Beef Stir Fry is loaded with mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers. The easy 3-ingredient beef stir fry sauce adds amazing Asian BBQ flavor. Serve this with a side of steamy white rice and you’ll satisfy any craving for takeout.

Just like Chicken Stir Fry, or Shrimp Fried Rice, this is a one-pan, easy dinner that is better than going out.

Beef Stir Fry Recipe with Bell Peppers, mushrooms and zucchini and stir fry sauce

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Beef Stir Fry Recipe

Stir fry is the ultimate quick dinner. This recipe is cooked in just 20 minutes. High-heat cooking results in tender and juicy beef caramelized with the beef stir fry sauce. This recipe moves fast so be sure to have all of your ingredients sliced up and ready to go before you fire up the stove.

I learned how to make this recipe on a blogging retreat hosted by Camp Chef. One of their chefs was cooking for everyone Hibachi style and when I inquired about the sauce, he didn’t hesitate to share it with me. It shocked me that it could be so simple with just 3 ingredients, but so tasty! I couldn’t wait to recreate this easy recipe in my backyard.

What Kind of Beef is Used for Stir Fry?

Good news: you don’t need the most expensive cut of beef for tender beef stir fry. Top sirloin is our favorite beef for stir fry because it is relatively inexpensive and produces juicy results). These are generally the best beef cuts for stir fry:

  • Top Sirloin Steak (or go-to)
  • Chuck Steak
  • Ribeye
  • Tri-tip
  • Flank Steak
Top Sirloin beef for beef stir fry with beef stir fry ingredients

How do you Ensure Tender Beef?

The right cut (see recommendations above) is critical. Also, be sure to:

  • Thinly Slice your beef
  • Cut steak against the grain
  • Sear over high heat (sealing in the juices)
  • Don’t crowd the pan which cools the pan quickly and results in chewy beef
Tender Beef Stir Fry served with white rice

The Best Beef Stir Fry Sauce

A great stir fry is all in the sauce (which is why our Beef and Broccoli is so popular)! The ingredients for this beef stir fry sauce will surprise you and you probably already have them in the refrigerator. The combination is sweet, savory and smoky. It caramelizes on the beef for a tantalizing Asian BBQ flavor.

Keep in mind if you use a sweet BBQ sauce, the sauce will be considerably sweeter which is why we opted to use an original BBQ sauce. Also, use Tamari soy sauce to make this a gluten-free beef stir fry!

Ingredients for the best beef stir fry sauce with bbq sauce, soy sauce and maple syrup

Which Vegetables are Best for Stir Fry?

You can change up the vegetables for variety or to use up what you have on hand. Veggies are important for bulking up a stir fry and making it a meal in one pan. The best vegetables for stir fry cook fast when thinly sliced. You can substitute with any of these:

  • Bell Peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Zucchini (green or yellow squash)
  • Snap peas
  • Carrots (sliced into matchsticks)
  • Onion
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli cut into florets

How to Make Stir-Fry Sauce

1. Stir together 3 Tbsp BBQ sauce, 3 Tbsp real maple syrup and 2 Tbsp soy sauce. Set aside.

making beef stir fry sauce

How to Make Beef Stir Fry

1. Heat a large heavy pan or wok over high heat with 1 Tbsp oil. Add thinly sliced beef to the hot pan in a single layer and sauté undisturbed 2-3 mins. Stir and sauté 2 min or until nearly cooked through. Season lightly with salt and pepper, add ginger and garlic and sauté 1 minute.

sautéing beef for beef stir fry recipe

2. Drizzle beef with sauce to taste (I added 5 Tbsp) and stir-fry another 1 min or until fully cooked through. Remove beef to a plate and cover to keep warm. Wipe the pan clean with a damp paper towel.

Adding sauce to beef stir fry

3. Place the same pan over high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Once hot, add mushrooms, season lightly with salt and pepper and stir fry until golden (5 min) then remove mushrooms to the plate with beef.

Sautéing mushrooms for beef stir fry

4. Add 1 Tbsp oil, sliced onion and vegetables and stir fry 8 minutes or until softened and golden.

sautéing vegetables for beef stir fry

5. Combine vegetables with beef and mushrooms, drizzle in more sauce to taste (I added another 2 Tbsp) and stir fry just until hot.

combining beef and vegetables in asian beef stir fry

Which Oil is Best for Stir Fry?

Since you are cooking over high heat, use an oil with a high smoke point. Our favorite is extra light olive oil (we use it for everything from baking to stir-fries because it is neutral in flavor and has a high smoke point). Other good options include canola oil, grape-seed oil, avocado oil or peanut oil.

beef stir fry in a skillet garnished with sesame seeds

You’ll find this Beef Stir Fry recipe on your list of recipes to repeat. It’s especially fun to cook it over a flat cooktop outdoors, Hibachi style!

More Asian Copycat Recipes

We love to recreate our favorite restaurant copycat recipes because it is so easy to make them at home and is often healthier. From Fresh Spring Rolls to crispy Egg Rolls and all kinds of stir-fry recipes, I hope you find some new favorites here.

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Easy Beef Stir-Fry Recipe with 3 Ingredient Sauce

4.99 from 149 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Beef Stir fry served in a bowl with rice
This beef stir fry has a ridiculously simple sauce and is loaded with mushrooms, zucchini and bell pepper. All you need to make this Asian Beef Stir Fry a meal is a bowl of buttery, steamy white rice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 as a main course

Ingredients for Beef Stir-Fry:

  • 1 lb Top sirloin steak, thinly sliced
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 medium yellow zucchini, sliced on the diagonal
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1/2 lb mushrooms, thin sliced
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
  • 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds, for garnish
  • 3 Tbsp Oil to Saute, *

Ingredients for Asian BBQ Sauce:

  • 3 Tbsp original BBQ Sauce, we used Stubbs brand
  • 3 Tbsp Maple Syrup
  • 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce, we used Tamari brand – gluten free

Instructions

  • Stir together the 3 sauce ingredients and set aside.
  • Heat a large heavy pan or wok over high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. When oil is hot, add beef in a single layer and sautee undisturbed 2-3 mins. Stir and sautee another 2 min or until nearly cooked through. Season lightly with salt and pepper, add ginger and garlic and sautee 1 min.
  • Drizzle beef with sauce to taste (I added 5 Tbsp) and stir-fry another 1 min or until beef is fully cooked through. Remove beef to a plate and cover to keep warm. Wipe pan clean with a paper towel.
  • Place clean pan over high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Once oil is hot, add mushrooms, season lightly with s & p and stir fry until golden (5 min). Transfer mushrooms to the plate with beef.
  • Add 1 Tbsp oil along with sliced onion and veggies and stir fry about 8 min or until soft and golden.
  • Combine vegetables with beef and mushrooms, drizzle in more sauce to taste (I used another 2 Tbsp) and stir fry just until hot. Serve over steamy white rice.

Notes

If you using a sweet BBQ sauce, sauce will be considerably sweeter which is why we opted to use an original BBQ sauce.
This recipe also works well with pork strip loin or tenderloin.
*Use a high smoke-point oil such as: extra light olive oil, avocado oil, canola. 

Nutrition Per Serving

259kcal Calories24g Carbs28g Protein5g Fat1g Saturated Fat66mg Cholesterol468mg Sodium894mg Potassium2g Fiber17g Sugar1060IU Vitamin A49.7mg Vitamin C70mg Calcium2.9mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Easy Beef Stir-Fry Recipe with 3 Ingredient Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
259
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Cholesterol
 
66
mg
22
%
Sodium
 
468
mg
20
%
Potassium
 
894
mg
26
%
Carbohydrates
 
24
g
8
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
17
g
19
%
Protein
 
28
g
56
%
Vitamin A
 
1060
IU
21
%
Vitamin C
 
49.7
mg
60
%
Calcium
 
70
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2.9
mg
16
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Keyword: beef stir fry
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 259

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

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Comments

  • Tanya
    March 23, 2024

    This recipe is so good. Used to, I was afraid to cook with beef but not anymore, thanks to you!!.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 23, 2024

      I’m so glad, Tanya!

      Reply

  • Jennifer Gilbert
    March 21, 2024

    Hello, ci was wondering if this recipe would also work well with chicken and veggies and possibly some noodles? I just have chicken and ground beef on hand at the moment , and I’d like to try out your incredibly simple sauce. It looks so yummy! 😋 Thanks

    Reply

  • Kristyn
    March 21, 2024

    I love everything about this recipe! It’s tender, juicy, and full of flavor!! Stir fry’s are the best!!

    Reply

  • Jen
    March 21, 2024

    I made this, and it’s amazing! The steak went well with the crunchy veggies and the sweet-savory Asian BBQ sauce was so good! Just the right sweetness.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 21, 2024

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Jen!

      Reply

  • Shar
    March 21, 2024

    This turned out so tender and flavorful! It was a hit! Perfect for weeknight meals!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 21, 2024

      So glad to hear that, Shar!

      Reply

  • Kashif Khawaja
    March 20, 2024

    You are the wisest most beautiful sweetest woman in this universe with very pure and beautiful heart and enchanting smile, mesmerising bright eyes, Your unique and amazing recipes are the most precious jewels of the wonderful beautiful queen of the kitchen. I love your great recipes ❤. I am completely in awe of your ultimate God-given sweet personality and amazing talents.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 20, 2024

      Hi Kashif! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my recipes. Thank you for the kind words.

      Reply

  • jess
    March 20, 2024

    this sauce was fantastic and super simple to make! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 20, 2024

      Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles

      Reply

  • Corinne
    March 9, 2024

    Perfect flavor and so easy-peasy! I won’t ever have to purchase store bought sauce! Yay👍

    Reply

  • Daniela
    October 3, 2023

    I do not often leave comments but I have to today. I made this recipe and EVERYBODY in the family loved it! That has not happened in a long time! I did not think it was possible!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 3, 2023

      Hi Daniela! That’s amazing. So glad to hear that.

      Reply

  • Karen
    December 1, 2022

    I tried your simple beef stir fry recipe and found it delicious, the flavour blend is perfect, not too sweet. I’ll definitely use this again! Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 1, 2022

      That’s great, Karen! I’m so glad to hear that you loved the recipe and will be repeating it.

      Reply

  • JC
    November 11, 2022

    Where have you been all our lives!!! Next time I’ll make more sauce because it is sooo delicious! Thanks Natasha. See you tomorrow 😁

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 13, 2022

      You’re welcome!

      Reply

  • Lesley
    October 5, 2022

    Hi can I use light soy sauce for this as I have no low sodium

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 5, 2022

      Hi Lesley, that may work here. You may need to adjust your salt, or it may come out a bit salty. I hope you love this recipe!

      Reply

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