Quick & Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe

Family friendly easy beef and broccoli is a weeknight hero in my house! It gives a savory and slightly sweet taste, with tender beef and crispy broccoli.

But besides being an easy, easy beef and broccoli for beginners to make, it also happens to be one of the best easy beef and broccoli recipes I’ve found!

This is one of our favorite Asian dishes. We used to order this as a takeout dish many times until I decided that I could make this myself and save money. The economy is one that we all need to save a few bucks where we can.

I have found that learning to make our favorite take-out food will save me a lot of money, which can be put towards vacation money. This is so much better than takeout foods.

Easy beef and broccoli is not a difficult dish to make. With this recipe, you will get the same great flavor as the takeout that you love. Except, you save money (and have total control over the ingredients).

This is a family-friendly meal that everyone loves. This is the perfect meal for any night and it can be served with a bowl of steamed rice.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Skip the takeout drivethru line: Get this amazing flavor without having to leave the house, or wait in a busy line after work.

• Great for new cooks: The steps are simple and the sauce is foolproof.

• Ingredients you probably have in your pantry and freezer: You probably have most of the sauce ingredients like soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger paste already. Keep some beef in the freezer and you’re good to go.

• Easy to customize for picky eaters (and extra nutrition!): Toss in extra veggies like bell peppers or snow peas if you have them on hand or from your garden.

This recipe is easy on the budget, it is Asian-inspired and a favorite takeout dish.  This dish reheats easily and can be served alone or with a bowl of rice.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Beef round steak: You can use most any type of steak, from round steak to flank steak or even sirloin strips. Just be sure to slice it thinly across the grain.
• Fresh broccoli: If you’re in a pinch or just want to make sure you’ve got all your ingredients on hand at all times, you can use frozen broccoli. You just won’t have that crispy tender crunch you get with fresh broccoli. If you do go with frozen, thaw it and pat it to get it very dry.
• Soy sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce if you’re watching your family’s salt intake. Gluten-free option: Use tamari or coconut aminos.
• Brown sugar: A must for a simple easy beef and broccoli meal. This adds that classic sweetness that balances out the salty soy sauce. You can use honey or maple syrup if you prefer those.
• Corn starch: This is what you use to make the sauce nice and thick. Also, gives it a glossy restaurant finish. If you don’t want to use cornstarch, arrowroot powder works too.
• Ginger paste: I love the convenience of ginger paste from a tube. But you can use fresh grated ginger if you want. It’s so fragrant! You’ll need about 1 tablespoon if you use fresh. This is part of what makes it feel like a healthy easy beef and broccoli version.

Ingredients:

• Cornstarch
• Water
• Minced garlic
• Beef round steak/strips
• Broccoli
• Onion
• Shredded carrots
• Olive oil

Sauce:

• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Ginger paste
• Corn starch
• Water

How to Make Easy Beef and Broccoli:

Step 1: Coating: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, water, and minced garlic. Mix until combined.

Step 2. Add the beef to the bowl and stir gently to coat it with the garlic mixture.

Sauce Directions:

Step 1. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger paste, cornstarch, and water.

Step 2. Mix until combined. Stir until the cornstarch is completely dissolved, and the ingredients are incorporated.

Step 3. In a large wok over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Heat it just until it gets hot, don’t let it start to smoke. Stir-fry the beef in the oil until it’s browned on all sides.

Step 4. Remove the beef from the pan and keep it warm.

Step 5. Stir-fry broccoli, carrots, and onion in the remaining oil.

Step 6: Add the beef and sauce.

Step 7. Cook about 3 minutes, continuously stirring to ensure even cooking

Tips for Success

• Don’t crowd the pan when you sear the beef. Cook it in two batches if you need to. You want the steak to get brown, but not steamed.
• Be sure to slice your beef against the grain. The secret to tender chewable beef.
• Don’t overcook your broccoli. Add it at the end and just cook for a few minutes. You want it to stay bright green and crisp.
• Mix the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl first. Dump it all in at once rather than adding ingredients one by one to the hot pan.

You need to choose the right cut of beef and slice it thin. Do not overcrowd the pan, make it in batches if necessary.

Storage & Reheating

When the Beef Broccoli has cooled to room temperature, you can transfer it to an airtight container. You can then place the container in the refrigerator for 3 or 4 days.

Can I freeze the beef broccoli?

Yes, this is a freezer-friendly dish. Be sure it has cooled to room temperature and then place it into a freezer-safe container. You can store the container in the freezer for 3 months.

How do I reheat this dish?

The beef broccoli can be reheated in a skillet on the stovetop. You could also reheat the Beef Broccoli in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through.

Serving Suggestions

To serve easy beef and broccoli, you can serve it on top of a bed of fried rice or noodles. You can also garnish it with sesame seeds and green onions for color and flavor, or red pepper flakes for an extra kick.

Either white or brown rice both work perfectly.

If you want to have a low-carb meal, it’s great over cauliflower rice or even quinoa.

For more homemade easy beef and broccoli ideas, try topping it with toasted sesame seeds or sliced green onions for a little extra crunch and flavor.

Notes

When my children were small, my little boy loved frozen beef and broccoli dinners. Hey, I was a super busy working mom, so I confess I sometimes took some shortcuts. But then, I stumbled upon this quick easy beef and broccoli recipe, so we never had to eat frozen beef and broccoli again!

SAVE this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

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