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
The proportions of the stir fry sauce is perfect! Only I like more robust flavor and more savory. 2nd time I made it, I added 1/3rd more of each ingredient but only used 1 Tablespoon of the sugar.
This time the sauce was spot on for me.
Reminder to pour off the fat from the cooked steak.
I also added onions that were sautéed with the broccoli.
Yum yum!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Benay!
Fantastic… like the idea of cooking beef then adding the prepared marinade. Thumbs up !
Thank you! 🙂
I’m always skeptical when trying recipes I find online, but the reviews don’t lie. This recipe is amaaazing!
Helo Tricia, I’m so glad that you loved this!
Can I use honey instead of brown sugar in the Beef and broccoli stir fry and can I add mushrooms and a fresh chilli 🌶️ to add some spice.
I look forward to your reply.
Many thanks
Hi Vicky, I haven’t experimented with anything else, but honey would probably be the next best thing if you wanted to omit the sugar, just add it to taste since honey is sweeter than brown sugar cup for cup. One of my readers wrote: “We omit the brown sugar from this recipe because of my wife’s diet, but she does drizzle a slight amount of honey and that works amazing.”. I bet mushrooms and chili may work. If you experiment, please let me know how you like it!
It’s wonderful to know that the recipe brought them enjoyment! Thank you very much for sharing.
This was super easy and DELICIOUS!!!
I made it with flat iron steak, as that is what I could find in my local store. I will definitely make this again.
Thanks for the superb recipe.
That’s great, Lisa! Thank you for sharing. Glad you loved the recipe.
I made this tonight for dinner and it was so good. That sauce!!! Thanks for another great recipe.
You’re welcome, Shelley! So glad you loved it.
Absolutely the BEST recipe I have come across for beef with broccoli! I have made this twice in the past two weeks. I made it the first time for my daughter when I stayed with her post child birth. Sometimes I will modify a recipe after making it the first time to adjust any ingredients, but I did not touch a thing when I made it the second time tonight. Absolutely delicious and my husband LOVED it!
Hi Andrea, happy to hear that! Thanks so much for your amazing comments and review, we appreciate it.
One bite in and my kids said it was the best Chinese food I’d ever made! Thank you for this fabulous recipe! It’s delicious and can’t wait to try you others!
Wow! What a great compliment, thanks a lot for sharing that with us.
This looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it…… probably next week! Thanks for all of your great recipes! 🙂
You’re welcome, Keith! I hope you love the recipe.
Better than takeout and easier than I thought. Even my picky toddler ate it all and asked for seconds. Definitely a keeper!
That’s wonderful! I love it when that happens and the kids love the meal. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
made this tonight – had a lot of left-over beef steak already cooked that I used – stir fried the broccoli plus added sliced onion and sliced red pepper and thinly sliced carrot – cook that to desired tenderness then threw in the sliced beef steak then the sauce and everyone loved it. Not too sweet. Said this dish was better than the original beef steak served the previous night
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Catherine.
Made this tonight for my son’s birthday dinner! Absolutely delicious….. will definitely make it again!
Hi Laura! I’m so glad it was enjoyed. Thanks for sharing. Happy Birthday to your son!
Best beef and broccoli I’ve ever made! Keeping this recipe. Thank you for sharing.
That’s wonderful! You’re very welcome. Thank you for sharing.
This was absolutely delicious! Easy to make and everyone loved it!
So glad to hear that, Andrea!
This is delicious. Better than going out. Also so easy. I followed your recipe to a T. Again thank you Natasha! Love your videos.
Thanks, Debra for following the recipe as it is and for your good review. We appreciate it!
Hello is the nutritional value with or without rice? Thanks!
Hi Suzanne, the nutrition facts are just for the beef and broccoli, the rice is not included.
Far too sweet. Had to add Moira soy sauce and also add oyster sauce to make this work for me.
Hi Kei, you can cut down on sugar on your next try.
Wow! Easy and tastes just like takeout. I cheated by starting with precut stir fry beef from the store. The whole family loved it.
Thank you for the feedback, Diane! So glad the family loved it. 🙂
I have stew meat beef. if I cut the pieces thinner, can I substitute?
Additionally, I’d like to make Asian noodles to serve with this dish. Do you have a good recipe for that?
Hi Deborah, if you cut it into thinner pieces, that may work, although it generally is tougher meat. Here’s what one of my readers wrote: “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 hope this helps.
Honestly the best beef and broccoli I’ve ever had. I didn’t have fresh ginger so I substituted ground ginger, but it still tasted great. I served it with stir fry noodles and everyone loved it. I’ll be making this regularly
That’s great, Kat! So glad you loved it and found a new one for your meal rotation.
Delicious! Made it for my family and children really loved it!
So glad to hear that, Mary! Thank you for the feedback.
I made this tonight, everyone loved it!! Thank you so much! What an easy dish to make, can’t wait to try your other recipes.
It’s my pleasure! Good to hear that it was a huge hit.