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
Beef broccoli came out great Wil make it in the future I added bamboo shuts could use green onions too but came out perfect
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is super delicious! Also freezes very well. Making it again today for supper with black rice. Thank you Natasha!
Sounds great! Thanks for your excellent feedback.
Made it tonight for dinner!!!
The only thing I did differently was double the stir fry sauce to make sure there was enough!
I used Flank Steak and froze for a bit and sliced on my electric slicer. The recipe flavor and taste was amazing!! Used leftover rice from Sunday when we ordered chinese out. Honestly.. this beef and broccoli was wayyy better too.
Hi Jennifer, I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Absolutely Delicious!
A pleasent good too To Natasha I must say that I have made this recipe Beef and broccoli couple of times it was really good thank you for sharing
I’m so glad you enjoyed that! Thank you for that awesome review.
This was absoluty delicious. Picky eater enjoyed it too. I used bbq’d stake from 2 days ago so process was sooo easy. The sauce was so delicious.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
I’ve failed more than once making any kind of Chinese food at home. My family ate all of this dish and asked me to save the recipe. Super easy to make, too!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Connie!
Made this last night – it’s a keeper! Very flavorful, and easy to make….in fact, I went right to a measurement of 1 1/2 times the ingredients for the sauce to ensure enough, and was glad I did – delicious! The only thing I did different was use Toasted Sesame Oil, because that’s all I had. Will definitely throw away my old “go to” recipe for Beef & Broccoli! Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like you found a new favorite Charlane! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
I made this for my family and it was delicious. They really enjoyed this dish.
That is awesome Ana. Thank you for your great feedback!
This was seriously so good and really easy to make. I subbed golden monkfruit sweetener for the brown sugar and used xanthan gum instead of cornstarch, served with cauliflower rice because we’re trying to eat keto/low carb, and it was SO GOOD! I will for sure make this again, and I’m looking forward to trying more of Natash’s recipes.
That’s so awesome! Thank you for sharing that amazing feedback Missy!
This is the first time I’ve left a recipe review (despite following many). This was truly amazing! Simple ingredients, easy process, incredible result. Better than takeout. Will be adding this to the rotation!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that wonderful review with me!
Made this about a month ago and my grown son and I loved it. About a week ago my husband order Chinese take out. My son told me after eat the food I should have just made the Beef and broccoli because it had way more flavour than the take out. So very successful recipe by my standards. Thank you again.
Aww that’s the best! Sounds like your kiddo knows best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is sooooo yummy! Just ate our left overs from a few nights ago and I already can’t wait to make it again! Plus- both of my toddlers and my teenager loved it!
So great to hear that, Missy. Your feedback makes me happy, thanks for sharing that with us!
You are my go to girl for all my recipes!! THis was delicious! I did not have low sodium Soy so that will be in my cart this week- the sauce was a bit too salty with regular strength. I doubled it too and was glad I did as there is left over for other uses!!!! My third recipe of yours and I am your biggest fan ! You make it seem easy and it is really great to be able to change it up this week!
Thank you so much for sharing that with us Nancy! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I just made this it’s really really good. But maybe next time one less of the brown sugar .
I doubled the sauce because I like a lot . Also I put in snow peas and baby carrots. I like a lot of veggies but I will save this recipe. I think it’s almost better than my Chinese restaurant lol
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hi Natasha
I just made this tonight and the sauce was so nice. Just like I got Chinese takeout!!… thanks… this recipe is a keeper!
That’s so awesome! Sounds like you found a new favorite Irene!
if you wanted to cook carrots or mushrooms with this would you cook them with the broccoli
Hi Sandy, I haven’t tested that but it sounds like a great addition. Heres hat one of our readers wrote “Tried the beef and broccoli recipe tonight (substituted the beef for chicken and added some mushrooms and carrots) and it was AMAZING. The sauce was perfect! Will definitely make this again.” I hope that helps.
Very tasty! Thanks for sharing…we really enjoy your recipes…when will you have a cookbook out?
Hi Lisa! Thank you for that wonderful compliment! We do not have a cookbook at this time but stay tuned, we have one in the planning stages.
I would like to get your recipe for your homemade vanilla
Hi Sharron, have you seen our Vanilla Extract recipe here?
No have not but did you see my post about my pantry? I love what you did by adding drawers Did the same in my pantry. Thanks for sharing! You are a wonderful cook as well everything I try, works. Making beef and broccoli tonight. Thanks so. much
The drawers are a game changer!! I hope you love this recipe!
Thank you for making me like to cook again! I love your recipes and even more, the way you deliver them!
You are very welcome, Kelly. I hope you love every recipe that you try!