Beef and Broccoli

Craving take-out? Skip it and make this amazing 30-minute meal at home! Beef and Broccoli has the best sauce, loaded with fresh broccoli, and will be a hit with the entire family. Make this quick and easy dinner recipe tonight!

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Toss those takeout menus because I have got the best beef and broccoli recipe for you today! This is one of my family’s favorite dishes to order when we eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant, but it’s really easy to make at home. I love to serve it with rice and some store-bought eggrolls. It’s always a hit with the family!

And, bonus! The leftovers are always great – you might want to double the batch so that you can have plenty to eat a second time. It’s also so yummy with some Asian ramen salad on the side. This quick and easy dinner will hit the spot for sure!

Why You’ll Love this Beef and Broccoli

• Beef and broccoli is ready in about 30 minutes! Spend your evening relaxing instead of cooking in the kitchen for hours.
• This dish is made with flank steak, fresh broccoli, and a super savory stir fry sauce that is made with mostly pantry ingredients.
• In the time it takes to wait for take-out delivery, you can have this easy recipe prepped, cooked, and ready to serve.

Ingredients for this Beef and Broccoli Recipe

• Flank steak – This is a great cut for beef and broccoli because you can slice it thin, cook it fast, and it’s very tender. Don’t just use any cut of meat. Try to get something that is easy to thinly slice.
• Olive oil or vegetable oil – You can also use canola oil if you don’t have one of these two on hand.
• Broccoli florets – Fresh broccoli is best for this dish.
• Sesame seeds – These are an optional garnish, but sprinkling them on before you serve it adds a nice crunchy texture.
• Cooked rice – White rice and brown rice are both perfect, or you can use cauliflower rice for serving too.
• Fresh grated ginger – If you don’t have fresh ginger or don’t want to grate your own, you can use the same amount of ginger paste.
• Minced garlic – Freshly minced garlic will add great flavor to this dish.
• Hot water – This will help mix the sauce ingredients together.
• Low-sodium soy sauce – A low-salt option is best so the sauce is not too salty.
• Light brown sugar – This adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce.
• Cornstarch – This important for thickening the sauce and giving it a velvety smooth texture.
• Black pepper – Add some warmth to the dish with a bit of black pepper.
• Sesame oil – The distinct flavor of sesame oil is the perfect finishing touch!

How to Make Beef and Broccoli

The first thing to do is prep the steak. I like to place it in the freezer for 30 minutes first. It makes it easier to slice it when it’s very cold.

Once chilled, slice the steak very thinly against the grain. The grain is the individual threads that run lengthwise through the meat. Slice across them so the steak is very tender once you cook it.

This easy beef and broccoli stir fry cooks very fast, so it’s a good idea to have all of the ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.

Prepare the beef and broccoli sauce by mixing the ginger, garlic, hot water, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, pepper, and sesame oil in a bowl.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the broccoli florets for four to five minutes, stirring frequently until they are bright green and crisp-tender. Remove the florets from the pan.

Adjust the heat to high and add the rest of the oil to the pan. Place the sliced beef in a single layer and cook it for a couple of minutes or until it’s just cooked through.

Pour the sauce into the skillet and lower the heat to low. Simmer the sauce three to four minutes or until it’s thickened. Add the cooked broccoli, toss to coat it in the sauce, and it’s ready to serve!

Pile the beef and broccoli on cooked rice and then sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top, if using.

How to Store Leftover Beef and Broccoli

FRIDGE: Transfer your leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. For best results, make sure it is fully cooled before refrigerating.

FREEZER: Place leftovers into an airtight container or freezer bags and allow to cool completely. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To reheat, place in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through.

What kind of beef is best for beef and broccoli?

A tender cut of beef that cooks fast will be best. I like flank steak because you can slice it super thin. You can also use flat iron steak, skirt steak, sirloin, ribeye, or tenderloin. Anything similar will work!

Can I use frozen broccoli in stir fry beef and broccoli?

You can, but it won’t be as good. Fresh broccoli cooks quickly and stays crisp-tender. Frozen broccoli has a tendency to turn a little soft and mushy. So I recommend using fresh broccoli.

Can I make beef and broccoli ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this stir fry beef and broccoli recipe ahead of time. It keeps well in the refrigerator for three to four days and can be reheated in the microwave.

Can I make my beef and broccoli spicy?

To make spicy beef and broccoli, you can add some red pepper flakes to the sauce before you cook it. A little bit of sriracha added to the sauce mixture will give some kick too!

Add the ingredients for this easy beef and broccoli to you shopping list so you can make it this week! Don’t forget the fortune cookies, too!

More Copycat Take-Out Recipes

• Learn out to make the best Spring Rolls! They are light and flavorful with a peanut dipping sauce on the side.
• Skip the drive-through and make homemade Orange Chicken!
• Chow Mein is an easy noodle stir-fry with a savory sauce and veggies.
• Sweet and Sour Chicken is a take-out classic and my recipe is so easy to make.

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 8 votes

Beef and Broccoli

Quick and easy Beef and Broccoli is take out at home! So much flavor and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Prep:5 minutes mins

Cook:15 minutes mins

Option Freezing Time:30 minutes mins

Total:50 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound flank steak cut into very thinly sliced into bite sized strips
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil, divided
• ▢ 6 cups broccoli florets about 1 lb
• ▢ 2 teaspoons sesame seeds optional, garnish
• ▢ Prepared White Rice for serving optional

Stir Fry Sauce

• ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated and loosely packed
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• ▢ ½ cup hot water
• ▢ 6 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• ▢ 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
• ▢ 1 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons sesame oil

Instructions

• Start by placing the steak in a freezer for 30 minutes. Cold steak slices are easier to thinly cut. Then prepare the white rice if you want to serve it with your stir fry.
• In a small bowl combine all the stir fry ingredients, whisk until sugar is dissolved, set aside.
• Remove beef from the freezer and slice thinly into bite sized pieces.
• Place 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add broccoli florets and saute for 4-5 minutes, stirring or tossing several times until the broccoli is bright green and crisp tender. Remove broccoli from the pan and set aside.
• Increase the heat to high and add the remaining 1 Tbsp oil to the pan. Add beef in a single layer and saute 2 minutes per side or until just cooked through.
• Add the sauce to the skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer 3-4 minutes or until thickened. Then add reserved broccoli and toss to combine.
• Serve over whtie rice and garnish with sesame seeds if desired.

Tips

*Nutrition calculated without rice for serving

What kind of beef is best for beef and broccoli?

A tender cut that cooks fast is best. I like flank steak because you can slice it very thin and it cooks fast. You can also use skirt steak, sirloin, ribeye, or tenderloin.

Can you use frozen broccoli?

You can, but it won’t be as good. Fresh broccoli cooks quickly and stays crisp-tender. Frozen broccoli has a tendency to turn a little soft and mushy.

Can you make it ahead?

Yes, you can make it ahead. It keeps well in the refrigerator for three to four days and can be reheated in the microwave.

How do you make spicy beef and broccoli?

You can add some red pepper flakes to the sauce before you cook it. Or, you can add some sriracha.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 468kcal (23%), Carbohydrates: 38g (13%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 22g (34%), Saturated Fat: 5g (31%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 68mg (23%), Sodium: 982mg (43%), Potassium: 1582mg (45%), Fiber: 10g (42%), Sugar: 15g (17%), Vitamin A: 2213IU (44%), Vitamin C: 317mg (384%), Calcium: 218mg (22%), Iron: 5mg (28%)

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We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.