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
I used cubed beef instead but turned out fabulous and yummy giving a 5⭐️
I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you for sharing.
I made this recipe today and it was perfect! Thanks so much for a great recipe!
I’m so glad you loved it!
I made this for the first time tonight and as others have said, it was a hit. I chose to add a little water to my broccoli before I covered it and allowed it to soften some and then removed the broccoli from the pan. Next, I sautéed the beef and then removed it from the pan. I had sliced up some onions and mushrooms which I lightly sautéed. I added the beef back to the pan with the onions and mushrooms, the sauce, let it cook a little bit and then added the broccoli. Yum.
Thanks for sharing, glad to hear that it was a hit!
Has anyone made this in a slow cooker before?
How would I go about doing it?
Thank you
Hi NK, I haven’t tried it in a slow cooker and I’m not seeing anything mentioned in the comments, If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
This has been go to recipe for homemade “beef” and broccoli for awhile. I’ve never tried it with beef, only with Venison and it’s amazing. We don’t use sesame seeds and I occasion will sautee some onions to add to it. Always amazing. For sure use the low sodium soy sauce, otherwise it will be salty. This recipe is so easy to adjust for taste. Feeling like less sweet, cut back on the sugar, etc. I love oyster sauce so will add that sometimes.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Sandy!
Excellent recipe. Made a double batch for 6 adults and they cleaned it all up and insisted I print out the recipe and put it into our regular rotation.
Thank you.
You’re welcome, Ruby. Glad you loved it!
Is it OK not to use sesame oil? It doesn’t break down well in heat and so I would rather not use it. Can I use a different oil and what would you advise if I did.
Hi Sharee, we recommend to not skip the sesame oil as it gives authentic flavor.
I prefer to think of sesame oil as a seasoning, not a cooking oil. It can be added later in the recipe to prevent breakdown or burning. I definitely don’t skip it.
I’m going to be honest–I was worried that the sauce wasn’t going to turn out right (by my own mistake). I did not like the smell of the sauce due to the sesame oil and was worried it would ruin it. When I poured the sauce into the pan, I was worried I had mixed something up because it took longer than I expected for the sauce to thicken up.
But I am here to tell you, TRUST THE PROCESS.
Because this is now the best stir fry I have ever made! The sauce was amazing, the beef was great, and it was overall such an amazing recipe. I’ll now be using this sauce for lots of different stir fries!
Perfect! I’m so glad that you trusted the process and followed the recipe as written. Thanks a lot for this review!
Made this sauce tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I will definitely be saving it to make again!
That’s wonderful! I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
So tasty, Love the sauce, definatley a keeper! Will keep it in the rotation!
So glad to hear that, Coreen! Thanks for sharing.
Delicious!!! My sister-in-law made this and I had to recreate it for my family to enjoy as much as I did when I was at my in-laws house. So Delicious one of our favorites! Thanks, Natasha for sharing your delicious recipes with us.
You’re welcome, Janna! I’m so glad it was enjoyed.
Very tasty. Thank u for sharing. I added black sesame to the beef for extra zing.
You’re welcome and thanks for sharing!
This is by far the best beef and broccoli recipe! I would give it 10 stars! Easy and delicious.
I want to serve to guests, but wondering if I can combine the ingredients for the sauce ahead of time and keep in fridge until ready to use?
Thanks so much, Molly. This reheats well as a whole, so I think you could make this ahead.
Added caramelized onions. It was so good and tasted better than takeout.
Yum! I’m so glad you loved the recipe.
My whole family loved it. My two year old ate two bowls! I used a tri tip steak and I added a red bell pepper and a carrot (thinly sliced). I doubled the sauce because I had 1.4 lb of meat and more than 6 cups of veggies and it was quite saucy but that was perfect for putting sauce on the rice
That’s wonderful to hear! Thank you so sharing you’re experience with the recipe.
Made this for dinner tonight. My husband & I loved it! We will have this meal again & again. The only change we made was to double the sauce recipe. We always do that with recipies because we like lots of sauce on the rice, noodles or what ever goes with a saucy meal.
Thank you for sharing, Jeannie!
My husband and I both loved the recipe. The sauce has a wonderful beef and broccoli flavor. I love the Basmati rice with this.
Hi Sharon, I’m glad that you both enjoyed this recipe! Thanks so much for this review.
This was the best beef and broccoli recipe I’ve ever had. My family loved it as well. It is now my go to beef and broccoli recipe. So good!
So glad to hear that, Laura!
It doesn’t look like there’s enough sauce to coat the rice. If I want more sauce, should I just double the recipe?
Hi Patricia, yes, it will work to double the sauce. Here’s what one of my readers wrote: “This is my family’s favorite dinner that I make at the moment. We like to double the sauce; it is incredibly delicious.” I hope that helps.
Loved the consistency of the sauce but it was too sweet for us. I will try it again and reduce the sugar.
This was so good (and easy to make), thank you! We had most of the ingredients on-hand already. Checking out your other recipes now 🙂
Hi Kacie! I’m glad to hear that. I hope you find many more to enjoy on the site.
Just had this for dinner and it was amazing. I added one can of bamboo shoots, doubled the ginger and substituted brown sugar for coconut sugar and added 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce.
Hi Brenda! Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you loved the recipe.