Chinese Beef and Broccoli. Tender juicy beef stir fried with broccoli in a delicious rich brown sauce with umami flavor! Ready in 30 minutes!
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What is Chinese Beef and Broccoli?
This easy Chinese beef and broccoli stir fry recipe is a staple in many Asian households. It's made of tender beef, crisp broccoli in a savory brown sauce. Commonly this Chinese food is served as a main dish with white rice or fried rice. You'll find this popular Chinese dish at many Chinese restaurants or for takeout.
I love this easy beef stir fry recipe because it's made with simple ingredients that serves a wholesome meal proving to be a crowd pleaser. I've made numerous stir fry dishes on the blog and this is the one I enjoy the most because of that ultra tender beef and that sauce.
If you're crunched for time, this is a great weeknight dinner for the whole family to enjoy. It's quick and easy as everything is made in one pan!
Ingredients
Please scroll down to the below Recipe card for full measurements.
- Flank Steak: or substitute with sirloin tip steak, tri-tip steak, hanger steak, top round steak. Flank steak is the best cut of beef for this type of dish.
- Broccoli: purchase a broccoli crown and separate into florets. You may also sub with chopped Chinese broccoli, snap peas, snow peas, bok choy, yu choy, or choy sum.
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil or coconut oil as it carries a heavy scent and taste.
- Water
Stir Fry Sauce
- Oyster sauce: or sub with vegetarian stir fry sauce
- Cornstarch
- Chicken stock or beef stock, vegetable stock or water.
Beef Marinade
- Sesame oil: substitute with a neutral oil.
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.Â
- Shaoxing wine or Chinese rice wine: or Dry sherry wine. For a non alcoholic substitute, replace with any broth of your choice or omit completely.
- White granulated sugar or brown sugar
- Cornstarch
- Baking soda: do not skip this! This velvets the beef making it super tender.
- White pepper
Note: Most Asian markets will carry these ingredients. You may find them at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.
How to Make Chinese Beef and Broccoli
Slice Beef
Slice beef against the grain of the meat. Tip: freeze your meat for 45-60 minutes (in a reusable bag) and slice when the meat is slightly frozen as this is your best bet to making those thin slices.
Marinate Beef
Marinate thinly sliced beef with Marinade ingredients (as listed above) for 15 minutes.
Create Sauce
In a bowl, mix Stir-Fry Sauce ingredients as listed until well combined and set aside.
Fry Beef
In a hot wok or large skillet on medium heat, add neutral oil. Once oil is hot, fry beef in a single layer until 95% cooked. Remove beef from pan.
Add Aromatics & Water
Into the pan, add ginger, garlic, and broccoli. Pour water into pan and mix with broccoli. Cook until broccoli becomes vibrant green, about 1 minute.
Simmer Sauce & Add Beef
Once broccoli is vibrant green, pour in stir fry sauce and mix together. Let sauce thicken. If it's not thickening, raise to medium-high heat. Once sauce is thick, add back in cooked beef and toss everything together. Remove off heat. Serve and enjoy.
Storage & Reheating
Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.Â
Expert Tips
- To thinly slice beef, freeze the flank steak for 45-60 minutes in the freezer and cut with a sharp knife.
- Prepare your ingredients in advance as the cooking process is fast!
- Fry beef until 95% cooked as it'll be tossed back into the pan later.
Other Stir-Fry recipes you may like!
- Chicken and Broccoli
- Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry
- Asian Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry
- Spicy Korean Chicken Stir Fry
- Chinese Hoisin Eggplant Stir Fry
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Chinese Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 0.55 lbs flank steak or skirt steak or flat iron steak
- 1 crown broccoli cut into florets
- ½ inch ginger sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral tasting oil
- 2 tablespoon water cold
Stir Fry Sauce:
- 3 tablespoon oyster sauce or vegetarian stir fry sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch
- ½ cup chicken stock low sodium or sub with beef stock or vegetable stock
Beef Marinade:
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil or sub with neutral oil if you're allergic
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon Shaoxing wine or sub with Dry Sherry Wine. For non alcohol, omit completely or sub with your choice of broth
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch or potato starch
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda do not skip this!
- â…› teaspoon white pepper or black pepper
Instructions
- Thinly slice beef against the grain. Tip: if beef is thawed, freeze beef in a reusable bag for 45-60 minutes and when it's slightly frozen, you will be able to cut it very thinly with a sharp knife.
- Marinate thinly sliced beef with Marinade ingredients (as listed above) for 15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix Stir Fry Sauce ingredients (as listed above) until well combined and set aside.
- In a wok or pan on medium heat, add oil. Once oil is hot, fry beef until 95% cooked. Remove beef from pan.
- Into the pan, add ginger, garlic, and broccoli. Pour water into pan and mix with broccoli. Cook until broccoli becomes vibrant green, about 1 minute.
- Once broccoli is vibrant green, pour in stir fry sauce and mix together. Let sauce thicken.
- Once sauce is thick, add back in cooked beef and toss everything together. Remove off heat. Serve and enjoy!
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
Definitely a classic Chinese dish! If only my kids liked beef... but at least they love broccoli! 🙂
Josiah - DIY Thrill
Love how you added ginger, looks delicious!
Linda
This was so delicious and really easy to make. I had it with noodles and it was good!
Leanne
We love beef and broccoli! It's one of my hubby's faves. Can't wait to give this one a try Christie!
Lauren
This sounds so delicious! Recipe saved!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
Broccoli and beef is already one of my very favorite dinners, but your homemade marinade and stir fry sauce turn this recipe into a superstar!
Never Ending Journeys
This beef and broccoli is the perfect combination of healthy and delicious! Such a tasty dinner idea.
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Who doesn't love beef and broccoli!? Looks delicious!! I want to dig in!
Kim Lange
This is such a great dish that everyone loves! I love dishes that have a lot of broccoli and this looks so succulent!
Nabilla
Turned out exactly as in the video and reminds me of the dish we would always order at Chinese restaurants. Thanks for sharing! This will be a mainstay in my recipe rotation!
christieathome
Thank you so much for this kind review and for making my recipe, Nabilla! I'm really happy to read this and glad you all enjoyed it.
Christine
Flavour is spot on! This is a winner. Thank you.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Christine! So happy that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Jac
Delicious and had plenty of sauce
christieathome
Thanks so much for the kind review and glad you enjoyed it!
Clarivette
The best beef and broccoli I’ve ever had! Easy and delicious!!
christieathome
Thank you so much Clarivette! I truly appreciate your kind comment and glad it was easy and delicious! 🙂
Brendan
Beautiful dish, just a shame that the beef I chose was tough as old boots. Will try it again but will use rump steak.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my dish and I hope it works out better for your next time!
Renae Alexander
Simple and oh soooo delicious
christieathome
Thanks so much for making it! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jeremy Pease
Wonderful recipe which is on point and easy to follow. Came out great! This is my go to for recipes!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe, Jeremy 🙂 Such kind words and I'm really happy it's now your go to for this dish.
James
This is simply the BEST!! A few things I’ve done to adapt the recipe: add a teaspoon of chili flakes for a little bite and overdose on the garlic. Plus, nothing like a little MSG (so misunderstood) in the marinade. This recipe is a regular go-to. Thank you!!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, James! I am so happy that you enjoyed it with those wonderful additions. Have a lovely day!
Roxy
I made this recipe last night I have I have to say it was one of the best cooking I've done... I had to substitute a few things... It was very differcult to find a flat iron/skirt steak in the UK so I used a minute steak meat from M and S. Instead of the Oyster sauce, I used Hoison sauce which gave it a sweet favor and I didn't have a regular soy and and used dark.... personally I like things a little more salty however this wasn't a salty dish... only downfall was my rice... any recipes to cook rice? I need help haha...overall I couldn't get over how delicious and so easy this was to prep and cook!!! Definitely be making that again soon!!! Thank you for your insight!!! Xx
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Roxy! I am so happy you enjoyed my recipe with the substitutes. I will consider your suggestion on a recipe on how to cook rice in a pot (I usually use a rice cooker for the best steamed rice).
Jimmy
Quick and easy really good.
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe, Jimmy! Glad you enjoyed it!
Diane
Yummy and easy to make !
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for leaving a kind review, Diane!
Shari
This was so flavorful and I added carrots green peppers and onions to it. Thank you for the recipe
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for the kind review, Shari! I'm so happy that you enjoyed it 🙂
Jenn
Delicious! Subbed Brussel sprouts and carrots for broccoli that I didn’t have on hand. Definitely one of the best Chinese dishes I’ve made, the sauce is right on point to flavors I’ve been looking to accomplish in a home cooked recipe. The prep is worth the end result. Thank you!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Jenn! So happy you enjoyed my dish with brussel sprouts and carrots! Happy it was one of the best Chinese dishes you've made 🙂 Have a lovely day!
Leia
Amazing recipe!
Family devoured the whole thing. I made 4x as I had a large top sirloin. I used olive oil as I didn’t have sesame. I used white whine instead of sherry as I didn’t have anything else. And subbed hoisin when I found my oyster sauce was gone. It was so good but I’ll make again with what it calls for. No need to go buy Chinese food at the restaurant anymore!
Thank you!!
christieathome
So happy to read that it worked out well with the substitutions! Thanks so much for making my recipe Leia!
Shirl
I just made this for dinner last night and it was outstanding. (I tripled the recipe) it was all gone! I did not have oyster sauce so I used hoisin sauce instead. I just used red wine as that is all I had. This one is going in my recipe box as a keeper! Thank you for sharing.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Shirl! So glad you enjoyed it with the substitutions too!
Helene Chan
this was a great and simple recipe to follow. i only had sake in my fridge, so used that as a sub to the Shaoxing wine . the flavors were perfect with a bowl of rice 🙂
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for leaving a kind review, Helene! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Shirl
Outstanding! I served to a large group and everyone loved it. I didn’t change a thing but did add a few onions, mushrooms and a bit of green pepper. This really is the best beef and broccoli I have ever had… yum! Thank you for sharing your recipe. I look forward to trying some of your others.
kirsten andrews
it’s literally the best chinese beef and broccoli recipe ever. i’m gonna use this one for the rest of my life. thanks for creating an amazing and delicious meal!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the raving review, Kirsten! I am so thrilled that you love it so much and that it's a recipe for the books!! Have a lovely day 🙂