Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Forget about take-out and make this delicious Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry coated in savory 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 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.

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, 3 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. Make 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 some sesame seed on top and serve with a bowl of rice.

Tips for best results

1. Make sure you use LOW SODIUM soy sauce!
2. To make slicing the meat easier, use a sharp knife and slice thinly against the grain.
3. When cooking the meat, make sure the pan is hot. That will help you to cook quickly, keeping it tender inside.
4. If the meat releases too much juice, simply scoop the liquid out and discard, otherwise the beef will boil instead of searing.
5. 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.

Frequently Asked Questions