Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe

This Easy Beef Stir Fry features succulent, thinly sliced beef and crisp vegetables in a lightly sweet and savory glaze. Perfect for family dinners, each bite offers an enticing blend of textures and flavors, inviting you to refresh your dining experience and share a delightful treat with friends and loved ones.

I recently tried out an awesome Chinese-style beef stir fry that totally blew my mind with its flavors and speed of preparation. I love how this recipe brings together tender beef flank steak, sliced perfectly against the grain, with crisp red and green bell peppers, carrots, broccoli florets, and even snow peas.

I was surprised how the veggies kept their crunch while getting bathed in a savory-sweet sauce made from low-sodium soy sauce, water, cornstarch, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and a hint of sesame oil. The addition of garlic and fresh ginger really amps up the flavor profile, making it a dish you’ll want to try again and again.

It only takes about 30 minutes with one skillet or wok so its ideal for those busy evenings. This stir fry felt like a fresh spin on classic beef stir fry healthy options, and its versatility means you can swap in your favorite veggies too.

Enjoy the adventure of making it!

Why I Like this Recipe

I really love this recipe because it comes together so quickly – like, in 30 minutes I can have a whole meal ready for dinner, which is a lifesaver on busy nights. I also enjoy how it’s packed with so many different veggies that keep their crunch and add awesome color to the dish. The savory-sweet sauce is another thing that gets me every time; it’s the perfect mix that makes me excited to try every bite. Plus, I dig that I can easily tweak it if I wanna throw in extra or different veggies, or even make it gluten free with tamari instead of soy sauce. Overall, it just feels doable and super satisfying when I’m craving something tasty yet healthy.

Ingredients

• Flank steak is rich in protein and flavor; a lean cut perfect for stir fry.
• Red bell pepper adds sweet crispness, vitamin C, and vibrant color to your dish.
• Green bell pepper provides essential vitamins and a fresh crisp taste in stir fry.
• Carrot lends a natural sweetness and offers vital vitamin A for good vision.
• Broccoli is loaded with fiber, vitamins and antioxidants to boost your meal.
• Snow peas bring crunch, fiber and an earthy flavor that complements the beef.
• Sauce mixes soy, water, cornstarch, brown sugar, vinegar and sesame oil for perfect balance.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 lb beef flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
• 1 medium carrot, julienned
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup snow peas
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
• Sauce ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari if you need it gluten free)
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp sesame oil

• Optional: Sesame seeds for garnish

How to Make this

1. In a small bowl, mix the sauce ingredients together by whisking low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free), water, cornstarch, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.

3. Add the thinly sliced beef and cook for about 2-3 minutes until its browned but might still be a bit pink; then remove it from the pan and set it aside.

4. In the same pan, add the remaining oil then toss in the minced garlic and fresh ginger. Stir them for about 30 seconds until they start smelling great.

5. Add the red and green bell peppers, carrot, broccoli florets, and snow peas to the pan. Cook these veggies for about 4-5 minutes until they are tender but still crunchy.

6. Return the beef to the pan with the veggies.

7. Pour the mixed sauce over the beef and veggies then stir everything together well.

8. Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients evenly.

9. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, and if you like, sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.

10. Serve your easy beef stir fry hot, and enjoy it with a side of rice if you want.

Equipment Needed

1. Small bowl for mixing the sauce ingredients
2. Whisk to fully dissolve the cornstarch in the sauce mixture
3. Large skillet or wok for stir frying the beef and vegetables
4. Stove to heat the skillet or wok
5. Sharp knife to slice the beef, bell peppers, carrot, and trim the broccoli
6. Cutting board for safe and even chopping/slicing
7. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate sauce ingredients
8. Spatula or tongs to stir and toss the beef and veggies in the pan
9. Serving bowl or plate for dishing up your finished stir fry

FAQ

Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• If you don’t have beef flank steak, try using sirloin or skirt steak. They cook similarly and give a great flavor.
• If you’re missing red or green bell peppers, you can swap in yellow or orange bell peppers to add some vibrant color.
• No broccoli? Cauliflower florets work fine as a substitute and still give you that nice crunch.
• If snow peas aren’t available, fresh green beans are a good alternative. Just slice them thin so they cook evenly.

Pro Tips

1. One trick is to pop your beef in the freezer for about 15 minutes before slicing; this makes it way easier to cut really thin and helps keep it tender when stir-frying.
2. Make sure your pan is scalding hot before you add anything – this is key so that you get a nice quick sear on the beef and keep the veggies crisp instead of stewing them.
3. Prep your sauce ingredients and veggies ahead of time, so you can work fast; stir-fry moves quick and you dont want anything overcooking while you’re waiting around.
4. If you find the sauce gets too thick, add a little extra water gradually; that way you can adjust the consistency without losing the flavor.