Skip the takeout and make this 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli instead! Tender beef, crisp broccoli, and a rich, savory sauce come together in one pan for an easy dinner the whole family will love.

This easy beef and broccoli is one of my favorite takeout-inspired dinners to make at home. You get all the bold flavors you love, but it’s fresher, healthier, and even more delicious than takeout. If you’re a fan of recipes like my Easy Chicken Stir Fry and my Super Sticky Asian Chicken Bites, you’ll love this one too.

The savory sauce is made with low-sodium beef broth, garlic, and fresh ginger for tons of flavor without feeling too heavy. Best of all, everything cooks in one skillet and comes together in less than 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Kelley Simmons Kelley’s Tips

Tips for the Best Beef and Broccoli

  • Slice the beef thin. Thin slices cook quickly and stay tender. For the easiest slicing, freeze the beef for 20–30 minutes before cutting.
  • Cut against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers and makes every bite more tender.
  • Cook in batches. Avoid overcrowding the pan so the beef browns instead of steaming.
  • Double the sauce. If you like extra sauce for serving over rice or noodles, make 1½ times the sauce ingredients.
Kelley

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Beef: I’ve used either flank steak or skirt steak as it cooks quickly and tastes delicious, but thinly sliced chuck roast would work well in this dish too! It’s a great use of leftover Sunday roast!
  • Broccoli: There are 3 whole cups in this recipe! That helps keep the calories low but you’ll still feel full and like you ate a large meal.
  • Ginger & garlic: This adds so much to the flavor! The ginger adds a little heat without making it too spicy, perfect for kids.
  • Beef broth: I prefer using low sodium beef broth to keep the saltiness level down.
  • Sesame oil: This adds a delicious, warm, nutty flavor to the beef stir fry.
  • Rice wine vinegar & oyster sauce: These two sauces add a depth of flavor to the meal. A little sweetness, saltiness and acidity is the perfect combination!
  • Light brown sugar: Adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce.

How to Make Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

  1. Marinate the steak: Add steak, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cornstarch, baking soda and water to a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Marinate for 1 hour or overnight in the fridge.
velveting beef for beef and broccoli ramen
  1. Cook the broccoli: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and cook for 4–5 minutes until crisp-tender. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  2. Cook the beef: Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the same skillet. Working in 2 batches, cook the beef for about 2 minutes per side until browned and crisp. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining beef.
  1. Make the sauce: Meanwhile, mix together all of the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside. Add sauce ingredients to the pan. Stir and simmer until thickened, 1-2 minutes.
  2. Combine and serve: Return the beef and broccoli to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Serve immediately, with chili oil if you like a little extra heat.

Beef and Broccoli FAQ

Can I make this in the slow cooker or instant pot?

Of course! Follow this recipe for Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef. This recipe is the one you need if you’d rather throw it together in the morning and then let it cook all day! There are instructions for Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli in the slow cooker post as well!

Is this healthy stir fry recipe low carb?

Yes – it’s even keto-friendly! There are just 8g net carbs per serving. For keto beef and broccoli, serve this dish on its own or with cauliflower rice!

What type of beef is best for beef and broccoli?

For the most restaurant quality beef and broccoli reach for flank steak! This is what restaurants typically use and it’s flavorful and super tender when you velvet the beef and cut it against the grain. If you can’t get flank steak you can use skirt steak or sirloin steak.

Storage and Reheating

  • Store: Leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat: To heat up the leftovers, simply add everything into a saucepan on the stove and heat it over a medium heat until it is warmed through.
  • Freezing: Freeze this dinner for up to 4 months in the freezer. Then, when you’re ready to eat, thaw the frozen broccoli beef completely before heating it up on the stove.
Flank steak and broccoli cooked isn a skillet.

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    Saucy beef and broccoli.
    Recipe

    20-Minute Beef and Broccoli

    4.34 from 12 votes
    20-Minute Beef and Broccoli with tender beef and crisp broccoli tossed in a savory sauce. It's quick, healthier, and even better than takeout!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Serves 4

    Ingredients 

    Marinade

    • 1.5 lb flank steak or skirt steak, thinly sliced against the grain
    • 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
    • 2 tbsp cornstarch
    • 1/8 tsp baking soda
    • 1/4 cup water

    Stir Fry

    • 4 tbsp oil, divided
    • 3 cups broccoli
    • 1 tbsp ginger, minced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced

    Sauce

    • 3/4 cup low sodium beef broth
    • 2 tsp sesame oil
    • 6 tbsp oyster sauce
    • 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
    • 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
    • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
    • 1 tbsp honey
    • 2 tsp sriracha, depending on how spicy you like it

    Instructions

    • Marinate steak: Add steak, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cornstarch, baking soda and water to a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Marinate for 1 hour or overnight in the fridge.
    • Cook broccoli: Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add in broccoli and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until the broccoli starts to get a little tender and some color on it. Add in garlic and ginger and cook for 1 more minute. Remove the broccoli from the pan and set aside.
    • Stir fry beef: To the same skillet add in 1 more tbsp of oil to the pan.
      When the oil is glistening add in half of the beef (cook in 2 batches).
      Allow the beef to get crispy and brown on one side before flipping. Sauté for 2 minutes per side and remove beef from the pan. Repeat with the remaining beef.
    • Make sauce: Meanwhile, mix together all of the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.
      Add sauce ingredients to the pan. Stir and simmer until thickened, 1-2 minutes.
    • Add the beef and broccoli back to the pan and stir to coat everything in the sauce.
      Serve immediately and enjoy! You can always add a bit of chili oil to make it a bit spicier!

    Notes

    *This recipe has been updated as of July 9th 2026. We changed a couple of marinade ingredients and switched up the order in which we stir fried!
    Recipe Tips:
    • Slice the beef thin. Thin slices cook quickly and stay tender. For the easiest slicing, freeze the beef for 20–30 minutes before cutting.
    • Cut against the grain. This shortens the muscle fibers and makes every bite more tender.
    • Cook in batches. Avoid overcrowding the pan so the beef browns instead of steaming.
    • Double the sauce. If you like extra sauce for serving over rice or noodles, make 1½ times the sauce ingredients.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 27gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 958mgPotassium: 641mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 425IUVitamin C: 62mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 2mg
    Saucy beef and broccoli.

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