Beef and Broccoli stir fry makes the perfect dish when that takeout craving hits! Best of all, this skinny-version is SO easy and flavorful and much healthier and way better than any restaurant version. Great for Sunday meal prep for school or work lunchboxes or lunch bowls! Plus recipe video.
Beef and Broccoli is a popular takeout dish that used to show up at our house regularly.
Along with fried rice, lo mein and this sweet and sour chicken, it was one of the very first dishes my parents taught all three of us kids how to make.
It’s a favorite Chinese dish that still shows up at my own family’s dinner table even today since my husband and kids love it.
Plus, there’s also an option to make this gluten-free or paleo friendly if you are trying to incorporate more of those recipes into your diet.
Tips for cooking the beef:
The key to getting that nice restaurant sizzle is to get the pan really, really hot before adding the beef.
Let the pan sit on high heat with the cooking oil for about 2 minutes. Or until you see enough steam rising before adding the beef and garlic.
Cutting the beef nice and thin and coating it with cornstarch seals in that rich flavor. It also adds a nice and juicy coating to the marinated beef strips. And you won’t have to worry about tough and chewy pieces.
So juicy, succulent and you can’t beat how quickly this dish comes together. Who needs take-out when this Skinny Beef and Broccoli comes together in just under 30 minutes?!
MAKE AHEAD AND MEAL PREP TIPS FOR THIS BEEF AND BROCCOLI STIR-FRY
- Wash and prep the broccoli the day before and store in a large zip-top freezer bag.
- Combine the ingredients for the sauce the day before and store in a resealable container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- If serving with rice, quinoa or noodles, make a big batch and store in a large resealable container in the fridge.
- This recipe works great for meal prep on Sundays and leftovers are delicious for work or school lunch bowls for the rest of the week.
- Divide into lunch containers (these are the ones I use —-> lunch containers) with your favorite carb – cauliflower rice, brown or white rice, quinoa or even noodles!
More lunch bowls:
General Tso’s Chicken Lunch Bowls
Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Lunch Bowls
Watch the recipe video for step-by-step instructions:
Yields 4-6
Skinny Beef and Broccoli stir fry – skip the takeout when that craving hits! This easy and flavorful dish is healthier and way better than any restaurant version.
14 minPrep Time
12 minCook Time
26 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
10 - 12 ounces (about 3/4 lb) flank steak or sirloin, trimmed of fat, very thinly sliced against the grain
1 tablespoon cooking oil
water, for blanching broccoli (omit if not blanching)
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
3 1/2 cups of broccoli florets (about 1 head)
For the beef marinade
1 teaspoon cornstarch (or arrowroot or tapioca starch for paleo)
1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce or tamari ( tamari if necessary) or coconut aminos for a paleo version
1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce (optional for color & extra flavor)(leave out for gluten free or paleo version)
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
For the sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons oyster flavored sauce or vegetarian flavored oyster sauce (leave out for paleo version)
1 1/2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free if necessary) or coconut aminos for a paleo version
1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce (optional but recommended)
2 teaspoons granulated sugar, or 1 teaspoon raw honey for paleo
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon Mirin , Chinese cooking wine or Dry Sherry (omit for paleo version)
2 teaspoons cornstarch (or arrowroot or tapioca starch for paleo)
salt and black pepper, to taste
1/3 cup cold water or sodium free chicken broth for extra flavor (plus more as needed to thin out the sauce)
Instructions
- Marinate the beef: In a medium bowl, mix together all of the ingredients for the marinade. Add the beef slices and stir until coated. Set aside for at least 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile blanch the broccoli: (skip if not blanching) In a large non-stick saute pan or wok on high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 30 seconds. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Make the sauce: Combine all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Heat cooking oil over high heat, for about 2 minutes - using the same non-stick pan or wok you used for your broccoli. The pan needs to be hot enough that you start seeing a little bit of smoke rising.
- Quickly add the beef to the smoking pan and spread the pieces out to a single layer allowing them to sear and brown. Add the garlic and continue cooking until the meat is no longer pink (about 1-2 minutes making sure not to over cook). Pour in the sauce, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens - about 30 seconds. Add more water if needed to thin out sauce. Quickly stir in the the broccoli and toss everything together to coat well. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions if desired. Serve hot over rice or noodles.
- For meal prep:Divide evenly into lunch containers with your favorite carb - rice, quinoa or noodles.
Shanghai Fried Noodles 
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