This beef stir fry recipe is a quick and easy dish that explodes with flavor in every bite. This classic asian-inspired dish is made with tender beef and colorful vegetables, all bathed in an incredible homemade sauce. 

Complete this 30-minute meal by serving it over a bed of fluffy white rice with the saucy beef stir fry. We also suggest trying it with noodles just like in our vegetable chicken stir fry

A skillet displaying the finished beef stir fry with two spoons inside.

We love experimenting with stir fry by swapping out the meat and vegetables and creating a new dish that’s so incredible. Our shrimp stir fry, for example, combines juicy shrimp with a similar sauce and is divine. 

What is Stir Fry? The name “stir fry” actually refers to a cooking technique. Cooking your choice of meat with vegetables in a pan, over high heat results in meat that is slightly charred but juicy and tender. Of course, no stir fry is complete without the sweet and salty sauce to compliment it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Ethnic flavors – This dish is deep with flavors that resemble something you would get at an authentic Chinese restaurant. 
  • Customizable – The options are endless with how you can personalize this dish and make it your own! 
  • Easy – With minimal ingredients, this dinner will come together in less than 30 minutes! This makes it a great meal for busy weeknights! 
Beef and broccoli stir fry recipe in a skillet with fresh chopped greens.

Ingredients for Beef Stir Fry

  • Steak – thin slices of your favorite cut of steak. 
  • Vegetables – we use a combination of red bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, green onions, and carrots. 
  • Garlic & ginger – aromatics that give this stir fry its authentic flavor. 
  • Sauce – a combination of brown sugar, soy sauce, broth, and cornstarch as a thickening agent. 

For a full list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.

Substitutions and Variations

All of the add-ins, substitutions, and different variations to the recipe you can make to personalize the dish to your family’s desires.

  • Protein: Not a big fan of beef? Try making this recipe with chicken, shrimp, or even salmon! 
  • Vegetables: You can opt out of using vegetables entirely. However, they do add a lot of great flavor and texture to the dish. You can also add in more of your favorite vegetables!
  • Add heat: Take the dish to the next level by taking the spice up a notch. Garnish the stir-fry with red pepper flakes or fresh chili slices! 

How to Make Beef Stir Fry

This recipe comes together really quickly once everything is prepped so be sure to have your side dish prepped as well.

A skillet with cooking slices of meat.

Step 1 – In a skillet or a wok, heat oil and sear steak on all sides and season. Once meat is cooked, cover and set aside to keep warm. 

A skillet with cooking stir fry vegetables.

Step 2 – In the same skillet, cook the vegetables until they are to your desired doneness. You don’t want to overcook them.

The skillet full of vegetables, with added butter.

Step 3 – Add butter, garlic, and ginger to the skillet, and cook until the garlic is fragrant. Meanwhile, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a bowl. 

Cooked steak added back into the skillet of vegetables.

Step 4 – Add the beef back to the skillet and pour in the sauce. Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens. Garnish and enjoy, friends. 

Expert Tips: 

  • Slicing meat: Freeze your steak for 10 minutes before slicing. With a sharp knife, you will be able to get thin and uniform slices. Make sure you are slicing against the grain, meaning you are cutting against the muscle fibers.
  • Use correct oil: When it comes to stir fry, choosing the right oil is important. You will want to use an oil with a high smoke point such oils include canola oil, peanut oil, olive oil or avocado oil. 
  • Extra sauce: Double the portion of the sauce to make your stir-fry saucier. You can also store leftover sauce in the fridge to add to other dishes!
  • Good sear: The key to a good stir fry is fast cooking over high heat. Don’t walk away when cooking to prevent burning as the thin meat cooks quickly!
  • Mushy Vegetables: Don’t cook your vegetables too long when adding them to your skillet, so that they don’t become mushy in the sauce. You want a little bit of crunch from them! 
Tender cuts of beef in a stir fry.

Serving Suggestions

Faq’s

What cut of steak is best for stir fry?

You can use just about any cut of steak, as long as you’re making thin uniform slices. We recommend flank steak or skirt steak, but you can also use chuck steak or sirloin steak! 

Why is my sauce not thick? 

If your sauce is too runny, try cooking it longer over medium-high heat. Once it is lightly bubbling, it’ll begin to thicken. 

Do I have to use a wok to stir fry? 

Although a wok is the traditional way, it is not required to get the authentic flavors of stir fry. The key is high heat and quick cooking! 

Store & Reheat 

  • Storage. Store leftovers of beef stir fry in the fridge for 3-4 days. Be sure to use an airtight container. 
  • Reheat. Warm up your refrigerated beef stir fry on a skillet over medium heat until hot.
  • Freeze. Freeze your steak stir fry by putting cooled stir fry in a freezer-safe container and storing it safely for up to 3 months. Reheat: Let the stir fry defrost in the fridge, and warm up on a skillet until it is hot. Use low-medium heat to prevent vegetables from overcooking and getting mushy. 

More Asian Recipes

If you enjoyed this beef stir fry recipe, be sure to try our other popular homemade asian recipes, here are some of our favorites:

If you tried this Beef Stir Fry Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we really appreciate it!

Beef Stir Fry Recipe

Author: Valentina
Print
5 from 9 votes
Tender cuts of beef and delicious vegetables, sautéed and completed with a flavorful stir fry sauce. This beef stir fry recipe promises a restaurant-style dish, for just a fraction of the price. In as little as 30 minutes, you can have a classic Chinese dinner right at home!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

stir fry –

  • 1 lb steak thinly sliced
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 red pepper cubed
  • 6 oz white mushrooms sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 large carrot sliced
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger

sauce –

  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

  • Slice the steak into thin slices.
  • In a large skillet or a wok, heat 1 Tbsp oil over high heat. Once hot, sear steak and saute until the steak is fully cooked. Salt & pepper to taste, remove the steak from the heat and cover to keep warm.
  • In the same skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add in the vegetables, and saute to desired doneness.
  • In a bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and whisk them together.
  • Add butter, garlic, and ginger to the vegetables. Once the garlic is fragrant, add the beef back in and saute together.
  • Add the sauce to the hot pan and cook until the sauce has thickened.
  • Serve, and enjoy friends!

Notes

Thin beef slices: Freeze meat for 30 minutes before slicing to get thin uniform slices.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers and keep them for up to 3 days.
Vegetables: You can personalize the vegetables used to your liking.

Nutrition

449kcal Calories17g Carbs26g Protein32g Fat13g Saturated Fat3g Polyunsaturated Fat14g Monounsaturated Fat0.4g Trans Fat92mg Cholesterol196mg Sodium670mg Potassium2g Fiber12g Sugar3900IU Vitamin A61mg Vitamin C43mg Calcium3mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Beef Stir Fry Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 449 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Trans Fat 0.4g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 14g
Cholesterol 92mg31%
Sodium 196mg9%
Potassium 670mg19%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 26g52%
Vitamin A 3900IU78%
Vitamin C 61mg74%
Calcium 43mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
(The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)