Description
This easy beef and broccoli recipe offers a quick, family-friendly meal with tender beef, crisp-tender broccoli, and a savory, glossy brown sauce, delivering restaurant-quality flavor faster than takeout.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean beef (flank steak, sirloin, or chuck eye), sliced 0.25 inch thick against the grain
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 0.5 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or Tamari)
- 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (or Tamari)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar (packed) or honey
- 0.5 cup water or beef broth
- 1–2 Tbsp neutral oil
Instructions
- Prep the Beef: Slice 1 lb lean beef thinly against the grain. In a bowl, combine beef with 1 Tbsp cornstarch and 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce; marinate for 15-30 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: Whisk together 0.5 cup water or beef broth, 0.5 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 Tbsp grated ginger, and 2 Tbsp cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth.
- Cook the Broccoli: Steam or blanch 4 cups broccoli florets until bright green and crisp-tender, about 2-3 minutes. Do not overcook; drain well.
- Sear the Beef: Heat 1-2 Tbsp neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add beef in a single layer, searing quickly for 1-2 minutes per side until glossy brown and slightly crispy. Sear in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Combine and Thicken: Return all seared beef and cooked broccoli to the pan. Pour the whisked sauce over everything. Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats all ingredients evenly, turning a beautiful glossy brown.
Notes
Tips include using tamari for gluten-free, tofu or mushrooms for vegetarian, adding 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes for spice, reducing sugar for lower-carb, boosting protein with extra beef or edamame, and using pre-cut ingredients for quick-cook meals. Troubleshooting covers thickening sauce (cornstarch slurry), preventing tough beef (thin slices, high heat, small batches), and avoiding mushy broccoli (do not overcook). Always use fresh, vibrant broccoli, garlic, and ginger for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx 200 g)
- Calories: 400 calories
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: beef and broccoli, easy dinner, stir-fry, Asian, family-friendly, quick meal, tender beef, glossy sauce