control saltiness of the dish
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon mirin, substitute 1 tablespoon granulated sugar or more if you like it sweet
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon siracha
Optional toppings:
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, add the broccoli and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, cover with the lid to steam/cook the broccoli, stir often to keep from burning. Remove the broccoli and set on a plate, cover the broccoli to help keep warm.
- While the broccoli is cooking make the sauce. Combine all the sauce ingredients in a medium size bowl or large measuring cup, stir until blended and set aside.
- Using the same skillet heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil over medium-high heat, add beef and cook 2 to 3 minutes per side or until the meat is cooked through.
- Add the sauce, lower the heat to low-medium and simmer 3 to 5 minutes, add the broccoli stir to mix with the meat and sauce.
- Serve immediately. Can be served over rice with chopped green onions and sprinkle of sesame seeds.
