Beef and Broccoli is an easy, 1-pan, 30-minute meal that is loaded with fresh broccoli, tender nutrition-packed beef, and the best stir fry sauce. Thank you to Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff for sponsoring this recipe which is perfect for the busy back to school season.

Stir fry recipes like our Beef Stir Fry and Fried Rice have become reader favorites because they are fast and healthier than going out. This Beef and Broccoli Recipe definitely satisfies the craving for takeout. Watch the video recipe below and see how easy it is!

Beef and broccoli recipe in fry pan garnished with sesame seeds

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Beef and Broccoli Recipe:

Beef is delicious and protein-packed to give you the sustained strength you need to get through the back to school season. We also made sure to add plenty of broccoli for a balanced meal. Beef is so versatile for stir fry. You can add your favorite vegetables to this recipe like snap peas, bell peppers, carrots, and even mushrooms.

Close up of beef and broccoli recipe with the best stir fry sauce

What is the Best Cut of BEEF for Stir Fry?

The best beef cuts for stir fry are tender and lean. We love Flank Steak which is lean and easy to chew when thinly sliced against the grain. More great beef cuts for stir fry include:

Ingredients for broccoli beef with the best cut of beef for stir fry

How to Make Beef and Broccoli:

This recipe moves fast and comes together in 1 skillet, 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!

  1. Slice beef strips
  2. Make stir fry sauce
  3. Cook broccoli and remove from pan.
  4. Cook beef
  5. Add stir fry sauce
  6. Return broccoli to the pan

Step by step photos how to make broccoli beef

The Best Beef and Broccoli Sauce:

Many stir fry recipes have gone wrong with a poorly made sauce. We tested this recipe over and over until we arrived at the perfect balance of sweet and savory. For the best stir fry sauce:

  • Use low sodium soy sauce (or 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 sauce for beef and broccoli

How to Ensure Tender Beef?

The right cut (see list above) can make all the difference in a stir fry. Here are our best tips to achieve tender beef:

  • Freeze steak 30 minutes for easier slicing
  • Use a sharp knife to cut super thin slices against the grain
  • Add steak to a HOT skillet to sear and seal in juices
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan or it cools quickly and will steam cook

Tender beef with broccoli in homemade stir fry sauce.

Can I Make Beef and Broccoli Ahead?

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. The protein and nutrients found in beef give you and your family the strength and energy you need to get through the busy school season.

For meal prep: add cooled rice to a heat-safe container and top with the Beef Broccoli Stir Fry, then cover and refrigerate until ready to heat and serve (Beef and Broccoli can be refrigerated up to 4 days).

How to Pack a Hot Thermos:

Pack a hot thermos in the morning and it will be warm at lunchtime. A hot thermos can keep food hot for 5 hours before it’s eaten, and this Broccoli Beef is the Best. School. Lunch. Ever!

  1. Heat the thermos first by filling 3/4 full with boiling water (do not overfill), cover with lid and let sit 5 min and drain just before adding food.
  2. Meanwhile, heat food to 165˚F. Place into the heated thermos and close with lid.

Meal prepped broccoli beef served over white rice in to-go box or thermos

More Beef Recipes that Reheat Well:

Any recipe that reheats well can be used for meal prep, school and work lunch. This is a great list to help you get through the back to school season.

Watch Natasha Make Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry:

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. For more great beef lunch ideas, visit Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.

If you enjoyed this video tutorial, join the hundreds of thousands of subscribers to our Youtube Channel. Click the bell icon so you’ll be the first to know when we post a new video. THANK YOU for subscribing!

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Beef and Broccoli Recipe

4.99 from 1649 votes
Beef and Broccoli is an easy, 1-pan, 30-minute meal that is loaded with fresh broccoli, tender nutrition-packed beef, and the best stir fry sauce. We love this over steamy white rice.
Prep Time: 17 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 people

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 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.
  • Combine all stir fry sauce ingredients in a bowl, stir well to dissolve the sugar, and set aside.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Nutrition Per Serving

385kcal Calories22g Carbs29g Protein21g Fat4g Saturated Fat68mg Cholesterol902mg Sodium800mg Potassium3g Fiber11g Sugar706IU Vitamin A102mg Vitamin C101mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
385
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Cholesterol
 
68
mg
23
%
Sodium
 
902
mg
39
%
Potassium
 
800
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
 
22
g
7
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
11
g
12
%
Protein
 
29
g
58
%
Vitamin A
 
706
IU
14
%
Vitamin C
 
102
mg
124
%
Calcium
 
101
mg
10
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: beef and broccoli
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 385

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

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.

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Natalya
    November 2, 2019

    I’ve made this dish today for the first time. And came back to tell you it was amazing! Better then restaurant, my hubby said make sure you make it again.
    Thanks for the recipe!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 2, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Natalya!

      Reply

  • viki
    October 16, 2019

    Delicious! Delicious! Delicious! I made this for guests and yum! not one bit was left over after dinner, everyone went back for seconds! I wanted to get a photo to put on insta but it smelled so good that we all forgot! LOL! A new family favourite! Even got my rice hating husband to go back for more!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 16, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Isabel Cervantez
    October 14, 2019

    This worked out great. My family likes a lot of sauce so next time I’ll double. My picky family absolutely enjoyed it. And I’ve recommended it to my sister in law.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 14, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

  • Sarah
    October 10, 2019

    Perfection! Followed the recipe exactly and the results were amazing. Better than any restaurant! Thanks Natasha! I love all your recipes!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 10, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Yavi Yamille
    October 9, 2019

    This recipe is just wonderful! It’s very flavorful and easy to make. We even added cauliflower. We didn’t make white rice since we wanted to make it just with veggies. This is in our to do list for dinner!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 9, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Kristen A Tornow
    October 9, 2019

    My son is allergic to sesame, what could I use to substitute for the sesame oil?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 9, 2019

      Hi Kristen, I would just omit the sesame oil. It will still taste great.

      Reply

  • Brad
    October 4, 2019

    YUM YUM YUM!!! I’ve been making Beef & Broccoli for years with those dry packets of sauce mix and it never tasted anything like takeout. This sauce NAILED IT! I also add thinly sliced carrots, sweet peppers and onions.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 4, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Chris Whalen
    September 30, 2019

    The key to this recipe is really the sauce, and the technique…you can substitute any meat (I made it with thinly sliced pork) and any vegetable(I used fresh green beans, carrots, mushrooms, and baby corn cobs)…its an excellent recipe that is also easily adaptable.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 30, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Chris.

      Reply

  • Oksana
    September 26, 2019

    Wow 1st ‘Chinese’ sauce that I’ve made that actually tastes yummy! Even a Russian can enjoy I like Chinese beefs & chickens when going out, but any recipe I tried at home would never taste good to us! We love it, thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 26, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Oksana!

      Reply

  • Alex
    September 26, 2019

    Soooooooooo easy and DELISH!!!! Thank you for this amazing recipe. My family enjoyed it too!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 26, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Melissa
    September 25, 2019

    This was amazing! I used left over flank steak and just sliced it into thin bite sized pieces as directed and just heated it up quick in the oil. We will never eat take out beef and broccoli again. I will always buy extra steak from now on so I can make this as a following day dinner. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 25, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

  • Pat Hatwell
    September 23, 2019

    Natasha, made this last night (photo sent to your Instagram). I put it over mashed potatoes only because my husband prefers them to rice… very good choice though. Next time, I will use broccoli because the stems took longer to cook.

    Reply

    • PatHatwell
      September 23, 2019

      That was suppose to be “broccolini”.

      Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 23, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review & for sending that photo, Pat!

      Reply

  • corina
    September 21, 2019

    Hi Natasha it looks delicious I just want to asky you if I can substitute brown sugar for any other sugar cause we can’t use any kind of sugar just light tku waiting for your answer

    Reply

    • Natasha
      September 21, 2019

      Hi Corina, 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.

      Reply

  • Ksenya
    September 21, 2019

    This is such a good recipe! Million thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 21, 2019

      You’re welcome! I’m happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Jackie Badis
    September 21, 2019

    If there are 10 stars I would’ve given it to you.I love your recipes . They’re quick detailed and very easy to follow.You make cooking interesting and enjoyable. You’re the best!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 21, 2019

      I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you, Jackie!

      Reply

  • Irene
    September 20, 2019

    My thought while taking the first bite… “Wow Natasha you really did a good job”:)
    It’s a fast and east recipe, and of course really delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 21, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Irene.

      Reply

  • Ann
    September 19, 2019

    I served this with organic udon noodles. Also added a few crushed red pepper flakes. Family loved it!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 19, 2019

      I’m so happy you all enjoyed that, Ann! That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Elaine Peaston
    September 17, 2019

    I love watching you. You are always so excited about everything you make, and your reactions to the taste tests are awesome. I watch all you videos, and save almost all of them. Eventually I will make them.

    Reply

    • Elaine Peaston
      September 17, 2019

      I really want to try the chocolate cake made with coffee it looks so moist and fluffy.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        September 17, 2019

        I hope you love it! We look forward to your feedback once you try it!

        Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 17, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Valerie Palmer
    September 17, 2019

    This recipe is delicious and tastes just like take-out, if not better! Will be making this again!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 17, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Valerie! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Debbie T
    September 17, 2019

    Thank you Natasha for another delicious recipe. Had it with a small side of noodles and chop suey. Yummy !! Congratulations on your latest success ! Your amazing !

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 17, 2019

      Thank you for that compliment, Debbie!

      Reply

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