This beef stir fry recipe is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. The flavorful sauce, tender beef and vegetables are perfectly balanced, making this dish a hit with everyone.
Best Beef Stir-Fry Recipe
Beef stir fry is a staple recipe that we make on a regular basis. It’s so easy to make and will become one of your go-to recipes for weeknight dinners. You’ll love how quickly it comes together without sacrificing flavor or quality. In fact, this stir fry recipe is better than take-out from any restaurant we have had.
Ingredients Needed
- Steak– I prefer flank steak but if you can use similar steak cuts as well.
- Soy sauce– I prefer low sodium.
- Cornstarch– This is used to thicken the sauce.
- Cooking oil– I used vegetable oil, but any kind of cooking oil will work like canola oil, peanut oil, etc…
- Veggies– broccoli florets, carrots, snow peas, red bell peppers, and green onion- These are the veggies that I am using, but you can use others as well.
- Brown sugar– this adds a tad of sweetness to the sauce.
- Spices – Garlic powder and ginger.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds – optional.
How to Make Beef Stir Fry at Home
- Slice the meat thinly and place it in a freezer bag with the soy sauce and cornstarch. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- While the meat is marinating prep the veggies and set them aside.
- Make the stir fry sauce.
- Cook half the meat for about 3 minutes and remove from the skillet. Remove the meat and cook the other half.
- Add the veggies and cook for about 2 minutes. Include the beef back to the skillet.
- Pour in the sauce and heat through.
- Add the green onions and toasted sesame seeds over top and serve over rice and noodles.
How To Toast Sesame Seeds
It is really important to toast the sesame seeds before adding them to the beef stir fry. Toasting the sesame seeds bring out the flavor. To toast them, simple place them in a skillet for 3 to 5 minutes on medium heat. Be careful, the seeds will burn fast. You want them to be a golden to medium brown color.
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. The stir fry will last for 3-4 days.
You can also freeze the stir fry. Just place it in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat it, just thaw it out and reheat.
Tips and Variations
- Steak – If you have trouble finding flank steak, you can also use skirt steak or even sirloin steak in a pinch.
- Lower Sodium – If the soy sauce makes the beef stir fry too salty, you can add a teaspoon of vinegar to balance out the flavor. Low sodium soy sauce is a great option for the next time you make it.
- How to Cut Beef For Stir-fry – First, trim off any muscle membranes and then you want to cut the steak against the grain. This keeps the meat from getting tough. Cut the flank steak into 2 inch pieces.
Which Vegetables are Best for Stir Fry?
You can pretty much use any veggie that you like. I am using carrots, broccoli, peppers and snow peas, but there are other veggies that work great too.
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini (green or yellow squash)
- Onion
- Asparagus
- green beans
- baby corn
- celery
- bean sprouts
- bok choy, or cabbage
What To Serve With Beef Stir Fry
I like to serve this with rice and sometimes a side salad like our Ramen Noodle Salad.
These appetizers go perfectly with this stir fry: Potstickers, Egg Rolls, Chicken Lettuce Wraps or Crab Rangoon.
More Chinese Take Out Inspired Recipes
- Dynamite Shrimp
- Pineapple Chicken
- Easy Chicken Fried Rice
- Mongolian Beef
- Bang Bang Chicken
- Panda Express Orange Chicken
Easy Beef Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons cooking oil
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup snow peas
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 green onion sliced
Sauce:
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
- Cut beef thinly across the grain (no more than ½ inch thick, 2 inch long strips). Place it in a freezer bag (or medium bowl). Stir in 2 Tablespoons of soy sauce and the 2 Tablespoons cornstarch and set aside. Allow this to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare the vegetables and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: Whisk together ½ cup soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and ginger. Set this aside.
- Heat the oil to high heat in a large skillet or wok.
- Add half of the meat to the skillet and fry for 3 minutes. Remove this meat from the skillet and fry the other half. Then remove it from the skillet. (You don’t want to crowd the meat or it will not sear properly.)
- Add the vegetables (except the green onions) to the skillet and fry for 2 minutes.
- Then add the beef back to the skillet. Stir in the sauce and heat through.
- Sprinkle the green onions and toasted sesame seeds over top.
- Serve over noodles or rice.
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27 comments on “Easy Beef Stir Fry”
Best easy stir fry! Simple recipe with easy to follow directions. I’ve made it several times and it always turns out great. This time I substituted a frozen stir fry vegetable mix, still turned out great.
Thank you Tracie!
I followed this recipe exactly and it was delicious! Better than take out. My family loved it! This definitely be on my rotation !
Glad the family loved it! Thanks Diane!
I thought I would try this and it’s great! I make it 2-3 times a month. We wanted to add more vegtables to our menu. Now I can add any vegs….mushrooms too!
Thank you Linda!
My husband loved it and it was my first time ever making stir fry. Getting ready to make it again for Mondays dinner.
Glad to hear that Dallas! Thank you!
Easy and delish!
Thank you Pat!
I have made this twice and the family loves it. The meat is so tender. I added a white onion and used red and orange peppers. I will be making this again soon!
Sounds delicious Nancy. Thanks!
I was surprised at how tender the flank steak was. It was a great meal but it was extremely salty. I’m thinking maybe I marinated the meat too long and I doubled the marinade since I didn’t think there was enough. My bad. Next time I’ll try reduced sodium soy and stick to the recipe. I also mixed the cornstarch and soy together to make a slurry first I’m not sure it I was supposed to to that. You didn’t specify in the recipe. Veggies were great, sauce was the right amount of salty and sweet. Definitely will make this again, I’m sure when I get the saltiness under control it will be great.
This was great all ate. Will definitely make again
Meat was tender, veggies perfect! Delicious !!!
Brilliant and easy, will be a regular dish
So good!! My family ate this up. No left overs
I have not made easy beef stir fry yet but was wondering could I use frozen vegies in it, if so do i follow the same instructions .
I used lots of different veggies and a good cut of beef – this turned out delicious!! Is now my go to beef stir fry recipe!!
Delicious and easy.
I improvised on the vegetables, but it was delicious!
Excellent!!! Easy to make and is super delicious. I would cut back half of the sauce next time I make it. Loved it!!!
Can you use the soy and other ingredients with chicken breast
Absolutely!
This beef stir fry was delicious.! Thank you for sharing.!
Very good seasonings. I added noodles and rice. No sesame seeds, maybe next time.
Loved it. Didn’t put sesame seeds on though. Added other veggies too.