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Easy Beef and Broccoli - This easy beef and broccoli is made in just 15 minutes start to finish. It's quicker, cheaper, healthier, and so much tastier than take-out

This easy beef and broccoli is made in just 15 minutes start to finish. It’s quicker, cheaper, healthier, and so much tastier than take-out

Featured Comment

I made this dish for dinner last night and my husband commented that the flavors are spot on! This makes plenty of sauce and so after we had eaten, he prepared more meat & broccoli and added it to the leftover sauce to take for lunch today. Thanks for a new favorite go-to recipe. It really was quick and easy!
ML Pack
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Why you’ll love this easy Beef and Broccoli

  • Takeout favorite. Say goodbye to long delivery wait times and cold takeout. Everyone’s favorited homemade beef and broccoli tastes so much better than takeout, using fresh and better quality ingredients all around.
  • Weeknight superhero. This is truly the easiest beef and broccoli recipe of all time. The slow cooker version is great too, perfect for when you work an 8 hr day, but this is on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes start to finish. But don’t be fooled by the easiness of the recipe – it’s packed with so much flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tender beef.
  • Freezer-friendly. Who doesn’t love a good freezer meal? Beef and broccoli will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months! Save the leftovers for a rainy day, perfect for those super hectic weeknights (or lazy weekends) between soccer practice and helping with geometry homework.

How to Make Easy Beef and Broccoli

  1. Prep the flank steak. Slice the flank steak thinly against the grain, shortening the fibers for more tender meat.
  2. Prep the sauce. Combine the soy sauce, chicken stock, honey, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, cornstarch, Sriracha, ginger, red pepper flakes, and water.
  3. Cook the steak. Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the steak in a single layer and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until browned, working quickly not to overcook the meat.
  4. Combine. Stir in the broccoli and sauce until the broccoli is tender and the sauce thickens.
  5. Serve. Serve warm over steamed white rice.

Pro Tip

Add more veggies.

This easy beef and broccoli recipe is very flexible and forgiving. Add in carrots, bell peppers, spinach, cabbage, snow peas, or baby corn with the broccoli during the last few minutes of cook time for a more heartier, well-rounded meal.

Variations and substitutions

  • Soy sauce substitute: tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option
  • Brown sugar substitute: honey or coconut sugar
  • Flank steak substitute: ground beef (budget-friendly swap) or thinly sliced chicken breasts or thighs
  • Broccoli substitute: snow peas, sugar snap peas, bok choy, green beans, asparagus, bell peppers, or carrots

What to serve with Easy Beef and Broccoli

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Easy Beef and Broccoli: frequently asked questions

What cut of meat is best?

Flank steak is a top choice because it is a lean cut that cooks very quickly, yielding tender, juicy meat when thinly sliced against the grain.

What other cuts of meat can I use?

Skirt steak and top sirloin are both great alternatives.

What other vegetables can I add?

Carrots, bell peppers, spinach, cabbage, snow peas, and baby corn are all excellent additions.

How can I store leftovers?

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Is this freezer-friendly?

Yes! Let cool completely and portion into plastic freezer bags in individual servings, squeezing out any excess air before sealing. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and gently reheat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes! You can try this recipe here.

 

Easy Beef and Broccoli

Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
This easy beef and broccoli is made in just 15 minutes start to finish. It's quicker, cheaper, healthier, and so much tastier than take-out
4.8 stars (158 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or more, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced across the grain
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into florets

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, chicken stock, honey, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, cornstarch, Sriracha, ginger, red pepper flakes and 1/4 cup water; set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add steak and cook, flipping once, until browned, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Stir in broccoli and soy sauce mixture until tender and slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Serve immediately.

Equipment

Cast Iron Skillet
Cast Iron Skillet

Notes

  • Use a cast iron skillet. Cast iron skillets retain heat much better than a nonstick skillet, allowing for even cooking and a better sear of the steak.
  • Use reduced sodium soy sauce. Reduced sodium has less sodium and less salt without compromising flavor.
  • Use good-quality stock. The better quality your stock, the better your dish. Many brands love to pack in the salt so always opt for unsalted or a lower-sodium variety. Homemade stock is even better.
  • Slice against the grain. This will shorten muscle fibers, leaving you with more tender (less chewy) pieces of meat.
  • Avoid frozen broccoli. Frozen broccoli will release too much water, resulting in mushy broccoli.
  • Add the broccoli at the very end. To avoid soft, mushy broccoli, stir in the broccoli during the end of cooking time to maintain its crisp-tender texture. Bigger-sized broccoli florets will take longer to cook through.
  • Serve with your favorite grains. White rice, brown rice, quinoa or farro are all great options. Want cauliflower fried rice? We have a recipe for that here.
  • Freeze as needed. Beef and broccoli is freezer-friendly! Label, date and freeze up to 2 months, thawing overnight and gently reheating on the stovetop.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

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