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
So yummy, I have tried so many times in the past to make this dish, your recipe makes it so easy and omg it is sooooo gooood.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, David!
Fantastic. I thought it needed red pepper and onion and those were the perfect additions. Fresh pineapple on the side with jasmine brown rice. A perfect ten!!! The sauce is dynamite.
Thanks for the perfect rating, love it!
This is my go to beef and broccoli recipe. I even shared it to my friends so they can try the recipe.
Hi Cris! So glad you enjoy this recipe. Thank you for passing it along. 🙂
This beef and broccoli was fabulous. We had some leftovers so we’re eating it again. We loved the sauce so I just made more for the leftovers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hi Emily! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. The sauce is so good, we love it! Thank you for the feedback.
I made this for my Boss, and I gave a big plate, I told him I hope I didn’t give you much. He came back with the plate empty and told me maaaan it was too good I couldn’t stop…lol. I used chicken instead. But I’m going to make with beef at home.
Thank you for that delicious recipe.
That’s wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Rico!
This recipe is awesome. Super easy and the sauce is so very good. You could eat the sauce on an old shoe
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I made this last week and it was delicious. My hubby said “you can make this anytime”. It’s going to become one of my “easy” dinners.
Thank you.
You’re very welcome! Thank you, I’m glad it was enjoyed.
Hello,
Should I use regular sesame oil or toasted sesame oil?
Hi Rich! We used this toasted sesame oil!
Excellent! Thank you for sharing. Even my pickey eaters liked it!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
I almost want to double the sauce next time. I added one onion quartered long ways to kinda mix things up. If you use frozen steam in bag broccoli like I did, only microwave it half the time before proceeding as normal. My beef cooked off some liquid so I got rid of that before proceeding. I added a small pinch of red pepper flake. I bet some baby corn, water chestnuts, and thin sliced carrot would be good also. If you make 2 bags of broccoli and a lot of beef like me, you may want to double the sauce. It was ok, but it almost has too much sesame oil.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Edwin. That helps!
Oh my goodness this Beef Broccoli was delicious!!! The only thing I changed was using my zester instead of grating the ginger & garlic because I don’t like stringy pieces of ginger. My husband loved it as well. Thank You for such a wonderful recipe.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Stephanie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Truly delicious and so much tastier than those gross bottled sauces. Substituted honey for brown sugar and even used cheap stew beef cut super thin…still came out amazing!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Devon!
Didn’t have broccoli or beef so I used chicken and green beans . Used tamari and chopped sushi ginger. Doubled the sauce ingredients except for soy sauce. Yummm. Tastes just like the Chinese restaurant.
I’m glad the substitutions that you used worked well in this recipe! Thank you for the great feedback, we appreciate it.
Natasha,
Great recipe. I used boneless beef ribs. Added onion and doubled sauce. Family called it “restaurant grade!” First time and I have been cooking for a few years. Thank you. LOVE your web site
Wow! That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Kevin!
This recipe is great! The sauce is a win, and the instructions are easy to follow. I’m an amateur cook, and this will definitely be added to my meal rotation.
I’m so glad my recipes and blog are helpful, Alison! I hope you try more recipes soon!
Hello Natasha,
My wife doesn’t let me cook much because of some failures I made in the past. However, l still try at times because she always makes the same things. Gosh, she and my two kids LOVE your beef and broccoli recipe. Left out the sesame seeds, but that is the only difference. That sauce is amazing!! My family never comments on my food. Thank you.
I’m so happy this was a hit, Scott! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
I’m not a great cook by any means but I followed this recipe and it was amazing! I was so proud of myself and thrilled when my boyfriend said it was really good too. I’ll absolutely be following Natasha for more recipes
You should be proud! I’m so glad you love it, Celina! Thank you for your lovely review!
This was a hit with my whole family, from my 17 year old to my picky 5 year old! Doubled it and have enough for a lunch leftover and I can’t wait! This is great for a meal prep also! Thank you so much!
Hi Stacie! That is wonderful. So glad they all enjoyed this recipe. You’re very welcome.
This recipe was great! I had to modify some spices because I didn’t have fresh on hand. Cut the soy sauce back a bit because I didn’t have low sodium and it was still delicious!!! Served over cauliflower rice for a healthier option! Definitely will make this again, thanks for sharing!
Hi Les, great to hear that the substitutions that you used worked well for this recipe. Thank you for sharing that with us!
This recipe was great! I had to modify some spices because I didn’t have fresh on hand. Cut the soy sauce back a bit because I didn’t have low sodium and it was still delicious!!! Served over cauliflower rice for a healthier option! Definitely will make this again, thanks for sharing!