Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

When you’re looking for a healthy yet easy dinner, turn to this Beef Stir-Fry Recipe! It is so quick and simple to sauté beef, broccoli, peppers, and sauce on the stovetop for a satisfyingly delicious dish. In 30 minutes, you’ll have a new favorite dish on the table, no take-out necessary!

Best Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

We all do it.

That battle between the ease and simplicity of take-out from our favorite Chinese restaurants and the healthier homemade version that also is more work… much more work in some cases.

But wait… not with this recipe!

Luckily, it only takes a little bit of prep work and less than 20 minutes of cooking in a wok or sauté pan to have this healthy stir-fry on the table.

This dish is so simple, you can throw it together after a long, busy day. But it’s also so tasty, you’ll forget you made it at home!

And stir frying is super healthy and the best way to combine flavor with wholesome ingredients.

A few things that make this a healthy stir-fry recipe:

• Can easily be made free of gluten and grains!
• It is loaded with fresh veggies such as bell peppers, onions, and broccoli.
• You can change it and tweak it to add even MORE vegetables or LESS sugar. Totally up to you!

Ingredients

To make this homemade beef stir fry recipe you need these simple ingredients:

• Flank steak. While you can use any cut of meat, flank steak is the best option. In a pinch, skirt steak or flat iron will work. Make sure you get a piece that is no thicker than 1-inch for the best results. See below for more information.
• Oil. Both avocado oil and olive oil work. Go for an oil with a higher smoke point, if possible.
• Vegetables. The main veggies you need are bell peppers, onion, and broccoli. Yellow, green, or red bell peppers work, or a combination. Sweet or white onions can be used.
• Soy Sauce. This gives the perfect saltiness and umami flavor. Gluten-free soy sauce, or Tamari sauce, can be used interchangeably. Substitute with a reduced sodium version if needed.
• Sweetener. Depending on your dietary preferences, brown, white, or coconut sugar all work. Or, leave it out if you’re avoiding sugar all together.
• Ginger paste. A bottle from the grocery store makes this ingredient super simple.
• Garlic. Minced garlic is so important for this recipe. Try not to substitute garlic powder.
• Broth. Chicken, vegetable, or beef broth will work. Be aware that each will impart different flavors.
• Sriracha. This spicy sauce is also a little sweet and gives this recipe a wonderful kick of flavor.
• Sesame oil. Make sure you get TOASTED sesame oil for the best results.
• Cornstarch. This is essential to thicken the sauce.

How to Make Beef Stir-Fry

Below you’ll find the steps to follow to make this easy beef stir-fry recipe:

Prep the Meat and Veggies

Before you start cooking, it’s important to have all of the ingredients ready.

The first step is to cut the veggies. Use a sharp knife to slice the onion into thin strips, chop the broccoli florets, and cut the bell pepper into slices.

Next, cut the meat into thin strips against the grain that are no more than 1/4″ thick. (This is important in order to get the most tender meat.)

Keep everything as similarly sized as possible so it cooks up at the same rate.

Make the Sauce

Unlike many stir-fry sauces you get in Chinese or Asian restaurants, this sauce can easily be made gluten-free, soy-free, Paleo, and refined sugar-free.

After you measure out all of your sauce ingredients into a small or medium bowl, simply whisk them together. Save the beef stir-fry sauce until everything is cooked.

Cook the Meat

If you are not a huge fan of using a wok and think it takes up WAY too much room in your already crowded kitchen, then not a problem! You can easily use a large, deep skillet or frying pan, and still get a perfectly cooked beef and broccoli stir-fry recipe!

If you DO have one and absolutely love it, by all means… wok it out!

Turn the stovetop to medium-high heat. Add the oil to the wok or skillet. Then, carefully place the sliced steak in a single layer across the bottom of the pan. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until it is no longer pink on the inside.

Use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the steak to a paper towel-lined plate.

Sauté the Veggies

Add a bit more oil to the pan and toss in your fresh vegetables. Still over medium-high heat, cook the veggies for 5 to 7 minutes.

Their colors should turn vibrant. Be careful not to overcook them here as they continue cooking in subsequent steps.

Bring it All Together

Add the beef back into the skillet with the cooked veggies. Then, pour the sauce over everything.

Give it a good stir to coat.

Make the Cornstarch Slurry

One of the easiest and best ways to thicken up a stir-fry sauce is to add what is known as a “starch slurry.”

What exactly is a starch slurry? It’s simply a combination of a liquid and a starch in roughly a 1:1 ratio.

In our case we use a few tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with broth. However, both tapioca and arrowroot powder work.

A big key here is to make sure your liquid is warmed up BEFORE adding it to your starch.

This makes is SO much easier for the starch to dissolve into the liquid. It will give you the perfect starch slurry to thicken up your beef and broccoli stir-fry recipe!

Stir the cornstarch slurry into the skillet. Heat for another few minutes, stirring until the sauce is thickened to your desired consistency.

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead of time: You can easily cut the veggies a day or two ahead of time and simply store them in a Ziploc bag. Mix up the sauce the day before if needed, too.
• How to store: Keep leftover beef stir-fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• How to freeze: You can freeze this stir-fry beef recipe, but the veggies might get mushy. Be sure as little air as possible touches the food in a freezer-bag or airtight container.
• How to reheat: For the best results, warm the stir-fry back up in a skillet over medium heat.

How do you make stir-fry beef tender?

It is very easy to end up with tough beef when you make a stir fry. Be picky when you are choosing your meat, and be sure not to overcook it. If you leave it on the heat too long, it can get chewy from the overworked muscle fibers.

What to add to beef stir fry to make it taste better?

While this recipe is delicious on its own, you can easily add a few other ingredients to take it up a notch. First, throw in some extra veggies (this also brings up the nutritional value). You can also add in some fresh herbs for a kick of flavor.

How do you make stir-fry taste like a restaurant?

There are a few key ingredients you need to make your at-home stir-fry restaurant-worthy. First, spring for good soy sauce. While it might not seem important, toasted sesame oil is essential. Finally, ginger paste and fresh minced garlic really take the flavor over the top.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already gluten-free and dairy-free as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Refined Sugar-Free: Skip the sugar or use a natural sweetener.
• Paleo: Stick with arrowroot or tapioca flour instead of cornstarch and leave out the sugar.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Go against the grain. Pay attention to the direction you slice the flank steak.
• Up the veggies. The sky is the limit! Add in your favorite vegetables and make the dish healthier. For extra flavor, top it with green onions.
• Go low. Low-carb, that is. Serve this stir-fry up with cauliflower rice.
• Stick to your guns. You can easily adapt this recipe to fit your dietary needs. Opt for coconut aminos or arrowroot powder if needed.
• Nice and toasty. TOASTED sesame oil is key!
• Make it spicy. Top with red pepper flakes or additional Sriracha for an extra kick.

What to Serve with Beef Stir-Fry?

Stir-fry is a healthy and simple dinner. You can pair it with any of these delicious sides, as well.

You can serve this dish with a wide variety of rice. Try this Instant Pot White Rice or Instant Pot Basmati Rice, or even Cauliflower Rice for a low-carb twist.

Or, for extra flavor, try Cauliflower Fried Rice or Chicken Fried Rice.

More Stir-Fry Recipes

If you love a simple dinner that also tastes good, try one of these other easy stir fry recipes.

Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry, Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry, and Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry are healthy and tasty.

Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry with Vegetables is a special treat.

And Egg Roll in a Bowl is a must-try!