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Life Made Sweeter

Healthy & Delicious Recipes to sweeten up your life

Beef and Broccoli + RECIPE VIDEO

Beef and Broccoli stir fry makes the perfect dish when that takeout craving hits! Best of all, this skinny recipe for beef and broccoli is SO easy to make. It’s flavorful and much healthier and way better than any Asian carry-out. Great for Sunday meal prep for school or work lunchboxes or lunch bowls! Plus recipe video.

Skinny Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry in a dark blue and black skillet with a wooden spoon.

Pin for later and follow my recipe boards for more easy dinner ideas

Beef and Broccoli is a popular Chinese takeout dish that shows up at our house regularly.

We love an easy stir-fry dish for busy weeknights. And for those days we need a totally stove-free option, this slow cooker beef and broccoli and Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli are great options that let us skip that restaurant pick-up window.

This dish holds a very special place in my heart. Along with fried rice, lo mein and this sweet and sour chicken, beef and broccoli was one of the very first “real” dishes my parents taught all three of us kids how to make.

overhead image of a healthier beef and broccoli rice bowl with black chopsticks.

Making Healthier Asian Recipes

This healthier Beef and Broccoli recipe is just as tasty as any takeout version. It’s totally skinny-jean friendly since we are using less oil, lower sodium soy sauce and a leaner cut of beef.

Plus, there’s also an option to make this gluten-free or paleo friendly if you are trying to incorporate more of those recipes into your diet.

Fresh broccoli in a white strainer.
To ensure that the broccoli stays nice and crisp and the beef tender and juicy, you should blanch the broccoli in boiling water for about 30 seconds prior to sauteing it in the pan – then quickly rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. It’s worth the extra step, but feel free to skip it if you are in a pinch.

 

Searing marinated beef in a black skillet.
Once that’s done, sear the marinated beef using the same pan.

Tips for Cooking Beef and Broccoli

These tips will help you create the most delicious beef and broccoli possible:

  • Preheat the pan – The key to getting that nice restaurant sizzle is to get the pan really, really hot before adding the beef. Using an electric wok will produce the best results.
  • Hot oil – Let the pan sit on high heat with the cooking oil for about 2 minutes, or until you see enough steam rising, before adding the beef and garlic.
  • Thinly sliced beef – Cutting the beef nice and thin and coating it with cornstarch seals in that rich flavor. It also adds a nice and juicy coating to the marinated beef strips. And you won’t have to worry about tough and chewy pieces. Make sure your knife is sharp. I like to use .
Delicious Broccoli & Beef Rice Bowls with black chopsticks.
Print
Beef and Broccoli + RECIPE VIDEO
Prep Time
14 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Resting Time
10 mins
Total Time
26 mins
 
Skinny Beef and Broccoli stir fry – skip the takeout when that craving hits! This easy and flavorful dish is healthier and way better than any restaurant version.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Keyword: beef and broccoli recipe easy, easy chinese dinner, weeknight meal asian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 191 kcal
Ingredients
  • 3/4 pound flank steak or sirloin, trimmed of fat, very thinly sliced against the grain
  • 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
  • water for blanching broccoli (omit if not blanching)
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 3-1/2 cups broccoli florets about 1 head
For the Beef Marinade:
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot or tapioca starch for paleo
  • 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce can substitute with gluten free tamari or coconut aminos for paleo-friendly version
  • 1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce optional for color & extra flavor(leave out for gluten free or paleo version)
  • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce:
  • 1-1/2 Tablespoons oyster sauce or vegetarian flavored oyster sauce, leave out for paleo version
  • 1-1/2 Teaspoons low sodium soy sauce can substitute with gluten free tamari or coconut aminos for paleo-friendly version
  • 1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce optional, but recommended
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar or 1 teaspoon raw honey for paleo
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Mirin Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry (omit for paleo version)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch can substitute with arrowroot or tapioca starch for paleo
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup cold water sodium free chicken broth for extra flavor, plus more as needed to thin out the sauce
Serving Suggestions:
  • cooked rice, quinoa, or noodles
Instructions
  1. Marinate the beef: In a medium bowl, mix together all of the ingredients for the marinade. Add the beef slices and stir until coated. Set aside for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile blanch the broccoli: (skip if not blanching) In a large non-stick saute pan or wok on high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 30 seconds. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  3. Make the sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.
  4. Heat cooking oil over high heat, for about 2 minutes - using the same non-stick pan or wok you used for your broccoli. The pan needs to be hot enough that you start seeing a little bit of smoke rising.
  5. Quickly add the beef to the smoking pan and spread the pieces out to a single layer allowing them to sear and brown. Add the garlic and continue cooking until the meat is no longer pink (about 1-2 minutes making sure not to overcook). Pour in the sauce, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens - about 30 seconds. Add more water if needed to thin out the sauce. Quickly stir in the broccoli and toss everything together to coat well. Salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions if desired. Serve hot over rice or noodles.
  7. For meal prep: Divide evenly into lunch containers with your favorite carb - rice, quinoa or noodles.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts
Beef and Broccoli + RECIPE VIDEO
Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/4 recipe))
Calories 191 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 51mg 17%
Sodium 228mg 10%
Potassium 397mg 11%
Total Carbohydrates 6g 2%
Sugars 2g
Protein 19g 38%
Vitamin A 4.3%
Vitamin C 37.5%
Calcium 3.7%
Iron 8.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More takeout favorites:
General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso's Chicken in a black skillet with dark brown chopsticks.
Slow cooker / Crockpot Chicken Lo Mein Noodles (a reader favorite pinned over 1 million times)  
Chicken Lo Mein Noodles  in a slow cooker.
  Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Chicken   Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Chicken on a bed of white rice on a black plate with brown chopsticks.   
Easy Chicken Lo Mein 
Easy Chicken Lo Mein in a silver skillet with black chopsticks.
  Chicken Chow Mien     Chicken Chow Mien in a large black bowl with dark brown chopsticks.   Shanghai Fried Noodles   Shanghai Fried Noodles in a small bowl with dark brown chopsticks.
 
For even more Asian-inspired recipes, I’ve found a ton on Pinterest you can check out: Follow Life Made Sweeter’s board Asian-Inspired Dishes on Pinterest.  
If you want to find more easy & authentic Slow Cooker Asian recipes The Asian Slow Cooker cookbook is now available for SALE HERE. It was named one of the BEST Books of 2016 by The Washington Post with Ina Garten and Donna Hay.
You can find it at:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books- A- Million, Indie Bound, Indigo and wherever books are sold

 

The Asian Slow Cooker Cookbook | Life Made Sweeter

Looking for more easy 30 minute meals?
 

30 Minute Thursday Meals | Life Made Sweeter  

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30 Minute Chicken Stew from The Recipe Rebel  
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30 Minute Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice from Savory Nothings  
30 Minute Black Bean Soup with Pico De Gallo from She Likes Food  
30-Minute Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta Skillet from Whole and Heavenly Oven  

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Comments

  1. This looks so good, Kelly! I was a picky eater as well as a kid (and I still am, haha!), but nowhere near as bad as my little brother. So I kind of grew up only eating the handful of dishes HE liked 😉

    I love the look of this skinny beef and broccoli, it looks so fresh but still so decadent!

  2. This dish is absolutely gorgeous, Kelly! I was never really a picky eater, but my husband sort of is, so I always have to get creative with dishes that involve broccoli. But I definitely think he would devour this! Love that it’s ready in just 30 minutes, too!

  4. Beef and broccoli is one of those dishes I have always loved, even as a child. However, I am a lazy Asian and only use oyster sauce for the sauce. I am sure that yours tastes much better! (We use the cornstarch trick too)

  9. Total drool-fest happening here, Kelly!! Who doesn’t love beef and broccoli (aside from crazy people)? But skinny beef and broccoli?? Gahh! Yes yes yes! I am craving this for breakfast! Pinned! Cheers and happy almost weekend, girlfriend! <3

  11. Love when you share your Asian recipes, Kelly…they always look far better than anything I can fix up (no surprise)! I love that you used so little sugar and the glaze on the meat just looks mouthwatering. I never seem to thicken my sauce enough to get it to look restaurant-style. Yours is truly perfect. I want to pick up my chopsticks and eat! : )

  13. Kelly, this looks WAAAY better than any broccoli beef I’ve ever ordered out — I’m seriously craving this right now! Beautiful dish and photos, and I can’t wait to try!

  18. That sauce looks so amazing!! When I was little I would go to buffets and just pick the broccoli out of the beef and broccoli and it was so good with that delicious sauce! I need to make a big pot of it 🙂

  25. I made this for four servings using 12 ounces of sirloin steak and upping the broccoli to 4 cups – each serving (without rice) comes in at 256 – nice! Thank you!

  26. I’ve been thinking to get Chinese takeout today, but after seeing this awesome and easy to make dish, I might just make it! Love beef and broccoli! Great recipe Kelly!

  27. Is it bad that I want this for breakfast?! It looks so good – that sauce is all dreamy and it all looks so flavorful. WAY better than takeout 🙂 and skinny?! I’m all in.

  34. I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year, Kelly. Your photos are just beautiful and the stir fry looks incredible! I need add flank and broccoli to my shopping list this weekend because I’m so craving this!

  35. The hubs would love this, I never know what to cook him not being a meat eater myself and have often ran to your site for help! He will be enjoying this when its my turn to cook next 😀

  37. Made this for lunch today and it was amazing!! My husband loved it! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe, Kelly!

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