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
My family loved it so much the first time, I doubled up the recipe and made it again tonight! It’s so good! The sauce is amazing and the beef is perfectly tender.
That is fantastic feedback, Sandy! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Great Recipe my husband loved it! I will be making this again and again!!
The Best and I have tried others.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Easy and good flavor but waaaay too much soy sauce. I rarely read reviews and always prepare the recipe as posted. I think I’ll start checking out reviews.
Hi Steve, using low sodium soy sauce here is key. If using regular soy sauce, definitely cut it down and add to taste.
If I only have regular soy sauce and not low sodium, I do half water, half regular soy sauce. It helps 🙂
Excellent. Adapted to low cal. Used diet brown sugar, Pam olive oil spray and only 1/2 tsp sesame oil. Turned out wonderful!! Thank you Natasha!!
Thank you so much for sharing your great review. I’m so glad you loved it.
I don’t have any fresh ginger so can I use ground ginger instead and if so how much should I use? Thank you
Hi Dawn, I haven’t tried using powdered ginger, but you can try to estimate it according to your preference. One of our readers mentioned they were going to try using 1/8 teaspoon (or maybe a little less) of ground ginger, but I don’t have an update on that outcome.
Your beef and Broccoli was a big hit the sauce was amazing love all your recipes thank you for sharing
Love it! Thanks for sharing your good feedback with us!
Hi Natasha:
I made this dish at the last minute with what I had in the house. Did not have the fresh ginger and used the ground powered ginger and the dish came out perfect.
I made this tonight and it was a big hit in our house! My six and seven-year-old kept asking for additional helpings. Thank you for your delicious simple and easy to follow recipes! I’m such a fan.
That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great!
I made this today, and this recipe was a hit with my family!!! We loved it! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome, Lisa! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
DELISH!!! A favorite in our house, the sauce is amazing, really an easy dish to make, served it over rice.
Fantastic feedback! Thank you so much for your great review, Shawn. We appreciate you sharing that with us.
Would this work using seitan instead of beef?
Hi Deb, I haven’t tested that substitution to advise. If you happen to give it a try, I’d love to know how you like that.
Amazing recipe!! I followed directions exactly – though I made a half recipe of the beef and broccoli and a full recipe of the sauce, and served it over rice. My husband raved about it, and I’m usually very critical of my cooking, and I couldn’t find anything I would change. Perfect!! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Martha! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.
So easy and super delicious!
how much in advance can I make the sauce? Can I make it a day ahead? I like to split tasks up so it goes quickly. (I’m 76 and my energy isn’t what it used to be. )
Hi, yes that should work, but you will need to give it a stir before using it since the corn starch tends to separate and settle.
I made this a week ago. I followed the recipe exactly except that I used frozen broccoli that I cooked separately before mixing in w/beef and sauce. A WINNER!!! Great recipe, and I will make again. I just had the same from my local Chinese takeout, and I have to say your recipe is way superior. One thing I must ask however is there some easy way to grate garlic and ginger? What kind of grater do you use?
I’m so happy you loved the beef and broccoli! We put a spin on this recipe and we are going to share that video next week – stay tuned! I have this grater from Amazon.
Wow this was such a delicious recipe. I used some rump steak I already had in the freezer. Definitely a 5 star recipe.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Sharon!
I make this recipe and that came out so tasty that even my grand son that don’t eat nothing like that said I was delicious. thank you
Wow, that’s an awesome comment! Thanks for sharing that with us, that makes me happy.
That is the best when kids love what we make, especially the picky ones. That’s so great!
Awesome recipe!! I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious. I will definitely be making this dish again. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Delicious! Made with brown rice
Yum! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious! We made it with left over filet and used noodles instead of rice. Definitely new a family favorite!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Casey!
Made this for dinner tonight. Was excellent! Glad I read the whole blog post about having everything prepped 👌 made all the difference! I love watching your videos, Natasha. Watching your kids eat everything you make gives me hope with my picky young ones! Lol
I’m so happy you’re enjoying my videos, Audra! Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful review with me.