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!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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
Natasha has done it again. Every recipe I’ve tried has been so good and easy to make. All the ingredients are so simply. If you haven’t purchased her cookbook go do it now you will not be able to put it down. Thank you Natasha from my family to yours. Keep it up!!
Aww! I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes. Thank you!
This was AMAZING! My husband and my grandpa were even rushing to get seconds! Highly recommend making!
Rave reviews! I’m going to make this now. I don’t feel like going to the store so am going to try hamburger! Fingers crossed! I also don’t have broccoli so going to use bok choy. From what I glean from the comments it’s the sauce that makes the meal so wish he luck either way my ingrediants! I need to do a shop I think!
We’d love to know what you think!
My husband and I loved this! The flavor is spot-on, and beefy. I halved the recipe, but left the same amounts for sauce. I only eyeballed the amounts, but evidently didnt add enough corn starch, so the sauce was still sort of thin, great nonetheless. Definitely will make again (and again).
Love this recipe! Added a little eel sauce and xiaoxing wine and it tasted just like takeout!
We. All . Just. Ate. This. Up!!! So perfect and balanced. I just added salt and pepper to taste once I was done and Yummers! Try even if you suck at Asian.. as my husband and I always say. Oh and we subbed udon noodles for rice bc why not!
This turned out so good. Very flavorful, i Loved it and it was easy to prepare. I will be making this again.
I love this recipe so much, it’s one of my go-to’s! I make once every couple of weeks. It tastes better than the standard Chinese takeout/Panda Express you can buy. I love how well it reheats, as well. To add some variety, sometimes I’ll make it with Bell Peppers or Mushrooms added.
Well as a Chinese recipe cook…I am a bit disappointed to not see a marinade for the meat
It really does make a difference and can also help to soften the meat
Hi Brian, if the beef is sliced thinly against the grain, there usually is no reason to marinate very thin strips of beef. That said, I’d love to hear how you prefer to marinate if you’re open to sharing your version.
Tried this tonight and it got great reviews from everyone, and my husband even said it tasted like it came from a restaurant! I appreciated that it used simple ingredients and was easy, straightforward, and not too time-consuming to make. I can see this recipe going into our regular dinner rotation!
That’s so great to hear, Chandra! Thank you for sharing. I’m glad it was a hit.
Quick, simple, easy and tasty! Hits all my thumbs up. Really like this recipe.
Hello!
I plan on making this for my next weeks meal prep. Should I stick with the 1lb of flank steak and and the sauce measurements in your recipe?
Hi there! Yes, you can stick with the original 1 lb of flank steak and the sauce measurements.
Very good! I have never had a bad meal using one of Natasha’s recipes. They’re all delicious
Great meal…wife loved it. Will definitely make again
Didn’t have low-sodium soy so mixed what I had.
Dumped beef in the sauce mix to soak up while cooking the vegetables.
Turned off heat when beef turned colour and started to curl (slices I had were thin).
Super fast to cook and turned out good!
Thanks for the recipe!
Yummy! I add 8 oz. of sliced mushrooms to the stir fry, and 1/2 tsp. of Sambal to the sauce. I have also made this with sliced pork loin chops instead of the steak. It’s fabulous either way!
I have made this beef and broccoli many times. It’s a big hit for the extended family dinner of 12 +. I make the sauce to use for other meals. I love it.
Hi there! If I have a wok, should I use that? Or do you think a skillet is the best option? Thank you!
Hi there, your wok is fine! I hope you love the recipe!
Great meal, delicious, and loved by all. We always add more veggies for color.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Terry!
Great tasting easy recipe! I used Swerve brown sugar and xantham gum (for thickening) to make it low carb.
I Absolutely Love ❤️ Beef & Broccoli 🥦 Stir Fry Because I Grew Up Eating Beef & Broccoli 🥦 Stir Fry At Home 🏡 With My Siblings In Antelope California & Citrus Heights California!!! Thank.You Natasha For Your Beef & Broccoli 🥦 Recipe & Looks So So Delicious To Eat For Dinner 🍽 Tonight Or Any Day Of The Week Absolutely Delicious To Eat!!! Thank.You Natasha!!!
You’re so welcome, Charlie! I’m so happy you loved this recipe.