I’ve always had a soft spot for quick dinners that don’t make me feel like I just ran a marathon in the kitchen. This beef and broccoli stir fry checks all the boxes. It’s fast, it’s flavorful, and it’s the kind of dish that makes you wonder why you ever thought takeout was the only option. The clean eating recipes I reach for the most are the ones that let fresh ingredients do the heavy lifting. Here, the crisp broccoli and tender beef practically do a happy dance together once that sauce hits the pan. Speaking of sauce, I can’t lie, I’ve messed up a stir fry sauce or two in my time. Either too salty, too thin, or somehow just…sad. But this one? This one is the keeper. It’s the best stir fry sauce recipe that clings to every piece without being overpowering. I like to whisk it together ahead of time, so when the beef hits the heat, I can pour it in and watch the magic happen without scrambling for ingredients. And while this may be an easy beef broccoli recipe, it never tastes like a shortcut. It feels balanced, hearty, and surprisingly comforting for a dish that comes together in under thirty minutes. Whether you’ve tried plenty of beef n broccoli recipes before or this is your first go at a stir fry broccoli recipe, you’ll appreciate how simple it is to pull off. If chicken is more your style, the broccoli chicken recipes out there borrow from this same method, but I’m sticking with beef tonight—and honestly, I don’t regret it one bit.

Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- 4) How to Make Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- 5) Tips for Making Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- 6) Making Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- 8) Try these Main Course next!
- 9) Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- This beef and broccoli stir fry comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a solid choice for weeknight cooking.
- The stir fry sauce blends soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and honey, giving the dish a balance of savory and sweet.
- Slicing beef thinly against the grain makes each bite tender instead of chewy.
- Broccoli cooks quickly with steam, staying bright and crisp while soaking up the sauce.
2) Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
I’m not going to lie. I used to think clean eating recipes meant hours in the kitchen with complicated prep work. But then this dish entered the picture. A skillet, some fresh broccoli, and beef cut thin enough to cook in minutes—that’s all it takes. The first time I made it, I half expected disappointment, but what I got was a full-flavored meal that rivaled takeout.
The beauty here lies in how the sauce clings to everything. Soy, oyster sauce, garlic, and honey come together like they’ve been best friends for years. When that mixture hits the hot pan, it thickens and wraps around the beef and broccoli. Suddenly, what looked like simple ingredients now feel like something worth bragging about.
If you’ve ever doubted the magic of a good stir fry broccoli recipe, this one will change your mind. It’s quick, it’s satisfying, and it leaves you wondering why clean eating recipes often get a bad reputation. Honestly, meals like this make me believe that eating well doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be done with fresh food and a little attention to flavor.

3) Ingredients for Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Flank Steak: Slice it thin against the grain. Doing this helps the meat stay tender, not chewy. It cooks fast and soaks up the sauce like a sponge.
Broccoli Florets: Four cups of fresh florets are perfect. They brighten up the skillet and add crunch that balances the richness of the beef.
Soy Sauce: Use regular or coconut aminos. This brings salty depth and keeps the stir fry grounded with that classic flavor.
Oyster Sauce: Just a couple spoonfuls transform the dish, adding that glossy finish you always see in restaurant stir fry.
Cornstarch: A teaspoon or two thickens the sauce so it clings instead of slipping off. It makes all the difference between watery and silky.
Sesame Oil: That nutty aroma hits you the second it warms. It’s subtle but powerful, giving the dish a finishing note that feels balanced.
Garlic: Three cloves, minced, cook fast but leave behind their bite. They make the sauce taste bold instead of flat.
Fresh Ginger: A teaspoon grated sharpens the flavor, adding warmth that keeps the sauce from leaning too sweet.
Olive Oil: You’ll need a couple tablespoons for cooking both beef and broccoli. It keeps the pan hot and everything moving smoothly.
Beef Broth: Half a cup thins the sauce while deepening the flavor. It’s the liquid backbone of this easy beef broccoli recipe.
Honey: One spoonful rounds things out with gentle sweetness. It’s what makes the sauce addictive without tipping over into sugary.

4) How to Make Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Step 1. Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, beef broth, cornstarch, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Whisk it well so no lumps remain.
Step 2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok. Place the sliced beef in a single layer. Let it sear until both sides brown. Remove and set it aside for later.
Step 3. Toss broccoli florets into the same skillet. Add a splash of water, cover, and steam for a few minutes until they turn bright green and tender-crisp.
Step 4. Slide the beef back into the pan. Pour in the sauce. Stir everything together until the sauce thickens and coats every piece of beef and broccoli.
Step 5. Serve it hot over rice or noodles. Sprinkle sesame seeds if you like extra crunch. That’s it. You just made one of the best stir fry sauce recipe easy enough for weeknights.

5) Tips for Making Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
I’ve made my fair share of beef n broccoli recipes, and some turned out chewy or bland. Over time, I picked up tricks that guarantee success. The first is slicing beef thin and against the grain. It’s not just some cooking snob’s advice—it really works. Another trick is steaming broccoli briefly. Overcooking kills the crunch and the bright green color that makes the plate look so inviting.
When it comes to sauce, never skip cornstarch. Without it, you end up with watery beef swimming in liquid. With it, you get glossy, thick sauce that clings to every bite. And speaking of sauce, don’t drown the dish in it. The best stir fry sauce recipe balances flavor without overwhelming the main stars, beef and broccoli.
Finally, don’t be afraid of high heat. Stir fry thrives on quick cooking. Keep your pan hot, keep things moving, and you’ll get that seared flavor that takeout joints are known for. Trust me, once you nail this, you’ll stop searching for better beef and broccoli recipes.
6) Making Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Ahead of Time
This dish is one of my go-to meals for prepping ahead. If I know the week will be busy, I’ll slice the beef and store it in a sealed bag. I’ll chop broccoli and tuck it in a container lined with a paper towel. When dinnertime comes, I already feel halfway done.
The sauce is easy to mix ahead too. Just whisk it and keep it in a jar in the fridge. Shake it before using and pour it straight into the pan. It’s a simple way to cut down on stress. Plus, the flavors actually deepen as the sauce rests.
Clean eating recipes work best when they’re flexible. This stir fry holds up beautifully even if cooked early. I reheat it in a skillet, not a microwave, to keep the beef tender and the broccoli crisp. It makes planning dinner far less stressful when you know a good meal is only minutes away.
7) Storing Leftover Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
If you’ve got leftovers, lucky you. Store them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. They’ll last up to three days without losing flavor. The beef stays savory and the broccoli keeps some of its crunch.
Reheating makes all the difference. I avoid the microwave since it toughens beef. A skillet with a splash of water brings everything back to life. It feels almost like cooking it fresh again. If you want, cook some new rice to pair with it. That little detail makes leftovers taste like a brand-new meal.
Leftovers also make a quick lunch. I’ve packed them for work more than once, and every time I opened the container, coworkers peeked over asking what smelled so good. A sign you’ve made something worth repeating.
8) Try these Main Course next!
9) Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry – Clean Eating Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, beef broth, cornstarch, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger to make the stir fry sauce.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat.
- Add the sliced beef in a single layer and cook until browned on both sides. Remove beef and set aside.
- Add broccoli to the same skillet with a splash of water, cover, and steam for 2 to 3 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp.
- Return beef to the skillet, pour in the sauce, and toss everything together until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and broccoli.
- Serve hot over rice or noodles.
10) Nutrition
Serving Size: 1 cup | Calories: 290 | Protein: 25g | Fat: 15g | Carbohydrates: 16g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Sodium: 620mg
Written by Linda for Cook Daily Recipe






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