Beef with Broccoli

Beef with broccoli is a classic takeout recipe, but it’s also a very simple Chinese dish to make at home. You can dress it up with more vegetables if you want, but even if you stick with the basic ingredients, you’ll get a crispy-tender meal with a mouthwatering sauce. Leftovers store well, too, and you can even freeze it for future meals.

The majority of the prep time for this Chinese recipe for beef with broccoli will be spent slicing and chopping the meat and broccoli. The cooking actually goes quickly, so have everything ready to go before you heat up that pan—this is called mise en place and ensures everything is ready to toss into the pan when needed. Don’t forget to have clean bowls available to hold sauce-covered spoons or the cooked beef that you’ll add back to the pan later in the recipe.

Beef with Broccoli Ingredients

• Cornstarch: This will help thicken the sauce as it cooks. Ensure the cornstarch is fully dissolved and that the sauce hasn’t separated before you add it to the pan.
• Beef broth: Broth provides most of the liquid for the sauce. Use low-sodium broth if possible.
• Sherry or beef broth: Sherry and other cooking alcohol can enhance the flavor of a cooked sauce, but if you don’t like or can’t have alcohol in your food, use additional beef broth instead. Don’t leave out this extra liquid entirely because the sauce will end up being too thick and too small an amount for the beef with broccoli recipe.
• Soy sauce: Soy sauce makes the flavor of the recipe’s sauce much richer (and also saltier, so try to find reduced-sodium soy sauce).
• Brown sugar: This helps sweeten the sauce just a little, countering the saltiness.
• Garlic and gingerroot: These aromatics add a lot of flavor. Use minced fresh garlic and ginger, not powdered/granulated spices.
• Beef top sirloin steak: You’ll want the steak cut into strips that are 1/4-inch wide. To make it easier to slice, place the beef in the freezer for a few minutes before preparing.
• Broccoli florets: Cut larger florets into smaller pieces. They’ll cook faster and be easier to eat.
• Green onions: You can use both the white and green parts of the green onions for this beef with broccoli recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Make the sauce and cook the beef

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Mix the cornstarch, beef broth, sherry (or more broth), soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger in a small bowl, and set that aside. Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet, and add the beef. Stir-fry the beef for one to three minutes, until the beef has browned. Remove the beef from the pan.

Step 2: Cook the broccoli and put everything together

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Add some more oil to the pan and cook the broccoli for three to five minutes, until the broccoli is crisp-tender. Add the green onions to the pan and stir-fry for another one to two minutes, just until the onions start to become tender. Give the sauce a stir and add it to the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and let it cook for two to three minutes, stirring until it thickens. Add the beef to the pan and combine with the other ingredients; cook until the beef is heated through.

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Beef with Broccoli Variations

• Use additional vegetables: While broccoli is the star vegetable in this recipe, you can add other vegetables if you have some that you need to use up or if you prefer the taste of other veggies. Carrots and bell peppers (especially orange and red peppers to give the dish some colorful contrast) are excellent additions. Or, try using Chinese broccoli (gai lan) instead; just keep in mind that Chinese broccoli is usually a little bitter rather than sweet. Napa cabbage and bok choy are also great choices.
• Garnish with sesame seeds: After plating the food, sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top.
• Kick it up a notch: If you like spicy food, add some red pepper flakes to the sauce.

How to Store Beef with Broccoli

Let leftovers of this beef with broccoli recipe cool down. No more than two hours after finishing cooking, place leftovers in airtight containers. The layer of food in each container should be no more than 2 inches thick. Store the containers in the refrigerator, and use up the remaining food within three to four days.

Can you freeze beef with broccoli?

You sure can! Let the leftovers cool and place individual servings in freezer-safe, airtight containers. Store the containers in the freezer for up to three months. When you want to use them, let the leftovers partially thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then heat them in a saucepan or skillet, adding water or broth if needed.

Beef with Broccoli Tips

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What can you serve with this beef with broccoli recipe?

Before anything else, you need something to soak up the sauce. It’s delicious, so don’t let it go to waste! Try making some fluffy rice, either with regular rice or cauliflower rice. Did you know you could make homemade fortune cookies? Try making those for dessert!

Can you use other cuts of beef?

Sirloin is a good cut for this Chinese recipe for beef with broccoli, as it’s flavorful and tender but also tough enough not to disintegrate. But if you can’t get sirloin, then skirt steak is a good second choice. Outside skirt is preferable to inside skirt, although both work well. Flank and chuck are two additional cuts to consider. Try comparing cuts by using them in different beef stir-fry recipes.

Can you marinate the beef?

Absolutely. Make extra sauce, then set aside separate portions for marinating and for use during cooking. Marinate the beef for about 30 minutes, and discard the marinade when you’re ready to cook the beef. Here are some additional tips for marinating meat to help you out.