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Healthy Beef and Broccoli

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Today I’m featuring another family favorite…this 30 minute recipe for healthy Beef and Broccoli is packed with flavor, loaded with juicy steak; crisp, tender broccoli and has a delicious, healthy and tangy sauce, that is easily spice adjustable.

This 30 minute Beef & Broccoli recipe is actually more like “22 Minute Beef & Broccoli” but that doesn’t roll off the tongue. But what does roll off the tongue, this is the BEST BEEF AND BROCCOLI!

I loved shaved steak recipes, making it easy to whip up this delicious and healthy dish, you might also love our family favorite Best Cheesesteak Sandwiches and skip take-out with this Mongolian Beef.

Best Beef and Broccoli Recipe

Other than making sure you have the ingredients thawed and on hand, this meal can be totally last minute.

I love this type of meal; a healthy, quick meal going into a holiday weekend or just after one.

First things first though, we love our beef and broccoli over steamed rice, so get that going while you assemble the rest of the recipe.

Or if preferred cook up some lo mein style noodles, both equally as tasty! White or brown rice works great!

Key Ingredients

  • BEEF | Skirt steak, round steak, flank or even top sirloin works great in the recipe, or purchase shaved steak from Trader Joe’s like I do!
  • SOY SAUCE | Adding the delicious salty flavor we know so well, if gluten-free be sure to use Tamari or Liquid Aminos.
  • TOASTED SESAME OIL | Flavor charged oil, with an Asian flavor so delicious!
  • GINGER & GARLIC | class stir fry flavors!
  • HONEY | a healthy way to give the sauce a sweet to the sour taste
  • BEEF BROTH | rich beef broth brings the flavors all together.
  • CORN STARCH | I use non-GMO, this is what thickens and brings a lovely gloss to the dish.
  • BROCCOLI | Fresh is best and cooks so quickly, but certainly use frozen if you are in a pinch
Pouring in rice to cook for beef and broccoli | www.thefreshcooky.com

How to make Beef and Broccoli sauce

The sauce takes the longest to prep; like maybe 4-6 minutes, longer if you are taking phone calls or answering texts. (wink-wink)

pouring in soy or soy alternative for beef and broccoli.
  • In a medium bowl, pour in soy sauce. We like to use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos which tastes just like soy sauce, but use the “soy sauce or soy alternative” of your choice, I’ve used Tamari, Low-Sodium Soy, GF Soy Sauce, and even Coconut Aminos!
  • Add cornstarch and stir to mix.
Tablespoon of cornstarch for easy beef and broccoli.
  • Mince or press garlic into the bowl. I was feeling lazy and just used my garlic press. Add sherry (optional), I typically don’t have sherry on hand but I generally have Marsala, Madeira or a Tawny Port, which works nicely in the place of sherry. This is totally optional.
  • Pour in honey, try and buy local honey, it’s wonderful for allergies and much, much more! We love this brand.

TIP | If you spray your mini measuring cup with a little spray oil your honey will slip right out, making cleanup a breeze.

Grate or chop a little fresh ginger.

FRESH GINGER TIP | Did you know you can freeze ginger root and grate it from it’s frozen state? Great way to make sure you always have fresh ginger on hand.

using a microplane to grate ginger for easy beef and broccoli.

Add sesame oil, I’m a huge fan of toasted sesame oil!! So fragrant!!

pouring toasted sesame oil in measuring cup for easy beef and broccoli.
  • Shake in as little or as much red pepper flakes as you like!
  • Last, add beef broth. The last time I made homemade beef bone broth I packaged and froze some of the broth in 1 cup portions just for this purpose.
  • I removed one from the freezer, plunked the baggie (sealed) into a bowl of warm water for a quick thaw. Slurp! But Pacific or Trader Joe’s are my favorite boxed brands.
  • Stir it all up and set aside, be sure to whisk well getting all of the corn starch that has settled on the bottom.
ingredient shot for easy beef and broccoli with broccoli florets, sauce and beef in a bowl.

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY BEEF AND BROCCOLI

Slice the steak and prep the broccoli florets. I used skirt steak this time, because I had some in my freezer, but I prefer using sirloin or shaved beef steak or even flank over skirt.

Just slice it thin and try to trim the fat off.

sliced steak, ready for stir fry with beef and broccoli | thefreshcooky.com
  • Rinse broccoli, cut into small, bite sized florets, set aside.
  • In a large and heavy skillet pour in a tablespoon of olive oil, heat to medium-high heat.
  • Carefully toss in the meat, browning quickly on both sides. Stirring or tossing often to evenly and quickly cook the meat (that’s what’ll keep it tender). Saute about 3-4 minutes until almost completely browned.
  • Toss in broccoli florets and stir around mixing in with the beef, stir-frying for a minute or two.
tons in pan with broccoli and beef sauteing for easy beef and broccoli.

Tips for

  • BROCCOLI | If you prefer really crisp broccoli wait to add until the very end, I like mine fork tender, so add it a bit earlier.
  • WHISK | Before pouring the sauce into the pan, whisk again one last time, the corn starch likes to settle on the bottom.
  • GLUTEN-FREE | By making sure your soy sauce is gluten free (try Tamari or Liquid Aminos) this is a delicious gluten free dinner recipe.
  • PREP | Since this is a stir fry, make sure you have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go ahead of time!
pouring sauce onto beef and broccoli.

Best if served immediately over rice or noodles, but it’ll still taste good if it waits awhile too, your broccoli just won’t be as bright green.

Pin with black bowl filled with brown rice, and healthy beef and broccoli recipe.

Serve this healthy beef and broccoli recipe with a little sriracha sauce or as we like it with a little sweet chili sauce.

More quick 30 minute or less meals:

Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and comment below the recipe!

Healthy Beef and Broccoli

Author: Kathleen | The Fresh Cooky 2021
4.67 from 6 votes
Tender beef, crisp broccoli perfectly stir fried in a delicious tangy sauce. Give me 30 minutes and you'll have dinner on the table. This healthy beef and broccoli recipe is the best!
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Course 30 Minute Meals
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 4 -6 servings
Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb flank steak, strip, sirloin, or skirt steak may also be substituted trimmed of fat & sliced thin
  • 1 head broccoli, rinsed and cut into florets

SAUCE

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, Tamari, GF Soy Sauce or alternatives may be used
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons tawny port, Sherry, Marsala, Madeira may be used – OPTIONAL
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced or grated
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • Red Pepper Flakes, optional
  • Sesame Seeds, optional

For serving:

  • 4-6 servings of white or brown rice or noodles
  • Sriracha Sauce or Sweet Chili Sauce

Instructions
 

  • If steaming your own rice, start before you do anything else. In a medium bowl mix together the following ingredients: soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic, port, honey, ginger, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and beef broth. Whisk well, set aside.
  • Trim steak of any excess fat and slice into bit size, thin slices. Cut your broccoli into bite size florets. Heat pan on medium-high heat and drizzle in olive oil. Once pan is hot, carefully place in meat and quick toss/stir fry to brown both sides. About 3-4 minutes.
  • Add broccoli and keep heat up to stir fry broccoli and finish cooking the meat, 2-3 minutes. Pour in the sauce (whisking first to make sure it’s all combined) and stir until thick and glossy.
  • Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until broccoli is done to your desired taste. Serve immediately over rice or noodles. Garnish with a few shakes of sesame seeds or red pepper flakes if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Calories: 200 kcal Carbohydrates: 30 g Protein: 5 g Fat: 8 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g Sodium: 1338 mg Fiber: 3 g Sugar: 11 g

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Long Pin for Beef & Broccoli. top pin has ingredients for beef and broccoli. Bottom image is finished beef and broccoli dish with fork and green onions on the side.
Kathleen Pope, The Fresh Cooky.

About Kathleen Pope

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.

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11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Love when I have all the ingredients on hand. I need to double up the recipe next time. We devoured it…and I was hoping to have some leftovers for lunch for a few days! This is a keeper.

  2. 5 stars
    I love making asian inspired food at home and am a huge broccoli lover! We made this and John said to put it on the menu weekly!

  3. Hi Kathleen, I am making this dish for a potluck tomorrow. I am sure it will be a hit. My question is, can you make the sauce the night before?

    1. Hi Janice, I’m so sorry I didn’t get back to you last night. While I haven’t made it ahead I’m sure you can. Maybe just leave out the cornstarch until you are ready to make it and then stir it in just before adding to beef mixture. And of course refrigerate until ready to use!! Let me know how it goes!

  4. This looks REALLY good. Definitely will give it a try. I enjoy your blog, thank you. WOOWOO. I also like the 30 minute Penne alla vodka Italian dish!