This easy beef and broccoli recipe is one of our favorite easy dinners to make and it all comes together in around 20 minutes!
So, we had actually planned to have this easy beef and broccoli recipe with some sticky rice, but we had a little adventure that kept me out of the pantry. And by adventure I mean, I’m a total chicken was way too scaredy pants to risk getting the rice out.
We made this recipe last Friday and while I was getting everything ready our oldest daughter had the task of pulling everything out of the pantry so we could wipe down the shelves and reorganize. Suddenly she screamed that there was mold and she wasn’t touching anything. I couldn’t imagine that there was so I walked over and there were these little brown things in the shape of sprinkles. I immediately thought we had a mouse and would not dare go in the pantry until Cade came home.
The sad thing about mice is that both Cade and I don’t like them. Cade had a bad run with his brother in law and baby mice that has totally ruined him and I just can’t stand the little critters. So, I made beef and broccoli and we totally skipped the rice. Cade came home and checked things out… the mouse poop ended up being seeds from our Dave’s Killer Bread and I was pretty much a total fool. We all had a good laugh and I learned my lesson, cleaning out the pantry more than just 3 times a year is a must to avoid future awkward moments.
Can You Eat Broccoli Stems?
Broccoli has two main edible parts, the florets — the dark green forest-y tops which are actually undeveloped flower buds — and the stalk.
Many people do not eat the stalk, but the stalk is actually good, and good for you.
Gram for gram, the stems contain slightly more calcium, iron and Vitamin C than the floret.
Can You Freeze Broccoli?
Broccoli stems and florets must be blanched before freezing.
This 3 minute quick-boil keeps the broccoli from becoming bitter when frozen.
What is A Flank Steak?
Flank steak is lean and flavorful, and should be thinly sliced against the grain when carving.
Flank steak may also be called London broil or skirt steak.
Easy Beef and Broccoli
Easy Beef and Broccoli
Description
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon chili paste, or 1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 3/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
For the Dish
- Olive Oil for Beef by Star Fine Foods, regular canola or olive oil will work see note
- salt and pepper for seasoning
- 2 steaks, trimmed, and sliced thin (any steak will do, or you can even use 1 flank steak)
- 1 head of broccoli, steamed and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add all of the ingredients except the cornstarch and water.
- Heat until boiling.
- In a small dish, whisk together the cornstarch and water and slowly, while whisking the sauce, pour in the cornstarch.
- Continue to whisk and bring back to a boil.
- Turn down to a simmer and allow to cook for 5-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a grill pan or skillet over medium high heat.
- Season the meat with salt and pepper.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil and add the meat, making sure not to crowd the pan.
- Cook the meat for about a minute or two, turn over and cook for an additional minute or until almost completely cooked. (Overcooking the meat or cooking until well done in the pan will result in dry and chewy meat with less flavor.)
- Place on a plate and tent with foil while the sauce finishes.
- Add the beef and sauce together, tossing to coat, as well as the broccoli if you wish, or just add the broccoli to the bowl.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Trying to keep things out of the fryer? This baked sesame chicken is a healthier favorite!
Our reader favorite recipe!!
Renita Barnett
Great recipes!
Sweet Basil
Thank you Renita!
VERONICA HAYES
Why do recipes that have beef as an ingredient use chicken stock instead of beef stock???
Sweet Basil
You can totally use either, we just like the way the chicken tastes in the sauce for this one!
Almudena Licea
for the chili paste is it okay to use Sriracha?
Sweet Basil
Yes, but it will be quite spicy. If you like spicy, then go for it!
JUNE SCHIAVONI
It always upsets me when I hear cooks and chefs recommend CANOLA OIL in any dish. Are you aware of the fact that this oil was used to grease the railroad tracks back in the day. When they did away with this, another use for Canola had to be found, for the sake of the almighty dollar and so what better than to be used for HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Please people, do NOT use this oil. Use peanut oil if you must deep fry, coconut oil to cook with and OLIVE OIL in salads only because you should not heat Olive oil because it changes it into something toxic. Do your research when cooking with OILS and your body will love you for it. BUT….be careful what you believe. AND only buy oils in small bottles because they begin to go rancid as soon as you open the bottle. Hope I could help….JUNE SCHIAVONI
Karie
Way Way too much salt!!!!
Heidi
Is the amount of ground ginger 1 teaspoon AND 1/4 teaspoon or 1/4 teaspoon? Thanks!
Sweet Basil
Hi Heidi, it’s 1 and 1/4 teaspoon. Thanks for asking!
Erin Chlarson
JUST found/stumbled across your site (like, seriously, it was YESTERDAY), and this will be the second recipe I make. Your roasted tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons will be tonight, and I CANNOT wait to try this beef and broccoli. Thank you, a thousand times over (most of those in advance, I”m sure!) for making and maintaining this site. I absolutely love good foodie sites, and yours looks to be among the best of the best. Much love to you and yours! xoxo
Sweet Basil
So sweet of you, Erin!! Thank you so much for the kind words. It means so much to hear from our readers and I hope you love everything! Today is pretty perfect for soup, at least in Utah. 🙂
Marcia Nicolaisen
Hate mice too!!! Rats are in same category. This looks super yummy. As for all who scream about healthy, try another website or make the changes you want. Not everyone needs to accommodate your dietary issues. Stop expecting everyone to jump through hoops for you. Offended? Well, too bad. I’m offended that you’re offended. This site always satisfies. Thank you for another wonderful idea. P.S. I’m using rice. I just cleaned out my pantry. We had an ant issue but we wrangled them into an ant trap and all our food was safe because we use air tight containers.
Sweet Basil
Ugh, i’m so sorry you had an issue! Isn’t that the worst?! And thank you so much for the kind comments. 🙂
smithy
Soy Sauce and brown sugar are hardly ingredients in a healthy recipe!
Why not a healthier version for those of us on healthy, no-sugar, low-salt restricted diets? Thanks!
Leona
I love beef and broccoli, but I would try it with chicken also. Thank you for sharing.
sweetlove
Loved your story! Ignore negative comments! Recipe looks great! I showed it to my kids, the picture, Make that mom, please. LOL I will follow your recipes for sure! More stories, Please! 🙂
Sweet Basil
Thank you!! And we hope you will keep coming xoxo!
Meagan
This is soo good. Made this last night and my hubby and kids loved it. I read some of the comments and went a little shy on the soy sauce. Next time I will add onions and carrots with the broccoli! I have made many Asian dishes and this by far was my favorite. I cannot wait to try your other recipes now! Thanks!!
Meagan
I also used Ribeye meat and it turned out great!
Sweet Basil
Yay! I’m so glad! And I bet ribeye was wonderful!
Natti
I have to say, I absolutely love the taste of this sauce! I taste like legitimate Chinese takeout. I did make some adjustments because I didn’t have chili paste and so I used chili oil. This was my first recipe from the site, but now I want to see what else you have posted. Thank you for sharing!
Sweet Basil
Oh I love that it turned out with chili oil! I’ll have to try that myself now! Thanks so much!
Alice
The dish looks great. Your ingredients authentic.
Thanks.
Sad that there were so many mice comments. Especially when there were no MICE. Most of us do not like mice because it makes us feel we have not done a good job of being clean. And what do they carry with them! You handed the first comment like a very gracious lady. Good job.
Sweet Basil
thank you Alice! That means so much to me.
JAMES CAROLEO
After reading the open story about Mice. How the hell can I or anyone actually make any one of your recipes? All I could think of is DISGUSTING.
Sweet Basil
haha, well considering how it ends it shouldn’t leave you grossed out at all. 😉
Alivia
James, Your a boob and full of crap! You know for a fact that you your self in your life time have had a mouse in your house. And if you say you have never have then you sir are a liar! So get over your better then thou attitude and come down from you high horse because we all know better…
JoAnn
And then there were no mice or mice poop… but James making a fuss about nothing.
Ryan
I’ve made this a few times and it is amazing. I also made the sauce (minus the cornstarch) and marinated chicken wings in it. As I was grilling them, I basted them in some reserved sauce. It was delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Sweet Basil
I love the idea of using it for wings!
Mariya
This was delicious! I made it for dinner for me and my boyfriend and we both loved it. Making it again tonight for dinner
Sweet Basil
So glad! Thank you so much!
Alvin Lee
truly delicious looking dish and looks easy enough to make.
Sweet Basil
So easy, hope you enjoy!
Renee H.
I made it with beef the first time, but it can be adapted to anything! I have a pescetarian boyfriend and it’s also really good with fried tofu or shrimp. That sauce is so versatile.
Sweet Basil
Oh I love that it worked well with the fried tofu! I’ll have to try that!
Stacey Haraslon
First time making beef and broccoli. Very easy and good, I might cut the sugar down just a bit because I like to follow a Paleo like diet.
Sweet Basil
Thanks Stacey! Keep me posted on how it goes.
Genessee
If you don’t have low sodium soy sauce can you just use less of regular soy sauce?
Sweet Basil
Unfortunately it still ends up a bit too salty for our family, but it may not bother you.
Silvia
if you don’t have light soy sauce you can just make your own by boiling a bit of water and soy sauce until they combine (it takes only a few minutes) and then let it cool down. That’s at least how I make mine (to make one cup: a quarter water (maybe actually a bit more), 3/4 soy sauce; adjust the amount of water to taste).
Sweet Basil
That’s so great to know! Thank you!
Duane
Our family enjoyed the meal. Next time we make it, we’ll reduce the soy sauce amount. Otherwise, it’s two thumbs up on our end!
Sweet Basil
Thanks Duane!
Al
This beef looks great.
Thank you for the idea.
Jenn
Why would u be scared of a mouse? Skunk, yes! Lion, tiger, yes!
Sweet Basil
Because I’m a chicken and they are gross. Haha. I have no good reason.
J
Y r women scRed of mice? Skunks, lions, tigers, rhinos…they scare me.
Kevin @ Closet Cooking
That beef and broccoli looks so good!
Gaby
What a fabulous dinner! I love beef and broccoli!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
Thanks for the giveaway! And this dish looks fab! 🙂
Sweet Basil
Thanks Ashley!