Beef and Broccoli

By Maria Lichty

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Quick Summary

This classic Beef and Broccoli recipe is easy to make at home-it only takes 30 minutes, and tastes even better than takeout! It’s a great quick and easy weeknight meal that the entire family will love.

Beef and Broccoli with rice in bowl

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Beef and Broccoli is a classic Chinese dish that my boys LOVE! We used to order it in from a local restaurant, but now we just make it at home! No need to spend money on takeout–this is an easy recipe that tastes even better than your favorite restaurant and it only takes 30 minutes to make.

The beef is perfectly tender with a sweet and savory sauce that will knock your socks off! Plus, the dish is loaded with vibrant green broccoli. If I want my boys to eat broccoli, I know I can always count on Beef and Broccoli. They like roasted broccoli too, but this dish by far their favorite. Caleb even requests it every year for his birthday dinner.

Beef and Broccoli ingredients

Ingredients to Make Beef and Broccoli

Don’t worry, the ingredients for this dish are pretty basic, which make this the perfect easy weeknight meal!

  • Flank steak– Flank Steak is perfect for beef and broccoli because it is lean and tender. Use a sharp knife to cut the steak into thin strips going agains the grain. To make the beef easier to slice, you can put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes and then slice it. If you can’t find flank steak, you can use top sirloin or tri-tip.
  • Cornstarch– Coat the beef in cornstarch to create a light coating that will protect the meat from the high heat of the wok or pan. This will help prevent the beef from overcooking, getting tough, and will make sure it cooks evenly. You will also need cornstarch to thicken the sauce.
  • Vegetable oil – for cooking the beef.
  • Salt and Pepper – for seasoning the meat.
  • Light Soy Sauce – use light soy sauce so the dish isn’t too salty. If you need the dish to be gluten-free, you can use gluten-free soy sauce, Tamari.
  • Honey – for sweetening the sauce!
  • Garlic – garlic is a must!
  • Orange Zest – the hint of orange zest really brightens things up.
  • Ginger – use FRESH ginger! It adds the best flavor. I always keep ginger in the freezer. Use a microplane to grate it.
  • Sesame oil– sesame oil is a great flavor enhancer and is SO good in this dish!
  • Onion– we use a yellow onion. Chop and try not to cry:)
  • Broccoli– You will need 6 cups of broccoli florets. Try to make sure the pieces are the same size so they cook evenly.
Beef and Broccoli in pan

How to Make Beef and Broccoli

30 minute meals are a lifesaver and this one is a FAVORITE! I guarantee it will be a regular in your meal plan. Let’s do it!

  • First, prep the beef. Place the flank steak pieces in a large bowl and add the cornstarch. Toss until the pieces are well coated. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
  • Next, whisk together the sauce. I love that we always have the sauce ingredients on hand and the flavor is incredible.
  • In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Make sure the pan is hot before you add in the beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is almost cooked through. Transfer to a clean plate and set aside.
  • Add the sesame oil to the hot skillet and add the onions and broccoli. Cook until tender, make sure you don’t overcook the broccoli. Nobody wants to eat soggy broccoli.
  • Add the steak back to the pan and add the sauce. Cook until the sauce thickens, and the beef is cooked through.
  • That is it! I told you it was easy!

Serving Suggestions

You can serve beef and broccoli with:

  • Rice (white or brown)
  • Noodles
  • Quinoa

We also like to garnish the dish with sesame seeds, sliced scallions, and crushed red pepper flakes. You can also add a dash of sriracha or chili garlic sauce if you want more heat.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. We like to store the rice or noodles separate. Reheat before enjoying!

Easy Beef and Broccoli in bowl

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Beef and Broccoli

This classic Beef and Broccoli recipe is easy to make at home, and tastes even better than takeout! It is a great quick and easy weeknight meal that the entire family will love!
4.67 from 21 votes

Ingredients
  

For the beef:

  • 1 ½ lbs. flank steak, sliced into thin 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

For the sauce:

  • 1/2 cup light soy sauce (can use Tamari for gluten-free)
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, optional
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 6 cups broccoli florets
  • Sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, and sliced scallions, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Place the flank steak pieces in a large bowl and add the cornstarch. Toss until the pieces are well coated. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, garlic, orange zest (If using), ginger, and cornstarch. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the steak and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is almost cooked through. Transfer to a clean plate and set aside.
  • Add the sesame oil to the hot skillet and add the onions and broccoli. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until the onions are softened and the broccoli is tender, but still slightly crisp.
  • Add the cooked steak to the pan. Pour the sauce over the beef and broccoli and stir to coat. Cook until the sauce thickens, and the beef is cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Serve with rice or noodles and garnish with sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, and scallions.

Nutrition

Calories: 319kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 800mg, Potassium: 751mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 567IU, Vitamin C: 84mg, Calcium: 80mg, Iron: 3mg
Keywords beef, broccoli

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Maria

I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. We share a love of cooking, baking, and entertaining. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Our kitchen is always open!
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4.67 from 21 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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  1. 5 stars
    I made this beef and broccoli dish tonight. It was quick and easy to put together. One pan! Easy cleanup! The only thing I wish I would have done was to slice the meat thinner.

    I doubled the recipe for my large brood and everyone loved it (even my picky eater). The flavors were spot on! It was delicious and tasted just like the Chinese take out I was craving. I will definitely make this dish again.

  2. This was great but I would definitely skip the orange zest next time. It added a flavor that took away from the rest.

    1. 100% agree. I feel like orange zest is for chicken. It over powered the other flavors. I’ll try again and skip that ingredient all together

  3. 5 stars
    Wow – excellent recipe! I made this last night for my family after a long work day. Usually when I make this dish the meat is chewy and the flavors are so-so. But this tasted like it came from a restaurant. Plus – it took almost no time to cook. I will look no further next time I crave beef and broccoli. Thank you for yet another wonderful dish!

  4. 5 stars
    Just made this for dinner tonight using strip-loin steak and served it with rice. So very flavourful and delicious!!! A keeper recipe for sure! Thank you Maria!

    1. I have made this recipe with beef and it is delicious! I tried using chicken and it came out great too! I didn’t have oranges when I made it with chicken and it still tasted delicious. I do use the orange zest when I make the beef and it adds a very good flavor.

  5. re” “Add the steak and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is almost cooked through.”
    I haven’t had much experience with stir-fry. Can you be more specific than “almost cooked through”?
    Minutes? Color?

  6. This sounds really good and my son would love it but I can’t have soy . I think I asked you about a sub in another recipe and you said coconut aminos. I’ve never heard of coconut aminos. What is it and where would I find it?

    1. I use coconut aminos exclusively instead of soy sauce. You can find it it most grocery stores usually in the condiment/bbq sauce/sauce aisle.

  7. I feel it’s a bit too salty for us so I would use half the soy sauce ( and yes I do use the low sodium Soy)

  8. 4 stars
    Made this for dinner tonight. The family loved it other than the ginger and orange flavors. I will be making this again but without the ginger and orange zest.

  9. I made this recipe and didn’t care for it. It looked beautiful but it was not amazing. Lite soy sauce was a bit too vinegar tasting. Neither I nor my husband cared for this sauce. We will try another sauce next time.

    1. 5 stars
      I forgot to mention that next time I will try it without the orange zest. I’m not sure it is necessary like the ginger.

  10. 5 stars
    I made this yesterday for lunch and had leftovers today for lunch. It was so delicious. I loved the added zest of orange! I used hot honey since that is what I had and it was super good. Thank you! Your recipes are always spot on.