Beef Stir Fry


Author: Rachel

Published Date: November 4, 2021

This Beef Stir Fry recipe is made of perfectly seared and tender beef strips and crunchy veggies tossed in a flavorful and silky sauce! It is a delicious toss of sweet, savory, and umami flavors in one amazingly easy-to-make dish that rivals any that you’ve had at Chinese restaurants! 

Beef Stir Fry
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Homemade Beef Stir Fry- Better than Take-Out!

I must admit that Chinese takeout and food deliveries have saved me more times than I can even count. They are easy dinner options when I am up to my ears with too much stuff!

But ever since I tried my hand at this Beef Stir Fry at home, I never went back to buying it off the menu. One thing I’ve learned- stir fries are best served right off the hot pan!

Cook it quickly, serve straight from pan to plate, and it’ll be gone in a blink of an eye! It’s the perfect weeknight dinner for all the busy mamas out there!

I usually serve stir fry beef over a bed of steamed or fried rice, but you can also toss it with noodles! I recommend making a bit more of the beef stir fry sauce to coat the noodles.

The Secret to Super Tender and Juicy Beef

Most recipes usually skip marinating the meat, but I find this step very important in making the best beef stir fry at home.

Letting the sliced beef rest in a soy sauce and cornstarch mix for an amount of time not only makes it super flavorful but also keeps the beef juicy and tender! And the cornstarch locks the moisture in and protects the beef strips from overcooking, then gives your meat a slightly crispy outside texture when cooking.

This process is called velveting the meat. And believe me, it makes a world of difference!

Some velveting techniques use of baking soda, vinegar and flour slurries. I have not tried those and find that cornstarch works really well.

Beef Stir Fry t
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Why This Recipe Works

  • This one-pan dish is certifiably one of the easiest beef recipes you can ever make! It will take you less than 15 minutes to cook.
  • Since you have complete control over the ingredients, you can make this easy beef stir fry as sweet or savory as you like it to be.
  • A low carb, healthy dish brimming with crisp and colorful veggies! It is a great way to make use of any leftover vegetables in your fridge.

Ingredients Needed

  • Flank steak
  • Soy sauce
  • Cornstarch
  • Cooking oil
  • Broccoli florets
  • Carrots
  • Snow peas
  • Bell pepper
  • Green onion
  • Brown sugar
  • Garlic powder
  • Ginger
  • Sesame seeds
Beef Stir Fry Ingredients
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Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

  • Wok or deep skillet
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk 
  • Sharp knife

How to Make Beef Stir Fry

Preparations:

  • Cut beef into thin slices. No more than ½ inch thick, 2 inch long strips.
  • Prepare the veggies according to recommended cuts.
  • Place sliced beef in a freezer bag or medium bowl, stir in soy sauce and cornstarch and set aside. Allow this to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  • Make the sauce by whisking together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and ginger in a small bowl. Set this aside.

Let’s Cook!

  1. Heat the oil to high heat in a large skillet or wok.
  2. Cook the marinated beef in 2 batches until seared and browned.
  3. Add the vegetables (except the green onions) to the skillet and fry for 2 minutes.
  4. Then add the beef back to the skillet. Stir in the sauce and heat through.
  5. Sprinkle the green onions and toasted sesame seeds over top.
  6. Serve the stir-fry beef over noodles or rice.
Beef Stir Fry Process
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Tips when Making Beef Stir Fry

  • Always cut the beef against the grain. This will cut the muscle fibers of the beef, making them tender and easy to chew.
  • Make sure all your ingredients are prepared and ready before you turn your stove on. Stir fry recipes require a quick cooking process that does not leave free time in between to do your chopping or measuring.
  • Drain the beef off excess marinade a few minutes before you start cooking. Never sear them with too much liquid or you will end up with limp and soggy beef.
  • To give your beef a good sear, cook them in batches! Do not overcrowd your pan because it will steam the meat instead of browning the surfaces.
  • Cook veggies depending on your preference. I find that 2 minutes is enough to soften them a bit but still keep their vibrancy and crunch. If you like them softer, you can cook them a bit longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. I can’t find flank steak – what other cut of beef will work? The best beef cuts to use aside from flank are skirt steak or sirloin steak.
  2. What other vegetables could I use in this beef stir fry? Some other vegetables that would work would be green bell peppers, mushrooms, baby corn, zucchini, celery, bean sprouts, bok choy, snap peas, or cabbage.
  3. It seems like with that much soy sauce the dish may be salty? If you find it too salty, you could add a teaspoon of vinegar to balance that flavor. Or you could use low sodium soy sauce.
  4. I don’t have any brown sugar – could I use white sugar? Yes, that will be delicious as well! You can also use hoisin sauce or oyster sauce to add more sweetness.
  5. Do I have to toast the sesame seeds – and what is the best way to do this? I think the flavor of the toasted sesame seeds is preferable but you can get away without toasting them. I find that the easiest way is to toast them in a skillet at medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Watch them carefully as they can turn very quickly. They should be golden or medium brown
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Storing Leftover Beef Stir Fry

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. They reheat well in the microwave.

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Beef Stir Fry


5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 363 kcal
This Beef Stir Fry recipe is made of perfectly seared and tender beefstrips and crunchy veggies tossed in a flavorful and silky sauce!

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 medium red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 medium 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 deep 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.

NUTRITION

Calories: 363kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 32gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 2226mgPotassium: 873mgFiber: 4gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 6865IUVitamin C: 96mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 4mg
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Chinese
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweettea_and_sprinkles or tag #sweetteaandsprinkles

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