Beef and Broccoli is an easy, 1-pan, 30-minute meal that’s loaded with fresh broccoli, tender beef, and the best stir-fry sauce. This Beef and Broccoli Recipe definitely satisfies the craving for takeout. Watch the video recipe below and see how easy it is!
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Helpful Reader Review
“Oh my goodness! The hype is real, y’all!! I made this tonight for the first time and my husband raved and raved. It was not difficult at all. I followed the recipe exactly, using flank steak and following the tip of adding water to make the broccoli a little more tender. My only regret is I did not double the recipe is there are no leftovers…” – Hannah ★★★★★
Beef and Broccoli Video
I hope this Beef Broccoli Stir Fry video recipe becomes a favorite for you. It’s such a treat to enjoy home cooking when you’re on the go.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I developed this recipe years ago as a copycat for the Panda Express, P.F. Changs and Cheesecake Factory Beef and Broccoli – the sauce here really makes the dish! It satisfies my family’s frequent cravings, but I think this homemade version has better flavors and textures. It also has better ingredients, so I feel really good about serving it to my family. I make sure to add plenty of broccoli for a balanced meal, and honestly, I’ve never seen my kids eat broccoli so fast!
This is also a versatile dish – you can add your favorite vegetables to this recipe (see ingredient variations below). I love serving this over cooked white rice, but have gotten creative over the years and sometimes add noodles for a Beef Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry that is a meal in one dish (add that to next weeks meal plan).
Ingredients
This recipe follows my mantra – ‘sometimes the simplest recipes are the best.’ A good stir fry should be simple. Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy broccoli beef.
- Beef – Flank Steak is the best cut of beef for stir fry because it’s tender, lean, and easy to chew. More options include: Top Sirloin Steak, Top Round Steak, or Tri-Tip Steak. Ribeye also works for extra flavor and richness.
- Broccoli – Fresh broccoli florets are best. I avoid using frozen broccoli because it gets mushy, releases liquid and dilutes the sauce, making it bland. You can also change out the vegetables – try snap peas, bell peppers, carrots, and even mushrooms.
- Sauce – an easy and perfect blend of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, pepper, sesame oil and corn starch to thicken up the sauce.
Natasha’s Tips for Thin-Sliced Beef
If you freeze your steak for about 30 minutes, it will be much easier to make thin and even slices because it stays in place. Slice against the grain, between 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick – the thinner you shave the beef, the better – it cooks faster, stays tender, and absorbs the sauce better.
The Best Stir Fry Sauce for Beef and Broccoli
Many stir fry recipes have gone wrong with a poorly made sauce. I tested this recipe over and over until I arrived at the perfect balance of sweet and savory. For the best stir fry sauce:
- Use low sodium soy sauce, or add to taste (or try Gluten Free Tamari)
- Use the right amount of fresh ginger – it has strong flavor so don’t overdo it.
- Do not skip the sesame oil as it gives authentic flavor
- Simmer sauce at least 3 minutes to mellow out garlic and ginger
- For a thinner sauce, add 2 Tbsp water at the end
How to Make Beef and Broccoli
This recipe moves fast and comes together in 1 skillet and 5 easy steps, so you want to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you fire up the stove. It is just 6 steps in one skillet!
- Slice beef strips
- Make stir fry sauce
- Cook broccoli and remove from skillet.
- Cook beef
- Add stir fry sauce and return broccoli to the pan
Tips for the Best Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Here are my best tips to achieve a perfectly cooked stir fry with tender beef and perfectly cooked broccoli:
- Start with the right cut of beef (see ingredients section above) and thinly sliced steak for quick and even cooking.
- Add steak to a HOT skillet to sear and seal in the juices
- Use Fresh broccoli (not frozen)
- Don’t overcrowd the pan or it will cool the pan resulting in steam cooked beef.
Make Ahead and Storage
This saucy beef and broccoli recipe reheats really well so it’s perfect for weekly meal prep and to-go lunches for school and work.
- Prep Ahead: slice your beef, prepare the broccoli and make the sauce the day before and store them all separately until ready to cook.
- Storage: Once the beef and broccoli has cooled to room temperature, cover and refrigerate 3-4 days per USDA guidelines for storing cooked beef. For Meal prep, store in individual containers to reheat portions.
- Freezing: You can freeze but the texture will suffer since broccoli can get mushy when thawed.
- To Reheat: set portions in a skillet and stir fry over medium heat until hot. Add a splash of water to loosen up the sauce.
Beef and Broccoli is delicious and protein-packed dinner and you’ll love how quick and easy it is to make. Stir-fry recipes, such as our Ground Beef Stir Fry, Vegetable Stir Fry, and Shrimp Fried Rice, have become go-to’s because they are fast and healthier than going out.
Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
Beef and Broccoli Ingredients:
- 1 lb flank steak*, very thinly sliced into bite-sized strips
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, (or vegetable oil), divided
- 1 lb fresh broccoli*, (cut into 6 cups of florets)
- 2 tsp sesame seeds, optional garnish
Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (loosely packed)
- 2 tsp garlic, grated (from 3 cloves)
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 6 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce, (or GF Tamari)
- 3 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp corn starch
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Prep: Start cooking white rice first so it's ready when the stir fry is done. Cover and freeze steak 30 minutes for easier slicing, then thinly slice against the grain.
- Make the Sauce: Combine all stir fry sauce ingredients in a bowl, stir well to dissolve the sugar, and set aside.
- Cook Broccoli: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Add broccoli florets and sauté 4-5 minutes, partially covered with lid, stirring or tossing several times until broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender then remove from pan. Tip: If you prefer softer broccoli, add 2 Tbsp water before covering with the lid and it will steam cook the broccoli.
- Cook Beef: Increase heat to high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Add beef in a single layer and sauté 2 minutes per side or just until cooked through. Quickly pull out a piece to test for doneness.
- Add the sauce, reduce heat to medium/low and simmer 3-4 minutes. It will thicken. Add broccoli and stir to combine. Stir in 1-2 Tbsp water to thin the sauce if desired. Serve over white rice.
Notes
- More steak options include: Top Sirloin Steak, Top Round Steak, Tri-Tip Steak, or Ribeye
- Vegetables: for best results, use fresh vegetables, not frozen. You can substitute or add a variety of veggies such as snap peas, bell peppers, carrots, and even mushrooms.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Beef Recipes that Reheat Well
Any recipe that reheats well is a great option for meal prep, school, and work lunch. This is a great list to help you get through a busy season.
- Lasagna – beefy, cheesy, and saucy
- Beef Chili – hearty and satisfying
- Easy Taco Soup – fun for Taco Tuesday
- Spaghetti Meat Sauce – also freezes well
- Beef Stir Fry – with 3 ingredient sauce
- Meatloaf – so many uses for leftovers
- Mongolian Beef – saucy and delicious
This recipe is easy and yummy!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Angela!
Shouldn’t rice be a part of the recipe? I mean mixed in with broccoli and beef not sitting on it.
Hi Bill, I suppose you could stir it in. I like the contrast but it would work both ways.
Delicious and easy recipe! Definitely recommend!
Thank you, Sara! I’m so glad you’re enjoying our recipes!
So good and so quick. Perfect for weeknight dinner!! Thank you for sharing!
You are very welcome, Martha. Thank you for your wonderful review!
Most groceries sell stir fry beef already cut up which is a real time saver when you want to get a quick dinner going!
Just made the Beef and Broccoli stir fry for dinner. My husband absolutely loved it and kept calling it amazing! The sauce was delicious.
PS I loved it as well!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Penny!
I just made this for dinner tonight, and my family gave it an A+! I will be make this again, for sure. Thank you for sharing it!
Wow, love it! Thank you for your fantastic review, Karen.
Hello! I’ve made several of your recipes and my family and I have loved them all!! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe! How much powder ginger would I use instead of fresh? Thank you:)
Thank you for sharing and great to hear, Jessica! I haven’t tried using powdered ginger but you can try to estimate it according to your preference.
I’m making the beef and broccoli tomorrow night and am going to use 1/8 teaspoon (or maybe a little less) of ground ginger. I can’t wait to try it!
Oh my goodness, absolutely delicious, quick, nutritious, and did i say yummy?
It is popular for good reason! I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Thank yoy very good recipe
Natasha, this was de-licious! A keeper!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I’ve made this a few times when we are short of time but want a good meal. I had leftover broccoli I needed to use up, but had no beef, I used chicken breast instead. Yummy!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha. This was a great recipe! But, it definitely was not a 30 minute meal! We tripled the sauce. Slice the steak, peel and grate the ginger, peel and chop the garlic; that alone took me 30 minutes! It was very good!
Thank you for sharing that with me, Cindy. Tripling the sauce will take more time.
Hi Cindy
Just a tip…
Yes ago, I took a Chinese cooking class in my hometown from a Chinese chef who owned an excellent local restaurant so I like to make Chinese dishes a lot. This is a great recipe. There really is no substitute for fresh ginger but luckily, you can peel it and freeze it to use anytime you need it. Saves time later. Much easier to grate frozen ginger as well!
My comment…this was not a thirty minute recipe. Nevertheless, it was good!
Hi Natasha!
Do you think I could honey instead of brown sugar?
Hi Marlise, I haven’t experimented with anything else, but honey would probably be the next best thing, just add it to taste since honey is sweeter than brown sugar cup for cup.
This is a family favorite! I make it quite often! I made it today actually! Thanks Natasha!
If I use regular soya sauce, how much should I use?
Hi Mo, I would probably start with half that amount and then add it to taste. Regular soy sauce is quite a bit saltier.
This recipe comes together so quickly and it’s absolutely delicious. Now my picky young children won’t eat the sauce so I just take some beef and broccoli out before adding the sauce. I’ve made it twice already and it’s a big hit with the adults with the sauce and with the kids without.
Hello Mona, that’s good to know, and thanks for sharing some good feedback with us. I appreciate it!
Great recipe, i played around a bit, i used chicken instead of beef, and added spinach leaves as well. For the sauce i replaced the sugar with Stevia and added some honey and vineagar. It turned out absolutely magnificent.
Nice to know that you liked this recipe with chicken too! Thank you for sharing that with us, Wesley.
I made this tonight exactly as written except for the addition of thinly sliced onions in with the broccoli. Used thinly sliced top sirloin. The sauce is amazing. We both loved it!
Awesome! So great to hear that, Donna. Thank you for sharing that with us.
I liked the dish and followed everything except I doubled the sauce like some people said to do. This turned out so spicy! I assume it was the sesame oil.
All but one ate and enjoyed.
I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe, Joyce!
Very Good! Everyone love it. I have a vegetarian in the family so he fried up impossible meat while I fried up the skirt steak. We added the broccoli and sauce it was so good. I would eat it either way. So yummy!
Hello Suzie, I’m happy that everyone loved this recipe. Thanks for your awesome review, I appreciate it!
This was so delicious! My entire family LOVED it. I didn’t change a thing. I will definitely make again and again! Thank you, thank you!!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Does this sauce freeze well? With the ginger? What if I add Thai red chillies will it still freeze well?
Hi Mariam, I haven’t tested freezing this sauce so I can’t say for sure. One of my readers said it does freeze well.