30-Minute Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Quick and flavorful beef stir-fry with crisp broccoli in a savory garlic-soy sauce, perfect for a weeknight dinner. This chinese-inspired stir fry ready in about 30 minutes pairs soy sauce, cornstarch, divided vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart.
Ingredients
- 1 lb, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp, divided vegetable oil
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, minced fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp, optional red pepper flakes
- 2 stalks, sliced for garnish green onions
- 1 tbsp, toasted for garnish sesame seeds
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss 1 lb thinly sliced flank steak with 1/4 cup soy sauce and 2 tbsp cornstarch until well coated. Set aside 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add 4 cups fresh broccoli florets and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender. Remove broccoli from pan and set aside.
- Step 3: Add remaining 1 tbsp vegetable oil to the pan. Add the marinated beef in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes without stirring until browned on one side, then stir-fry for another 2 minutes until mostly cooked.
- Step 4: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger to the beef, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 5: Stir in 1/2 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame oil, and optional 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 more minutes until sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- Step 6: Return the broccoli to the pan and toss everything together for 1 minute to combine and heat through.
- Step 7: Remove from heat and garnish with 2 sliced green onions and 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds before serving.
Frequently asked questions
How long does 30-Minute Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover 30-Minute Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep soy sauce from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in 30-Minute Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale 30-Minute Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with 30-Minute Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce?
Chinese stir fry like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
