On the rare night when we order Chinese takeout, we all want something different. Dave craves something spicy, green onion pancakes, and salt & pepper chicken. Lucy requests fried rice. And I prefer beef with broccoli, beef with broccoli, and beef with broccoli. Sadly, it’s a dish that’s hard for most restaurants to get right. The beef sometimes tastes “beefy” (not fresh), the broccoli is overcooked, and the sauce can be soupy.
Lucky for me though, it’s dang easy to make at home. It’s a quick, tasty weeknight meal with no takeout cartons necessary. And the secret to getting the beef fork-tender requires only a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
Start with a few dry ingredients in a large bowl: baking soda, a little bit of sugar, and some cornstarch.
Whisk in some soy sauce, water, and vegetable oil.
Slice your steak against the grain into thin strips. I like flank steak for this dish, but tri-tip or pretty much any cut would work just fine.
Toss the meat with the marinade, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This easy marinade is all that it takes to get that crazy-tender beef, even with less expensive cuts.
Next, when you’re ready for dinner, make the sauce. It’s an easy blend of soy, brown sugar, minced garlic, a bit of flour, and cooking sherry (the sherry is optional; I think it rounds out the flavors nicely but if you don’t have any, no need to take a special trip to the grocery). Stir until the flour and sugar dissolve.
In a large saute pan or wok, heat some vegetable oil on high. When the oil is thoroughly heated (it will begin to shimmer), toss in the broccoli and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring often. Don’t walk away! You’ll risk burning your veggies. Transfer to a plate or a heatproof bowl.
In the same pan, saute the beef with half of the sauce mixture for 3-4 minutes (keep stirring often!) or until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink.
Add the broccoli and dump in the rest of the sauce. Saute for one more minute. Remove from heat.
Serve over rice. Swoon. Eat. Repeat.
I adore the thickness of the sauce. It coats every morsel with that salty, garlicky flavor. Just a little bit seeps onto the rice. Perfection.
Oh, broccoli. You are my favorite vegetable. And unlike that Chinese takeout joint, I didn’t overcook you into broccoli-shaped mush.
And beef. I could write a song about you. It would sound something like a fusion of Styx and Bad Company, with a little Earth, Wind & Fire thrown in for funk.
Don’t worry, world. I’ll spare you that one.
-RDG
Beef with Broccoli Printable PDF
This easy version of the Chinese takeout classic requires only a short marinade to make the beef fork-tender. Serve over white or brown rice. Serves 4.
Prep Time: 10 minutes + 1 hour for marinade Cook Time: 8 minutes
First, marinate the meat:
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 lbs flank steak, sliced into thin strips
1. Whisk together the baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, water, and vegetable oil in a large bowl. Toss the steak with the marinade to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour, then proceed below.
- 1/2 c low-sodium soy sauce (Do NOT use regular. The final product will be way too salty)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp sherry
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 heads broccoli, crowns only
1. In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, flour and sherry until smooth. Set aside.
2. In a large wok or saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil over high heat until shimmering. Add broccoli and saute 3 minutes, stirring often. Transfer broccoli to a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium-high. Carefully add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the hot pan. Add the marinated meat and half of the sauce mixture and saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink. Stir in the broccoli and remaining sauce. Saute 1 minute more. Serve.
This sounds delicious and much easier than I’d ever imagine! When my sister and I go for Chinese she always orders beef and broccoli. I think her pregnant appetite will enjoy a homemade rendition! Thank you!
I hope she enjoys! Thanks for the comment
Without the MSG !! This is yummy I’ve made it twice and it just gets easier and better!
i would love to know how did u do make it without msg i would love to know I hate msg. I always try to avoid having it it any of my meals. thanks so much
As long as you use a soy sauce that doesn’t contain MSG you’re good to go.
Your pictures are so colorful and creative and I like the ingredients words in the bowls!
Thank you, Alli!
YUM!! I always order beef with broccoli from my local noodle shop….. but they up the ante by adding cashew nuts to it! I’ll be trying this one for sure =)
Ooh. Cashews would be good. Thanks, Mel!
Definitely a classic asian dish. I adore broccoli and love it when its in a saucy dish like this. Great step by step photos and recipe!
Thank you, Jara!
I made your fish stick recipe the other night. It was delicious! And both my boys ate every single bite which is nothing short of amazing.
Yay! So glad to hear Maggie!
Really enjoyed this last night. Added the suggested cashews from previous comments and several shakes of red chile flakes! Very tasty! Thanks!
Love that you spiced it up! Thanks for sharing!
This was so delicious! Even more so than the stuff from a typical Chinese restaurant (fresher and better and no soggy broccoli!). The only thing I did differently was that I omitted the sherry. I was interested in the cashew idea, but I didn’t have any so I added some chopped almonds. Very good, but it didn’t need it! This one goes in the recipe box! Thanks!
I’m glad you liked it, Kristin! It’s a keeper in our family too.
Made this tonight, and it was sooo easy and sooo delicious. I would definitely recommend using low-sodium soy sauce though, I didn’t have any on hand and it was a little too salty. Beef was amazingly tender. Will definitely be making again (with low-sodium soy sauce). Thanks for a great recipe!
Ohmygoodness…i get beef & broccoli EVERY single time we go for Chinese or get takeout. More, more & more. This would be my first time attempting to make it, but it looks super-easy & DELICIOUS! Thank you
Just finished eating this…so good! Mine was a little salty for my taste but I think that’s because I used regular Soy Sauce instead of the low sodium since I didn’t have any. In any case, it was a simple, easy recipe that tastes good! Thanks!
Gorgeous pictures! I am making this tonight-so excited! Thank you!!
I made this tonight and almost fell out of my chair, it taste JUST like the traditional take out—- only fresher!!! I added water chestnuts and sliced carrots. I’m sort of particular about my food, but this was AMAZING!!!
Wow!! Thank you for this recipe, it was WONDERFUL! Definitely a keeper. I did substitute of of the TBSPs of oil in the marinade with sesame oil, and I like mine a little more saucy to go over the rice, so I added some chicken broth. I’ve never made a chinese dish that tastes better than the restaurant…until last night!!
Oops, I meant I substituted ONE of the three TBSP of oil with sesame oil.
I amde this for dinner tonight and it was a huge success with my family
The only change I made was to use white wine because I didn’t have any shery. Delicious, thanks for posting.
I made this last night for dinner and it was amazing! I couldn’t believe how great it was – thanks so much for the recipe! It’s definitely a keeper!!
Made this last week and my husband and I loved it! Thanks for sharing this recipe. Would definitely make it again!!
This recipe is awesome! It made me look like a hero. thank you!
Wow! Found this on Pinterest and made it tonight. It really is better than anything from a restaurant! I used a top sirloin steak, added a little crushed red pepper for some heat, and didn’t use the sherry. The meat was so tender, just a promised. My hubby and I were thrilled! I love when I can move a favorite food to the cook-at-home column and save some cash. Yay!
I’m thrilled that you liked it, Megan! I love the idea of crushed red pepper for a little heat—I’ll try that next time!
styx? Earth, wind and fire? Oh yeah…and also that song that says, “do it to me one more time, once in never enough…..”
I love love love this…thanks so much
I, too, saw this on Pinterest. Thank you! It was delicious!! :O)
I seen this on Pinterest…and made this last night for supper and it was delish! Cooked it just as is. And my husband, niece and even my 20 month old son loved it! Thank you so much!
I saw this on pinterest. It is so delicious. The leftovers on the second and third day were even better than the first day. I can’t wait to make it again.
I found this on Pinterest too and WOW this is delish. I made it with elk and it was amazing. I am not a huge fan of wild game but I fell in love with a Montana man so it is mandatory that I cook with it occassionally. This is my new favorite recipe for any red meat, can’t wait to make it again. Thank you:)
Now THAT is one I haven’t heard before. Elk, eh? Ah, the things we do for the men we love…
Thanks for the comment, Adrienne! Made my day
I am trying it with Elk tonight also, as I am also married to a hunter
Can’t wait to dig in!
I saw this on Pinterest and just tried it…AMAZING. It tastes just like the takeout I crave, but it’s so fresh and yummy! And SIMPLE to make! Thanks so much for this!!
I found this on Pinterest as well and decided to make it last night. Boy, am I happy that I did. It tastes just as good as what you would find in a restraunt, but without the cost. I did substitute Marsala wine as I did not have any sherry and I added sliced mini portobello mushrooms. Both of which turned out really great! Thanks for the recipe, it will be added to my collection. I think I might even go and buy a box of fortune cookies to serve afterwards.
I just made this recipe tonight and was delicious!!! Thank You!. Used sesame oil in the marinade and didn’t used the baking soda.
This is going on the menu for next week! And instead of rice I might try some noodles!
I used yakisoba noodles… yummy!
Yummo – I made it tonight and it was delish! I found you via pinterest too.
Emily
When I made this for dinner tonight, my three-year-old asked if we could have it for dinner every night from now on! We have yet to find a convenient Chinese restaurant that we like in our neighborhood for when the craving strikes, and now we may not have to! Such a great recipe, and just as easy as it sounds in your description. Thanks for posting!
YOU ROCK!! Thanks for this recipe!!! It was better than restaurant beef and broccoli!!
Had to let you know that I just tried out your recipe and it was DE-LISH!! My husband loved it too! Thanks for sharing!
Just made this tonight and EVERYONE loved it. Thanks for posting and for the great step-by-step instructions. Just how I need things. Yummmm!
I made this tonight for dinner with my roommates and it was so good! We didn’t have any beef so I just substituted chicken and everything came out just right. So if anyone was wondering, chicken works well too
I also got this from a friend who saw it on pinterest hehe
Saw this on Pinterest i had to try it and it was delish!!! even my non-veggie eating son ate it and loved it. definetley gonna make this again!!
Okay, so I wanted to try this but sadly I ran out of steak. After a frantic call to my brother {I really wanted this for dinner!} we decided that it would be ok to try chicken. It was to die for!!! Your marinating method makes the most tender delicious meat! The chicken and beef versions are definitely going into my menu rotation! Thanks!
Found your recipe on Pinterest. Tried it tonight, and it tasted fantastic! I didn’t have Sherry, so used a dash of red wine vinegar. Also added yakisoba noodles, which flavored really well in the sauce. Thanks for a new family favorite recipe!
Made this last night. Not only was this fast and easy it was sooooo good. This will be a regular in our house. Thanks
I also loved this recipe! I did as a previous poster suggested and replaced one tbsp of veggie oil with sesame seed oil. I also agree that low sodium soy sauce is a must. I used regular soy sauce because it’s what I had and it was a bit too salty but it didn’t ruin the dish. I paired it with brown rice. My husband and I both enjoyed this meal thoroughly. Thank you so much for sharing, I can’t wait to try another one!
I made this tonight and IT IS DELICIOUS!!! I am posting recipe tomorrow! LOVED IT!! Awesome website. Thanks!
Hi! Found your site through pinterest…just finished making this and it’s a HIT!! Thanks for sharing!!!
It was good. A little salty for my taste and I even used low sodium soy sauce. My meat was tough but I probably over cooked it. I am still learning how to cook these kinds of dishes do I will learn as I keep practicing. Will try this again!
I always order Beef & Broccoli when I order chinese, but I moved and where I live the only “chinese” restaurant makes it soooooooooooooooooooooooo disgusting!!! So I’m beyond excited to make this favorite dish of mine at home !!! thank You rainy day gal…..how ironic…it’s raining out, think I’m cooking supper tonight! Yippppeee
I found your recipe on Pinterest.
I love so many thing about this recipe!
It’s fast, easy, smells fantastic while cooking, it’s easy, it’s waaaay better than takeout and what inline the most is that my husband and 2 year old live it
This is defiantly a regular at our house!
Seriously?!?!?! Just made this for dinner, hands down best beef and broccoli EVER!!! Forget PF Changs, this is amazing!!! So easy, and the meat was so tender that it was perfect for my 4 year old who’s usually chewing and chewing on the meat just to swallow. Thank you for posting this!!!! A new family favorite!!!
Huge hit at my house! Awesome recipe!
So excited to try this! Love your photos! Was looking for a broccoli recipe to try for this week’s ingredient of the week (broccoli) and this looks easy and nutritious, so it fit the bill. Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much for this recipe, it was absolutely delicious and I ate two helpings, lol, some for me and some for my unborn child! Thanks!
Baby needs iron! Glad you enjoyed Ashley! xo
Wow! This is absolutely DELISH & so easy too! I’ve made it twice now – once as beef with broccoli and then again last night using your fab marinade & sauce for my regular chicken and veggie stir fry. Both times were awesome – love the thickness of the sauce, the flavor & how it coats everything. Thank you soooo much for this!
This was an awesome dish – served it with mashed potatoes.
I wanted to let you know that I made this dish last night and my boyfriend and his son went nuts for it! It tasted just like Chinese take out but 100 times better! They liked it so much I am making it again for dinner tonight. I was so surprised how well the broccoli turned out, it was cooked perfectly. Do you think this would work with chicken as well?
Hi Stephanie–yes it works with chicken, too! And tastes just as great
I like boneless, skinless thighs (most asian restaurants use darker meat like thighs) but breasts would work well also. Thanks for the comment!