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Beef Stir Fry

Best Beef Stir Fry


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  • Author: Olivia Harper
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

For the Beef and Marinade:

  • 1 pound flank steak, skirt steak, or top sirloin (cut against the grain into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Stir Fry Sauce:

  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tablespoons chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water
  • 2 teaspoons rice wine or rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey or brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and minced
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the Stir Fry:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 small to medium onion, sliced
  • 1 small to medium red bell pepper, sliced thinly
  • 1 carrot, peeled and sliced thinly
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 scallions, sliced thinly
  • Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
  • Steamed rice for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. First, prepare the beef marinade. In a medium bowl or resealable plastic bag, mix the beef pieces with soy sauce, black pepper, and cornstarch. Let this sit for 15-30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator. The cornstarch helps tenderize the meat and keeps it juicy.
  2. While the beef marinates, make the stir fry sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, broth, rice wine, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch until well combined. Set this aside.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. When the oil is hot, add half of the marinated beef in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown on one side, then toss and cook for another 1-2 minutes. The beef doesn’t need to be fully cooked yet. Transfer to a bowl.
  4. Cook the second batch of beef the same way, adding more oil if needed. Transfer to the same bowl when done.
  5. Add the remaining oil to the pan. Add onions, red bell pepper, and carrots. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until onions become translucent.
  6. Add broccoli and cook for about 2 minutes until crisp-tender.
  7. Return the beef to the pan along with any juices that collected in the bowl. Toss everything together.
  8. Pour in the stir fry sauce and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the scallions and continue cooking until the sauce thickens slightly.
  9. Remove from heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
  10. Serve immediately with steamed rice if desired.

Notes

  • Cut all ingredients before starting to cook – stir-frying moves fast!
  • Slice the beef against the grain for more tender meat
  • Use a very hot pan or wok for that authentic stir-fry sear
  • Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan
  • Keep ingredients moving constantly for even cooking
  • Have all sauce ingredients premixed for quick addition
  • Add harder vegetables first, then gradually add softer ones
  • Don’t overcook the vegetables – they should stay crisp
  • Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor
  • Make extra sauce if you like more to mix with rice
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stir-Fry
  • Cuisine: Chinese-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 320 kcal
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 680 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg