Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Garlic and Snow Peas
A fast, flavorful stir-fry featuring tender strips of beef tossed with crisp snow peas and garlic in a savory soy sauce glaze. This chinese-inspired beef ready in about 20 minutes pairs ounces snow peas, trimmed, garlic cloves, minced, tablespoons soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 8 ounces snow peas, trimmed
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss 1 pound thinly sliced flank steak with 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon soy sauce until evenly coated; set aside for 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Whisk together 2 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper in a small bowl.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add minced 3 garlic cloves and stir-fry for 20 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add marinated beef slices in a single layer and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until browned but still tender.
- Step 5: Toss in 8 ounces trimmed snow peas and pour the sauce mixture over the beef and peas. Stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes until the peas are bright green and just tender.
- Step 6: Drizzle with 1 teaspoon sesame oil, toss once more, and remove from heat to serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Garlic and Snow Peas take to make?
Total time is about 20 minutes (10 min prep + 10 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 Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Garlic and Snow Peas?
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 ounces snow peas, trimmed from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Garlic and Snow Peas?
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 Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Garlic and Snow Peas 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 Quick Stir-Fried Beef with Garlic and Snow Peas?
Chinese beef 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.
