Easy Beef And Broccoli Stir-Fry Recipe

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

20 mins

Servings:

4

This beef and broccoli stir-fry recipe is ready in under 20 minutes, making it an excellent weeknight meal—particularly if you have leftover cooked rice on hand.

Ground chuck is stir-fried with broccoli, garlic, rice, and bell pepper, then coated with a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar. Served hot with scallions, a sprinkle of salt, and crushed red pepper, it's a satisfying meal that can be on the table before anyone asks when dinner will be ready.

Test Kitchen Tip

Ground chuck has more fat than ground sirloin. It cooks up extra crispy in this easy stir-fry without drying out, and the tasty juices are soaked up by the rice. Spread the ground beef in an even layer in the pan to create a nice sear.

The Key to Good Stir-Fry

Stir-fry recipes are beloved for how easy they are, but a few strategic steps can make this on even better:

Have your ingredients ready: Stir-frying should happen quickly, so having your ingredients ready before you start is the key to staying on top of the cooking process.
Use a wok, cast-iron pan, or large skillet: Stir-frying means high heat and quick cooking; use a pan that retains heat well and has a good surface area.
Stir often: Keep the ingredients moving to make sure everything is cooked evenly.
Finish with something fresh: Beef stir-fry can be rich and saucy; adding a fresh element like sliced scallions can brighten the dish before serving.

Ingredients for Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

To make this stir fry, you'll need:

Canola oil: For browning the beef.
Ground chuck: With its higher fat content, ground chuck cooks up crispy and remains tender.
Broccoli: Cut into florets for quick cooking and easy serving.
Garlic cloves: Adds depth.
Long-grain rice: Cold, cooked rice quickly heats in the pan without clumping; can also substitute with cauliflower rice.
Red bell pepper: Adds crunch and color.
Lower-sodium soy sauce: Salty, umami flavor. Can substitute with standard soy sauce; just eliminate the additional salt called for in the recipe.
Rice wine vinegar: Adds acidity to brighten the dish.
Toasted sesame oil: For a nutty richness; can be substituted with other oils if needed (olive, walnut, peanut).
Light brown sugar: Adds sweetness.
Scallions: Thinly sliced for a fresh bite.
Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor of the stir-fry.
Crushed red pepper: Adds heat.

How To Make Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

This stir-fry comes together quickly for a weeknight meal idea you can always keep in your back pocket, especially when you have leftover cooked rice on hand. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add beef, and cook until browned. Add broccoli and garlic; cook until broccoli starts to soften, about 6 minutes. Add rice and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until heated through, about 6 minutes.
Step 2. Stir together soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar. Pour into pan; stir to combine.
Step 3. Remove from heat; sprinkle with scallions, salt, and crushed red pepper.

How To Store Leftover Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Refrigerate leftover stir-fry in an airtight container up to three days, or freeze up to three months. Reheat on the stovetop until hot throughout before serving.

More Stir-Fry Recipes You'll Love

Simple, tasty, and fast weeknight meals that will never let you down:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 lb. ground chuck
2 large heads broccoli, cut into florets, stems peeled and sliced (about 6 cups)
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 1 Tbsp.)
3 cups cold, cooked long-grain rice
1 large (11-oz.) red bell pepper, sliced
3 Tbsp. lower-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. light brown sugar
4 scallions, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper

Directions

Cook beef:

Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add beef, and press into a thin layer covering bottom of skillet. Cook, stirring once, until browned, about 6 minutes.
Add vegetables and rice:

Add broccoli and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli begins to soften, about 6 minutes. Add rice and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until heated through and beginning to brown, about 6 minutes.
Mix sauce:

Stir together soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar in a small bowl. Pour soy mixture over rice mixture, stirring to combine.
Add scallions:

Remove from heat; sprinkle with scallions, salt, and crushed red pepper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen vegetables for stir-fry?

You can use frozen vegetables for this beef stir-fry recipe. No need to defrost them first; just throw them right into the pan when directed.
What other types of vegetables can I add to beef stir-fry?

When it comes to stir-fry, almost any vegetable will do. Choose vegetables that will cook quickly (or thinly slice ones that need a bit more time). Peppers, carrots, onions, mushrooms, and bok choy all make great choices.
Can I use other types of meat for this stir-fry?

You can substitute the ground beef in this recipe for ground pork, chicken, or turkey. Check out our other stir-fry recipes (linked above) if using shrimp or thinly sliced chicken, pork, or beef.

Additional reporting by

Katie Rosenhouse

Easy Beef And Broccoli Stir-Fry

Test Kitchen Tip

The Key to Good Stir-Fry

Ingredients for Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

How To Make Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

How To Store Leftover Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

More Stir-Fry Recipes You'll Love

Ingredients

Directions

Cook beef:

Add vegetables and rice:

Mix sauce:

Add scallions:

Frequently Asked Questions

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