By Becky Hardin
Published Mar 2, 2022
I’m a huge fan of Chinese takeout, but I’ve been trying to be more health-conscious lately. This Asian-inspired easy beef and broccoli is high in protein, low in calories, and still so flavorful! This quick stir-fry style recipe comes together easily at home in under 30 minutes, no takeout required. My whole family loves it!
I love this easy beef and broccoli stir fry! It’s made with quality ingredients like flank steak, broccoli, soy sauce, and sesame oil. I can really taste the homemade difference, and it’s so much better than takeout!
What’s in This Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe?
- Steak: Use a lean cut of beef for this stir-fry recipe. I love using flank steak, but sirloin or skirt steak will also work – cut it into uniform, thin strips so it cooks through evenly.
- Cornstarch: Tossing the cut steak in cornstarch protects it from drying out and turning tough while cooking. This is a process known as velveting .
- Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a bright and spicy flavor to the stir-fry.
- Soy Sauce: Low-sodium soy sauce adds a salty and umami flavor to the sauce.
- Sesame Oil: Adds a touch of nuttiness to the sauce.
- Sugar: Brown sugar sweetens the sauce to balance out the saltiness.
- Garlic: Minced garlic creates a savory and earthy base for the sauce.
- Broccoli: Fresh broccoli florets add delicious crunch to this dish!
Tips for Success
- Cut across the grain when slicing the flank steak so it stays nice and tender.
- Fresh broccoli is best for this recipe! If using frozen broccoli, increase the cooking time in step 4 – frozen broccoli will take longer to cook through.
- The cornstarch will thicken up the sauce quickly, so watch carefully to avoid over-thickening it.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover beef and broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. We do not recommend freezing this dish, as the sauce has a tendency to turn gummy once thawed.
Serving Suggestions
The natural pairing for this delicious beef and broccoli is steamed white rice. I also love it with vegetable fried rice for even more veggies. A few air fryer egg rolls always make it feel just like takeout night!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound flank steak
- ▢ 3 tablespoons cornstarch divided
- ▢ 3 tablespoons water
- ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh ginger grated
- ▢ ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ▢ 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 cloves
- ▢ 4 cups broccoli florets
- ▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- ▢ Cooked white rice and sesame seeds for serving
Video
Instructions
- Cut the flank steak against the grain into slices ¼-inch thick. 1 pound flank steak
- In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water together. Add the sliced flank steak and mix to coat evenly. Set aside. 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 3 tablespoons water
- In a small bowl, mix the ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, brown sugar, garlic, and remaining cornstarch together. 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Cut the broccoli florets into evenly sized pieces. 4 cups broccoli florets
- Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the broccoli to a small bowl and set aside. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Add the remaining oil and the flank steak strips to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the steak has cooked evenly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Pour the soy sauce mixture into the skillet and stir well.
- Add the cooked broccoli and stir until evenly until heated through. Serve with white rice and sesame seeds. Cooked white rice and sesame seeds
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli Step by Step
Slice the Steak: Cut 1 pound of flank steak against the grain into slices ¼-inch thick.
Coat the Steak: In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water together. Add the sliced flank steak and mix to coat evenly. Set aside.
Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of minced fresh ginger, ½ cup of low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of cornstarch together.
Cook the Broccoli: Cut 4 cups of broccoli florets into evenly sized pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the broccoli to a small bowl and set aside.
Cook the Steak: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and the flank steak strips to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the steak has cooked evenly, about 3-4 minutes.
Sauce the Meat: Pour the soy sauce mixture into the skillet and stir well.
Heat and Serve: Add the cooked broccoli and stir until evenly until heated through. Serve with cooked white rice and sesame seeds.
More Beef Recipes to Try
Steak and Potatoes
Birria Tacos Recipe
French Dip Sandwich
Beef Brisket Recipe (Oven Baked)
Crockpot Beef Tenderloin
Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch divided
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger grated
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 cloves
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
- Cooked white rice and sesame seeds for serving
Instructions
- Cut the flank steak against the grain into slices ¼-inch thick. 1 pound flank steak
- In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water together. Add the sliced flank steak and mix to coat evenly. Set aside. 3 tablespoons cornstarch, 3 tablespoons water
- In a small bowl, mix the ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, brown sugar, garlic, and remaining cornstarch together. 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Cut the broccoli florets into evenly sized pieces. 4 cups broccoli florets
- Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the broccoli to a small bowl and set aside. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Add the remaining oil and the flank steak strips to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the steak has cooked evenly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Pour the soy sauce mixture into the skillet and stir well.
- Add the cooked broccoli and stir until evenly until heated through. Serve with white rice and sesame seeds. Cooked white rice and sesame seeds
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
