This better than takeout beef and broccoli recipe has juicy tender beef with crisp broccoli that is surprisingly a lot healthier than you think! This Chinese beef and broccoli recipe is incredibly easy to make at home in under 20 minutes!
This better-than-takeout beef and broccoli recipe has juicy tender beef with crisp broccoli that is surprisingly a lot healthier than you think! This Chinese beef and broccoli recipe is incredibly easy to make at home in under 20 minutes!
Beef and broccoli stir fry is one of those dishes that is as satisfying as it is addicting. This soft, tender beef is paired with crisp, crunchy broccoli and tossed in a delicious, thick, savory brown sauce. So watch out panda express, this beef with broccoli recipe is here to stay.
This better-than-takeout-style Chinese beef and broccoli are slathered in a delicious sauce that pairs perfectly with steamy white rice. If you loved this beef and broccoli stir fry recipe, check out the chicken and broccoliversion. Or try my honey walnut shrimp, char siu pork, and garlic chili oil noodles!
Juicy and delicious. This beef and broccoli recipe yields the juiciest, most tender beef that pairs with crisp crunchy broccoli and is tossed in a savory rich brown sauce.
One pan recipe! You will be able to make this beef broccoli recipe with only one pan—no extra blanching for the broccoli needed!
Quick and Easy. This beef broccoli stir fry can be easily made with 5 simple steps in under 20 minutes!
Kitchen Equipment
The best part about this beef with broccoli recipe is that it only needs two pieces of kitchen equipment.
Mixing bowl: you will need a mixing bowl to mix the sauce for beef and broccoli.
Large Skillet: you will need a large skillet to cook the beef broccoli recipe.
Ingredients
All of the ingredients for this beef broccoli stir fry can be found at your local Asian grocery market or online!
Flank Steak: flank steak is a lean cut of steak which is perfect for thin slicing and quick cooking.
Broccoli: make sure to use fresh broccoli and not pre-cut bagged broccoli. The pre-cut broccoli tends to be less crisp and fresh.
Garlic and Ginger: are the main aromatics for this beef with broccoli.
Baking Soda: using baking soda is a common practice in Chinese restaurants which is used to tenderize the beef for a juicy and tender bite.
Light Soy Sauce: light soy sauce is a saltier and thinner soy sauce. It adds a hint of umami soy to the sauce for beef and broccoli. I like to use Lee Kum Kee’s Premium soy sauce.
Dark soy Sauce: dark soy sauce has a sweeter and stronger soy flavor which balances the salty flavor in the light soy sauce. I like to use Lee Kum Kee’s Dark soy sauce.
Shaoxing Wine: Shaoxing wine adds a subtle vinegary, spicy, and caramel-like flavor to the sauce for beef and broccoli. You can find Shaoxing wine at your local Chinese grocery market or online.
Oyster Sauce: oyster sauce has an earthy, slightly sweet, and salty flavor that adds a depth of umami flavor to the sauce. You can find oyster sauceat your local Chinese grocery store or online.
Toasted Sesame Oil: adds a finishing toasted nuttiness to the final beef broccoli. You can find toasted sesame oil at your local grocery store or online.
White Pepper: seasons the beef.
Cornstarch: the cornstarch thickens the sauce and coats the beef broccoli stir fry.
Brown Sugar: brown sugar adds a subtle sweetness that balances out the saltiness of the soy sauce.
Chicken Bouillon powder: a dash of chicken bouillon powder adds additional flavor to the sauce for beef and broccoli.
The beef marinade ingredients.The sauce ingredients.Aromatics, broccoli, and finishing oil.
Substitutions and Additions
This beef and broccoli stir fry can be personalized based on your preferences. I’ve listed some substitutions and additions below.
Substitutions
Skirt steak: I used flank steak for this recipe, but the second best option is skirt steak.
Chinese broccoli: instead of regular broccoli you can substitute it with Chinese broccoli or gai lan.
Additions
Vegetables: you can always add additional vegetables such as sliced carrots, red bell peppers, snap peas, or snow peas.
Chili oil or Sriracha: for a spicy recipe, add a splash of chili oil or sriracha.
How to Make Beef and broccoli
You can make this beef and broccoli stir fry by following the steps below. I recommend having all of the ingredients prepped before you begin cooking.
Marinate the beef. Slice the beef against the grain into about 1/4-inch thick slices. In a mixing bowl, mix together the baking soda, light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine water, and cornstarch until combined. Add the beef to the marinade and mix until thoroughly combined. Set aside and marinate for 30 minutes.
Mix stir-fry sauce. In a small mixing bowl, mix the stir fry sauce ingredients—light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water. Mix until combined. Set aside.
Steam broccoli. Add 1/4 cup of water into a large skillet over medium-high heat until the water begins to boil. Add the broccoli florets and cover. Steam until the broccoli is tender and the water has evaporated about 2 minutes. Remove the broccoli from the heat and set aside.
Cook the beef. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a large skillet on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, spread the marinated beef onto a single layer and cook for 30 seconds before flipping and cooking for another 30 seconds. Once the meat is browned and charred on the outside and light pink on the inside remove the beef and set aside.
Stir fry. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the skillet on medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the minced garlic and ginger and saute until fragrant about 30 seconds. Then add the broccoli and char the broccoli for an additional 1 minute. Lastly, add the beef and stir-fry sauce. Toss together for about 1 minute until the sauce is thickened and evenly coated. Once everything is mixed, add the sesame oil and toss to mix.
Serve. Serve with freshly diced green onions and rice. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Beef Broccoli Stir Fry
Use baking soda to marinate the beef. By briefly soaking the beef in the baking soda marinade it makes it more difficult for the proteins to bond excessively, which keeps the beef tender when cooked.
Prep the ingredients before cooking. To make the cooking process more streamlined, make sure to have all the ingredients prepped before you turn on the stove.
Make sure the pan is hot before adding the beef. Before adding the beef to your skillet, ensure the pan is hot for a quick sear and prevent the beef from overcooking.
Storage Instructions
Serve this Chinese beef with broccoli recipe immediately, for the best results. But, you can store this beef broccoli stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Q’s & A’s
What is Chinese beef broccoli made of?
Beef with broccoli is made with flank steak, fresh broccoli, garlic, and ginger that is tossed in a delicious thick brown savory sauce.
What is beef and broccoli sauce made of?
This sauce for beef and broccoli is made with oyster sauce, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, brown sugar, chicken bouillon powder, and cornstarch.
How do the Chinese make beef so tender?
“Velveting meat” is a Chinese cooking technique used in Chinese restaurants. The process of velveting is when you marinate raw beef in cornstarch and/or baking soda to give it a soft, velvety texture.
This better than takeout beef and broccoli recipe has juicy tender beef with crisp broccoli that is surprisingly a lot healthier than you think! This Chinese beef and broccoli recipe is incredibly easy to make at home in under 20 minutes!
Marinate the beef. Slice the beef against the grain into about 1/4-inch thick slices. In a mixing bowl, mix together the baking soda, light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine water, and cornstarch until combined. Add the beef to the marinade and mix until thoroughly combined. Set aside and marinate for 30 minutes.
Mix stir fry sauce. In a small mixing bowl, mix the stir fry sauce ingredients—light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, shaoxing wine, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water. Mix until combined. Set aside.
Steam broccoli. Add 1/4 cup of water into a large skillet over medium high heat until the water begins to boil. Add the broccoli florets and cover. Steam until the broccoli is tender and the water has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Remove the broccoli from heat and set aside.
Cook the beef. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a large skillet on medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, spread the marinated beef onto a single layer and cook for 30 seconds before flipping and cooking for another 30 seconds. Once the meat is browned and charred on the outside and lightly pink on the inside remove the beef and set aside.
Stir fry. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the skillet on medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the minced garlic and ginger and saute until fragrant about 30 seconds. Then add the broccoli and char the broccoli for an additional 1 minute. Lastly, add the beef and stir fry sauce. Toss together for about 1minutes until the sauce is thickened and evenly coated. Once everything is mixed, add the sesame oil and toss to mix.
Serve. Serve with freshly diced green onions and rice. Enjoy!
Notes
Use baking soda to marinate the beef. By briefly soaking the beef in the baking soda marinade it makes it more difficult for the proteins to bond excessively, which keeps the beef tender when it’s cooked.
Prep the ingredients before cooking. To make the cooking process more streamlined, make sure to have all the ingredients prepped before you turn on the stove.
Make sure the pan is hot before adding the beef. Before adding the beef to your skillet, make sure the pan is hot for a quick sear and to prevent the beef from overcooking.
Storage Instructions: This Chinese beef and broccoli recipe is best served immediately. But, you can store this beef broccoli stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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