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When my family wants Chinese takeout, we always order beef and broccoli. Well, at least we used to. With this recipe, we get those same amazing flavors without too much oil. And it’s ready faster than any Chinese delivery can arrive at our door. Seriously, if the family wants Chinese tonight, make this beef and broccoli recipe and amaze them!

Best beef and broccoli recipe

Best Beef and Broccoli Recipe

The best beef and broccoli recipe features very simple ingredients that you can easily find in your local supermarket. You may even have most of them in your kitchen already. In just 35 minutes from start to finish, you’ll have tender strips of beef mingling with perfectly-cooked broccoli and that fabulous sauce you love all made from scratch!

beef and broccoli ingredients

Beef and Broccoli Ingredients

  • Flank steak – Slice it thin for faster cooking and melt-in-your-mouth texture!
  • Broccoli florets – Grab a fresh head of broccoli and cut it up. You could use frozen too I suppose but fresh is best for taste and texture.
  • Beef and broccoli stir fry sauce – You’ll make this from scratch with garlic ginger paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and cornstarch.
  • Sesame seeds – The perfect garnish for any beef broccoli recipe!

Easy beef and broccoli recipe

You broc my world!
Anonymous

Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe

Beef and broccoli is one of the easiest ways to get into cooking Chinese cuisine. And this recipe assures it will come out amazing every time. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be on your way to having Chinese restaurant-quality beef and broccoli tonight!

How to make beef and broccoli from scratch

How do you Make Beef and Broccoli from Scratch?

To make this homemade beef broccoli recipe, you’ll first mix the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. After that, heat vegetable oil in a wok (or use a deep skillet) over medium heat. Add the broccoli and sauté until it turns bright green yet is crisp. Take it out and then turn up the heat. Add more oil and then toss in the beef. Cook it just through, then add the sauce and simmer until thicker. Then add the broccoli back in and it’s ready to serve with steamed white rice!

How to cook beef and broccoli

Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Beef and Broccoli Every Time

  • Choose quality meat. It makes all the difference in this recipe. If you can’t find flank steak, you can use top sirloin or skirt steak.
  • Slice it against the grain. Doing so keeps your beef tender.
  • Make it hot! When cooking Chinese beef and broccoli, high heat is what makes stir-fry so delicious. Plus, it cooks faster too.
  • Chicken works too. If you don’t eat red meat, feel free to use chicken instead.

How to Cook Beef and Broccoli

Beef and broccoli is cooked on the stovetop. It’s a great one-skillet (or one-wok!) recipe!

What is beef and broccoli sauce made of

Do I need to boil broccoli before stir fry?

No. It needs to have a little crispness to it or it will have a mushy texture. Follow this broccoli stir fry recipe and you’ll get it just right.

How do Chinese restaurants make beef so tender?

They use a special technique in Chinese restaurants to make the beef more tender by velveting, a marinating method. But with this recipe, using quality beef is the secret to getting that tender and juicy texture you love without spending more time.

What’s that brown sauce in Chinese takeout?

In Chinese cuisine, many sauces are brown. This is because the main ingredients used in them such as soy sauce and oyster sauce are brown in hue as well. The beef broccoli sauce in this particular recipe uses soy sauce which lends it a brown color.

What is beef and broccoli sauce made of?

To make beef and broccoli sauce, you need garlic ginger paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Some hot water may be necessary if the sauce thickens up too quickly to ensure plenty of saucy coverage.

How do Chinese restaurants make beef so tender

Is beef and broccoli healthy?

At the restaurant, it’s not exactly a healthy choice since it has lots of sodium, sugar, and oil. But at home with this recipe, you’re adding less of those things. Make it even healthier by using low sodium soy sauce!

What beef cut is best for stir fry?

Flank steak is the absolute best cut of meat for beef broccoli stir fry. You can sub in skirt steak or top sirloin, though any tough cuts of meat will need to be tenderized to ensure they have the perfect texture.

What goes well with Beef and Broccoli

I think steamed white rice is one of the best things you can serve with beef and broccoli. It soaks up that sensational sauce. But if you want more, serve it with egg rolls and an Asian-style salad to round out the meal.

Do I need to boil broccoli before stir fry

How to Store Beef and Broccoli

You’ll want to put your beef and broccoli in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. This way, it will stay fresh.

How Long Does Beef and Broccoli Last?

You can safely enjoy your beef and broccoli for 3 to 4 days when you keep it in the fridge. After that, you’ll need to put it in your freezer.

What goes well with beef and broccoli

Can You Freeze Beef and Broccoli?

Absolutely! In fact, it makes a sensational meal to use for meal prep in a pinch so go for it. Just make sure you label it well and eat it within 3 months.

How to Reheat Beef and Broccoli?

Let your beef and broccoli thaw in the fridge overnight, then gently warm on the stovetop and serve with more rice!


Watch How To Make Beef & Broccoli (Video)

Classic Beef and Broccoli Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 492
This super easy 1 pan Beef and Broccoli recipe is the perfect meal to get your greens and proteins all at once. Its full of tender beef, and fresh broccoli evenly coated in a delicious stir fry sauce. Pairs great on its own or over steamed rice, or quinoa.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 lb flank steak (thinly sliced)
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 7 cups broccoli florets
  • 3 tsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp garlic ginger paste
  • 1/2 cup hot water (optional if steaming broccoli or thinning sauce)
  • 7 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp corn starch
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil

Instructions 

  • First, prepare the stir fry sauce ingredients. In a small bowl, combine thoroughly then set aside.
  • Then, in a large wok or skillet, heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil over medium heat. Stir in the broccoli and saute until bright green and crisp. Once crisp, remove the broccoli and set aside.
  • Increase the heat to high and add another tbsp of vegetable oil. Place the slices of beef in a single layer and cook until just cooked through. Once the beef is just cooked through, add in the stir fry sauce. Reduce the heat to medium or low and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken. Once thickened, add in the broccoli and toss to coat evenly in the sauce. Add hot water a tablespoon at at time if you desire a thinner sauce. Top with sesame seeds and serve over white rice.
Calories: 492kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

Calories: 492kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1894mg | Potassium: 1080mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 994IU | Vitamin C: 142mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 4mg

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I’m a mom of two, food and wine lover, and recipe creation enthusiast. Good food brings families together. Which is why I’m devoted to sharing my best recipes that are simple enough for even the beginner cook that your family will love!

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