Forget about take-out and make this delicious Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry coated in savory teriyaki sauce at home! You can make this easy recipe in one pan in just 30 minutes!
While I really enjoy cooking, sometimes I feel too lazy and want a quick meal that doesn’t require too much effort. One of my favorite recipes for these slow days is Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry that you can make in one pan. It will take not more than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Similar to my other One Pan Meals recipes, like Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole, One Pot Chicken and Rice, Taco Skillet, and Easy Baked Ziti Recipe, this stir fry is perfect as a comforting meal but still on the healthier side.
Table of contents
Why you will like this recipe
- Easy and Quick. Nothing can beat a meal that you can make in one pan and in less than 30 minutes!
- So much flavor! I use the same sauce in my Easy Mongolian Beef recipe. It has a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory, and will work for pretty much any stir fry you make.
- Budget friendly. Flank steak is a cheaper cut of meat, but if you use it correctly, it can be the star of the show. Most of the sauce ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
- Meal Prep. This recipe is perfect for meal prepping and gets even better as it sits in the fridge and mingles all the flavors together.
How to make it
This recipe comes together very quickly, so we need to prepare all the ingredients ahead of time.
Step 1. Mix the sauce ingredients
In a small mixing bowl add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ½ cup water and stir until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
Add ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, 2 cloves minced garlic, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, then stir and set aside.
Step 2. Prepare beef and broccoli
Cut the broccoli head into bite-size pieces and set aside.
Slice the flank steak thinly (about ¼-inch thick) against the grain and set aside.
Step 3. Cook Broccoli
Preheat the skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon olive oil. Add the broccoli florets and stir. Add about 2 tablespoons water, cover with the lid, and let it cook for a few minutes to soften up. Then remove the lid and finish cooking until all the water is absorbed. Transfer the broccoli to a plate and set aside.
Step 4. Cook Beef
Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and increase the heat to high. Then add the beef to arrange it in a single layer. Cook it for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through. If the meat starts to release too much liquid, just scoop out the liquid and discard.
Step 5. Add the Sauce
When the beef is cooked, reduce the heat to medium/low and add the sauce mixture. Mix it with the meat and let cook for a couple of minutes, until it starts to bubble and get thicker. Add broccoli and stir again to combine. Sprinkle Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli with some sesame seed on top and serve with a bowl of rice.
Tips for best results
- Make sure you use LOW SODIUM soy sauce!
- To make slicing the meat easier, use a sharp knife and slice thinly against the grain.
- When cooking the meat, make sure the pan is hot. That will help you to cook quickly, keeping it tender inside.
- If the meat releases too much juice, simply scoop the liquid out and discard, otherwise the beef will boil instead of searing.
- If the sauce is too thick, add an additional 1-2 tablespoons water in the end to thin it out. Although, if the sauce is too thin, you can mix another tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and add to the skillet, then cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Options and Substitutions
- Protein. If you don’t have a flank steak, you can substitute it with ground beef, diced chicken breast, shrimp, or even tofu.
- Vegetable. I love adding more vegetables to the dish, like snow peas, carrots, red bell pepper, or mushrooms, like in my Teriyaki Vegetables recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best cut for this recipe is Flank Steak. It is tender, lean, and easy to work with. It’s important to cut the meat thinly against the grain. You can also use sirloin or skirt steak.
First, it’s important to cut the slices THIN (¼-inch or thinner). The second trick is to cook it over HIGH HEAT and do it QUICKLY. If you overcook it, the meat will become tough.
Yes! This recipe is perfect for meal prepping and stays fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can easily reheat it in the microwave or on the skillet.
I like to serve my beef and broccoli over white rice (check out my recipe How to cook Rice in Instant Pot). It also will be good with ramen or udon noodles.
Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 lb broccoli
- 1 lb flank steak
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ½ cup water and stir until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
- Add ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, 2 cloves minced garlic, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, then stir and set aside.
- Cut the broccoli head into bite-size pieces and set aside.
- Slice the flank steak thinly (about ¼-inch thick) against the grain and set aside.
- Preheat the skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon olive oil. Add the broccoli florets and stir. Add about 2 tablespoons water, cover with the lid, and let it cook for a few minutes to soften up. Then remove the lid and finish cooking until all the water is absorbed. Transfer the broccoli to a plate and set aside.
- Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and increase the heat to high. Add the beef to arrange it in a single layer. Cook it for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through. If the meat starts to release too much liquid, just scoop out the liquid and discard.
- When the beef is cooked, reduce the heat to medium/low and add the sauce mixture. Mix it with the meat and let cook for a couple of minutes, until it starts to bubble and get thicker. Add broccoli and stir again to combine. Sprinkle some sesame seed on top and serve with a bowl of rice.
Video
Notes
- Make sure you use LOW SODIUM soy sauce!
- To make slicing the meat easier, use a sharp knife and slice thinly against the grain.
- When cooking the meat, make sure the pan is hot. That will help you to cook quickly, keeping it tender inside.
- If the meat releases too much juice, simply scoop the liquid out and discard, otherwise the beef will boil instead of searing.
- If the sauce is too thick, add an additional 1-2 tablespoons water in the end to thin it out. If the sauce is too thin, you can mix another tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and add to the skillet, then cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Shelly B says
Very good recipe! I would probably just add a little less brown sugar next time I make it!
Char says
This was so delicious! Very easy to make! I added some mushrooms and red bell peppers! Will definitely make again!
Veronika's Kitchen says
Thank you, Char! So glad you enjoyed it 😉
Rosanna says
So very good! Will definitely keep this recipe in rotation
Veronika's Kitchen says
Thank you, Rosanna! So happy you like the recipe 😉
Misti says
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Veronika's Kitchen says
Hi Misti! I really prefer to use fresh broccoli in this recipe, as it taste better and has a better texture. If you only have frozen one, you can use it as well, but it might be a bit too soft.
Shannon says
This recipe was so easy and SO yummy!!! The fresh ginger made it taste like we ordered it from a restaurant and the whole family liked it!
Veronika's Kitchen says
Yaay! Thank you so much, Shannon! I’m so happy you liked it!
Laura says
Simple easy and delicious
Veronika's Kitchen says
Thank you, Laura!
Jacqueline Debono says
This is the perfect week night meal. Not a lot of ingredients, easy to make and absolutely delicious. We loved it and will be making it again very soon!
Cindy says
I was craving some takeout food but found your recipe and decided to make it instead. So glad I did! It tasted really good and was really easy to make. Love your step by step photos too!
Sam says
I was looking for something different for dinner and this was just perfect! Loved how easy it was too.
Gourmet Vegetarians says
I love how simple this is! Such a good weeknight dinner. Would be keen to try out and replace the beef with tofu 🙂
Kushigalu says
Love this One pan recipe that is ready in 30 minutes. Beef and broccoli is one of the best combo. I will make this for dinner soon.
Tracy says
No need for take out with this recipe. So delicious, another great recipe!
Jenny says
This was a breeze to make and was really delicious. Fuss free, I appreciate that! All the family members polished their plates and requested we make this stir fry again. It’s a miracle! Thanks so much for posting your recipe.
Amy Liu Dong says
This is one of my favorites dishes to eat and to make because aside from its delicious taste, it is also easy and healthy.
Chef Dennis says
This is making me super hungry rigtn now! I hope it’s dinner soon so I can have aa taste of this beef and broccoli stir fry!