Beef and Broccolini Stir Fry with Savory Homemade Sauce

This Beef and Broccolini Stir Fry is a quick skillet dinner with tender strips of beef, fresh broccolini and a rich, savory sauce. It's easy enough for a busy weeknight but flavorful enough to feel like your own personal take out meal. Serve it over rice or noodles and adjust the sauce to make it sweeter, more savory, or even a little spicy.

Recipe Highlights

• How it's made: Beef is quickly seared, broccolini is cooked until crisp-tender, then everything is tossed in a savory, homemade stir fry sauce.
• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 15 minutes
• Total time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4-6 servings
• Main ingredients: top sirloin, broccolini, soy sauce, oyster sauce, beef broth

Some dinners just make life easier, and this is one of them. Everything cooks in a single skillet, the sauce comes together in minutes, and the flavor is easy to adjust depending on what your family likes best. If stir fry recipes are already a favorite at your house, I have many on my blog for you to try because they are a favorite at MY house! If you're looking for more stir fry recipes, Beef and Onion Stir Fry is so good. I have a Pork Tenderloin that is very popular with many readers and a Chicken with Peppers and Spicy Chicken Stir Fry that are also on repeat here at home.

Ingredients

Ingredient Substitutions

• Top Sirloin-Top sirloin is a great choice because it cooks quickly and stays tender when sliced thinly against the grain. Flank steak, strip steak, flat iron steak, skirt steak, or shaved beef are all good alternatives because they cook quickly, remain tender and have some fat for flavor.
• Broccolini-Broccolini cooks quickly and has a slightly sweeter flavor and more tender texture than regular broccoli. Standard broccoli florets can be substituted if needed.
• Oyster Sauce-Oyster sauce adds savory depth and richness to the sauce, without it tasting fishy. Hoisin sauce can be used instead if you prefer a slightly sweeter flavor. Or use your favorite store bought stir fry sauce.
• Cornstarch-Cornstarch helps thicken the sauce. If you prefer, all purpose flour or arrowroot powder can be substituted for the cornstarch. Just make sure to stir well and press out any lumps.

Flavor Variations

• Prefer it sweeter? Add an extra tablespoon of brown sugar or a drizzle of honey.
• Want more savory flavor? Add an extra splash of soy sauce or a little more oyster sauce.
• Like a little heat?Add crushed red pepper flakes, chili garlic sauce, or a drizzle of sriracha.
• Love garlic? Use fresh garlic or add an extra teaspoon of garlic paste.
• Want extra sauce for rice or noodles? Thin the finished sauce with additional beef broth or double the sauce ingredients right from the start.
  
  

How to make Beef and Broccolini Stir Fry (Step by Step)

Step 1: Heat oil in skillet and brown beef. Remove to plate.

Step 2: Add broccolini and stir fry for about 2 minutes until tender. Remove to the plate as well.

Step 3: Stir the sauce ingredients together and taste. Adjust for flavor.

Step 4: Pour in sauce and heat to a simmer. Stir for 1-2 minutes to thicken.

Step 5: Add beef back and stir on low heat to coat beef with sauce.

Step 6: Add the broccolini to skillet and stir to heat for 1 minute.

Recipe Testing Tips

• Start with slightly chilled beef. It's much easier to slice thinly and evenly.
• Avoid overcrowding the skillet. If your pan is smaller, cook the beef in batches so it sears instead of steaming.
• Whisk the sauce again before pouring. Cornstarch settles quickly.
• Taste before cooking. Want it sweeter? Add more brown sugar. Prefer more savory flavor? Add a little extra soy sauce. Like more tang? Increase the vinegar. Want heat? Add red pepper flakes.
• Wait for the sauce to fully thicken. Adding the beef with liquid back too early can dilute the sauc.
• Sauce too thick? Stir in a splash of warm beef broth.
• Sauce too thin? Let it simmer another minute or two before returning the beef.

Broccolini Tips for the Best Stir Fry

Broccolini is a cross between regular broccoli and Chinese broccoli, with a slightly sweeter flavor and tender stems. It cooks quickly, making it a great choice for fast skillet dinners like this one.

• Use the whole bunch. Trim about ½ inch from the dry ends. If any stalks are especially thick, slice them lengthwise so they cook evenly.
• It cooks quickly. Broccolini becomes crisp tender in just a few minutes, so keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.
• Watch the color. Bright green means it's nearly done. Once the color starts to dull, it can quickly become too soft.
• The florets cook fast. A little charring adds flavor, but they can overcook quickly if left too long.
• No blanching is needed. Since broccolini is naturally tender, you can skip that extra step and cook it right in the skillet.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Here are some more favorite stir fry recipes to try:

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Beef and Broccolini Stir Fry

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• Author: Deb Belsha
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Bake/Stovetop
• Cuisine: Asian-American

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Description

This Beef and Broccolini Stir Fry is a quick skillet dinner with tender strips of beef, tender broccolini and a rich, savory sauce. It's easy enough for a busy weeknight but flavorful enough to feel like your own personal take out meal. 

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ pounds top sirloin, sliced thin against the grain
• 1 tablespoon avocado, canola, or vegetable oil

Sauce

• 1 cup low sodium beef broth
• ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder (or garlic paste)
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or ginger paste)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 large bunch broccolini (about ¾ pound), ½ inch bottom stem trimmed

• Optional: crushed red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, sliced green onions

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Instructions

1. Slice the beef thinly against the grain.
2. In a bowl, whisk together: beef broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch until smooth.  Give it a taste and adjust as preferred by adding more sugar, soy sauce or some red pepper flakes.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add beef in a single layer and cook until browned.  Don't move around the first minute, allowing it to sear. Remove from skillet. *
5. Add broccolini and cook until crisp-tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add a splash of broth if needed to help steam slightly.
6. Remove broccolini.
7. Pour prepared sauce into skillet and bring to a simmer until thickened.
8. Return beef and broccolini to skillet and toss until evenly coated.
9. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or slice green onions if desired.
10. Serve over rice or noodles.

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Notes

*I usually like to place the beef in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes before slicing.  It makes the beef easier to slice thinly.

* If all the beef doesn't lay flat in the skillet without overlapping, cook it in two batches. 

*Store leftovers in the refrigerator in a covered contained.  Reheat in a skillet on low until hot. You can also reheat on a plate covered with parchment or food safe plastic wrap. 

*Freeze in an airight container for up to 3 months.  Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as above.