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Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Name: Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce; 1/4 cup dry sherry; 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup chicken broth; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved into 2 tablespoons water; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided); ¾ pound flank steak, sliced into thin strips against the grain; 2 large garlic cloves, minced; 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated; 3 cups broccoli florets; 3 green onions, sliced; toasted sesame seeds for garnish; cooked white rice for serving

April 17, 2023 · Published: April 17, 2023 By: Asian Caucasian 34 Comments

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This classic Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is so easy to prep and cook! Tender, seared flank steak strips, broccoli florets, and sliced mushrooms are tossed in a flavorful, savory sauce in this simple, 30-minute recipe. No need to order Chinese takeout when you can make this stir-fry dish at home in your own kitchen!

Beef and broccoli stir fry and white rice in a round blue bowl with a pair of wooden chopsticks on top and a wok filled with stir fry, and two small glass bowls with sesame seeds, and sliced green onions, and a linen napkin on the side, on top of a white wooden board.

This easy and healthy recipe for Chinese Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is a great way to satisfy your Chinese food cravings without picking up the phone for takeout! I also love this Miso Tofu and Bok Choy Stir Fry recipe as an easy side dish. Made with a rich miso sauce, it's so satisfying!

What ingredients are in the stir-fry sauce?

Labeled ingredients in small clear bowls for making the sauce for beef and broccoli stir fry.

You probably have most of these sauce ingredients in your pantry! Here's what you'll need:

hoisin sauce
dry sherry
low-sodium soy sauce
chicken broth
sesame oil
red pepper flakes
water
cornstarch

[*See recipe card for exact quantities.]

Whisking the sauce for beef and broccoli stir fry in a small mixing bowl with empty glass bowls on the side.

What makes this stir-fry beef recipe so epic is the slightly spicy, savory sauce! After making a slurry of water and cornstarch, simply whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl.

Variations and substitutions

Make this gluten-free. Simply sub out the soy sauce for gluten-free soy sauce, coconut aminos, or tamari. (Here's another delicious, gluten-free recipe you'll also want to try: my Gluten-Free Pulled Pork Ramen Bowls!)
Make this alcohol-free. If you don't want to use sherry wine in the sauce, simply leave it out and add another ¼ cup of chicken broth.
Want it spicier? Add in a tablespoon of sambal oelek, or amp up the amount of red chili flakes.
Don't have hoisin sauce? You can use oyster sauce instead. Oyster sauce is traditionally used for making beef and broccoli stir fry. Either sauce is delicious!

What is Chinese beef and broccoli made of?

I'm not kidding when I say this healthy Chinese stir-fry recipe is the absolute easiest, with ingredients you're already familiar with! Here's what you'll need:

Flank steak on a wooden board with slices and a filet knife on the side.

Flank steak. Slice the steak into thin strips against the grain. (I used flank steak for this recipe. But you can use many other cuts of beef, like top sirloin, flat iron steak, skirt steak, or beef tenderloin.)

TOP TIP: Before slicing, place the steak in the freezer for about 30 minutes until just firm. When using this method, the meat won't fall apart and allows you to cut thinner slices.

Other ingredients

Labeled ingredients on a white board for making beef and broccoli stir fry.

garlic
mushrooms
ginger
broccoli
green onions
sesame seeds
cooked white rice

[*See recipe card for exact quantities.]

Variations and substitutions

Beef options. There are various cuts of beef that you can use instead of flank steak in this recipe, like top sirloin, flat iron steak, skirt steak, or beef tenderloin.
Other proteins. This stir-fry recipe works so well with other proteins, like tofu, shrimp, chicken, and pork.
Other vegetables. Use up what's in your fridge! Try this recipe with sliced carrots, baby bok choy, spinach, kale, bell peppers, and cauliflower.
Don't eat white rice? You can use brown rice, your choice of noodles, or even cauliflower rice instead.

Is broccoli good for you?

You bet! Healthy broccoli florets are loaded with Vitamins C and K, potassium and fiber! Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and protects the body from damaging free radicals.

Broccoli florets in a white bowl on top of a white surface.

TOP TIP: Blanching the broccoli florets in boiling water for one minute (before adding them to the wok), and shocking them in ice water, ensures that they will cook up crisp-tender and maintain their vibrant color. I highly recommend this step!

How do you make beef and broccoli stir fry?

Follow the steps below for a perfect Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry:

[*See recipe card for more detailed instructions.]

1. Quickly sear the flank steak strips in a wok over high heat.

Seared flank steak strips being added to a wok.

2. Remove the beef from the wok and set aside.

Hands adding minced garlic in a small glass bowl to a hot wok.

3. Add the minced garlic into the wok and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

A hand adding grated ginger in a small glass bowl to stir-fried button mushroom slices in a hot wok.

4. Add the sliced mushrooms and grated ginger to the wok and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.

Adding broccoli florets to a wok with stir fried button mushroom slices.

5. Toss in the broccoli florets and stir-fry about 1 minute.

Sliced green onions in a small glass bowl being added to a wok with stir-fried broccoli florets and sliced mushrooms.

6. Add the sliced green onions to the wok and toss.

Beef and broccoli stir fry in a large wok with a pair of wooden tongs.

7. Add the beef back into the wok. Toss everything together.

Pouring the sauce over beef and broccoli stir fry in a large wok.

8. Pour the sauce over the stir-fry and coat well, stirring until thickened.

The Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is ready to eat! If the sauce is not thick enough, add a little more of the cornstarch and water slurry until desired thickness.

I like to serve this healthy stir-fry recipe with a side of white rice for soaking up all that yummy sauce! Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and extra green onions. This better-than-takeout Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry is out of this world!

Storage instructions

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days, or freeze for up to 4 months. Reheat this dish in the microwave for 1.5 to 2 minutes, or reheat in a wok or skillet until warm.

Beef and broccoli stir fry in a round cream-colored bowl with a pair of wooden chopsticks and a small bowl of white rice on the side on top of a white wooden board.

Common FAQ's

What are three important steps to a good stir fry?

1. Make sure your wok is very hot. Stir fry gets its flavors from a high heat.
2. Before you cook the meat, make sure it's at room temperature so it cooks up evenly.
3. Remove the meat from the wok before cooking the vegetables. This keeps you from getting chewy, overcooked meat. Add it in at the end.

What oil is best for stir fry?

The best oils for stir frying are oils with higher smoke points. These tend to be the “thinner” oils such as peanut, canola, or vegetable oil.

Recipe notes

If you’re not able to use flank steak, other great options include sirloin, flat iron or skirt steak, or filet.
Before slicing the steak, place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes until just firm. When using this method, the meat won't fall apart and allows you to cut thinner slices.
Slice the beef against the grain. When you look at the beef, you will notice that the fibers are mostly going in one direction. Place the beef in front of you so the fibers are going left to right. Then cut through the fibers (i.e. cut perpendicular to the direction of the fibers).
Blanching the broccoli florets in boiling water for one minute (before adding them to the wok), and shocking them in ice water, ensures that they will cook up crisp-tender and maintain their vibrant color.
If you don't have a wok, you can always use a large, heavy skillet.

Want more recipes like this?

If you liked this Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry recipe, you’re going to want these easy Asian beef recipes too:

Update Notes: This post was originally published on February 29, 2016, but was republished in April 2022 with new images and updated text, like step-by-step instructions and tips.