Skip takeout and make this easy Beef and Broccoli recipe at home in just one skillet. Tender steak, crisp broccoli, and a flavorful homemade sauce come together for a budget-friendly dinner that tastes better than restaurant takeout.
This family-tested recipe is perfect for busy weeknights because it uses simple ingredients, cooks quickly, and pairs perfectly with rice for a complete meal the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
With a big family to feed, I’m always looking for meals that are quick, affordable, and everyone will actually eat. This Beef and Broccoli recipe checks all the boxes.
I can make it faster than ordering takeout, and I usually have most of the ingredients already in my pantry. It’s one of those dependable dinners that makes busy weeknights a little easier.
- Better than takeout with a simple homemade sauce
- Ready in about 30 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner
- Made in one skillet for easy cleanup
- Budget-friendly meal that feeds the whole family
- Packed with tender beef and fresh broccoli in every bite
- Easy to customize with your favorite vegetables
- Great for meal prep lunches and leftovers
We love type of recipes. Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli and Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli are must try recipes that are made with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- Vegetable Oil – Used to cook this dish. You can substitute with canola oil, avocado oil, or another neutral cooking oil.
- Flank Steak – Flank steak cooks quickly and stays tender when sliced thinly against the grain. Skirt steak, sirloin steak, or even round steak are great budget-friendly alternatives.
- Cornstarch – Helps tenderize the beef during marinating and thickens the sauce for that classic takeout-style texture.
- Cold Water – Combined with the cornstarch to coat the beef and keep it tender while cooking.
- Broccoli – Fresh broccoli works best, but frozen broccoli can be used in a pinch. No need to thaw first; just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- White Rice – We love serving this dish over white rice to soak up all the delicious sauce. Brown rice or cauliflower rice are great alternatives.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce so it coats this dish perfectly.
- Minced Garlic – Adds rich flavor to the homemade sauce. Fresh garlic cloves can also be used.
- Brown Sugar – Balances the savory flavors with a touch of sweetness. Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- Rice Vinegar – Adds a slight tang that helps balance the sauce. Apple cider vinegar can be substituted if needed.
- Soy Sauce – We recommend low-sodium soy sauce to better control the salt level. Coconut aminos can be used for a soy-free option.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli
Step 1 – Marinate Steak – Place the thinly sliced meat in a ziplock bag. Stir the 2 tablespoons cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Add this to the bag with the meat. Marinade for at least 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
Step 2 – Heat Oil add Broccoli – Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the chopped broccoli onto the skillet. Sauté covered for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender.
Step 3 – Stir in Beef – Then stir in the marinated beef. Sauté uncovered for an additional 3-4 minutes until the beef is cooked through and the broccoli is tender.
Step 4 – Combine Sauce Ingredients – Combine all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the beef and vegetables and toss to combine. Heat for 1 minute to make sure that all the flavors are combined and heated through.
Step 5 – Serve and Enjoy – Remove from heat the easy beef and crisp broccoli and stir. Serve warm over cooked rice and enjoy.
Expert Tips
- Coating Steak – Make sure to coat beef with the cornstarch and water for at least 30 minutes.
- Cutting Steak – We recommend to cut the steak in about the same size. Some grocery stores have steak already sliced. Usually it is labeled as fajita steak. Cutting flank steak against the grain helps create tender bites.
- Preparing Skillet – When preparing the steak, heat the skillet with oil to medium high heat.
- Broccoli – Cook the broccoli for a few minutes until tender before adding in the steak.
- Other Cooking Options – This recipe taste great whether you cook it in the skillet, instant pot or crock pot.
Variations & Substitutions
- Steak Variations – We used flank steak for this recipe, but you can easily use skirt steak or top sirloin steak as well.
- Broccoli – We chopped the broccoli florets in bite size pieces. If you prefer, you can easily use frozen broccoli. If you use frozen, just place it in the skillet if it is frozen. It may take a little longer to heat.
- Soy Sauce – For added flavor, you can add in low sodium soy sauce. Coconut Aminos can also be added for a no soy sauce option.
- Sesame Oil – If you make a lot of Asian style dishes, you probably have sesame oil. This oil can be added for extra flavor. We have even added in oyster sauce.
- Sesame Seeds – I love to top this dish with sesame seeds before serving.
- Bell Peppers – Add in some vegetables such as red peppers or green bell peppers when adding the broccoli to the skillet. We have even added in slice mushrooms and chopped green onions.
- Seasoning – For a hint of spice add in a teaspoon of red pepper flakes. If you love ginger, we recommend adding in fresh ginger.
Can I Make Ahead of Time?
If you meal prep for the week, this is my go-to recipe. It heats up easily in the microwave and is a well balanced meal. You can even serve it without the rice to make it a low carb option.
Divide and store in individual container for a quick lunch all week.
Serving Recommendations
- White Rice – Our favorite side to serve with this recipe is white rice. Make sure to serve with the sauce drizzled over the top.
- Brown Rice – For a healthier side, make a side of brown rice. We have even served with cauliflower rice for a low carb option.
- Egg Rolls – My kids like getting Chinese takeout so I tried to make the same sides that they get when I make this beef and broccoli.
- Soup – Make a simple soup to serve with this beef and broccoli.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- Storing – Place the leftovers in the air tight container. Place in the refrigerator or freezer. If placed in the freezer it will stay fresh for up to 3 months. Refrigerated leftovers will last up to 5 days.
- Reheat – You can reheat in the microwave or in a skillet. We like reheating in a skillet so it heat thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use a store bought sauce for this recipe. I would look in the Asian section of the grocery store for a cook beef sauce.
Yes, this recipe can be made with chicken or pork for a delicious variation.
With this simple one pot recipe, you can use different cuts of meat. You can easily use a cheap cut of beef if you prefer.
In this recipe we used flank steak cut in bite size pieces, but you can use round steak, beef chuck roast, skirt steak or London Broil. We just make sure to cut in about the same size so it cooks evenly.
You can even change the meat to chicken breast. I would recommend using chicken broth instead of beef broth. Dice the chicken breast into bite size piece and change the cooking time.
Yes, check out these Best Soy Sauce Substitute for a delicious variation even gluten free options.
Yes, frozen broccoli can be used in this recipe.
More Easy Skillet Beef Recipes
We love to hear from you. If you make this beef and broccoli stir fry recipe, please leave a comment or a star review.
Beef and Broccoli with Homemade Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 2 pounds Flank Steak thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons Cold Water
- 2 cups Broccoli chopped into bite size pieces
- 6 cups White Rice cooked
- For the Sauce:
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
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Instructions
- Place 2 pounds thinly sliced flank steak in a zip-top bag.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water. Pour the mixture into the bag with the steak and toss to coat. Marinate for at least 20-30 minutes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 2 cups broccoli chopped into bite-sized pieces to the skillet. Cover and sauté for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender.
- Add the marinated flank steak to the skillet. Sauté uncovered for an additional 3-4 minutes until the beef is cooked through and the broccoli is tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, and ½ cup soy sauce. Pour the sauce over the beef and vegetables and toss to combine. Heat for 1 minute to make sure that all the flavors are combined and heated through.
- Remove from heat and serve warm over 6 cups cooked white rice. Enjoy!
Love this recipe
Thank you so much Alma! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for the positive review!
Love this recipe is simple
Thank you so much Sima – that means so much to me and thank you for the positive review!
My kids said this was a new favorite. Definitely will make again!
Love hearing this! Thank you for sharing!
I used chicken, it was amazing!