Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Sauce

Name: Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb beef (tender cut); 3-4 cups broccoli florets; 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tsp cornstarch; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/4 tsp baking soda; oil (for cooking meat); 1/4 cup oyster sauce; 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce; 1 cup water; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp black pepper

By Lily Payen

on Nov 13, 2021, Updated Mar 06, 2024

2 Comments

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Take-out classic in the comfort of your own home! This beef and broccoli stir fry sauce comes together in just 30 minutes and is a comforting, filling dinner that the whole family can enjoy!

Beef and broccoli stir-fry served over white rice in a black plate.

Stir fry recipes are great staples to have on hand for a quick, one-pot meal. I love using either sirloin or flank steak in stir-fry recipes so that the meat is as tender as possible for my little ones. If you love this beef stir fry, you’ll also love this chicken and broccoli stir fry as well!

Butcher Box Beef
What You’ll Need
Recipe Substitutions & Additions
Step By Step Instructions
Tips For Sucess
Storage
Recipe FAQs
More Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Sauce Recipe

Butcher Box Beef

If you haven’t heard of Butcher Box, they are a service that ships high-quality meats right to your doorstep. They are committed to providing premium quality meats and their beef is 100% grass-fed. 100% grass-fed beef can be hard to find in supermarkets and can get super expensive, but Butcher Box is able to provide it at a great price.

Their meat arrives frozen for freshness and prepackaged into portions for easy storage. My family eats meat pretty often and I feel like we spend so much money on meat. When I looked into Butcher Box, I found their price per serving to be unbeatable. I love the convenience it offers and what they stand behind. I’ve used Butcher Box meat in some of my go-to family dinners like this Cheesy Beef Manicotti Pasta and these juicy Oven Baked Meatballs.

If you’d like to try out Butcher Box, you can click here for a special offer (affiliate link). Now, let’s get to this beef and broccoli stir-fry recipe!

Beef and broccoli stir fry servings for a baby and two toddlers.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need to make this beef and broccoli stir-fry sauce:

Beef and broccoli stir fry sauce ingredients.

Beef: I used Butcher Box sirloin tips, but if you can’t access sirloin tips, try to use a tender cut so that the beef isn’t chewy and tough.
Broccoli: Nutrient-dense vegetable for an added crunch. I love incorporating broccoli into recipes like in these chicken and broccoli meatballs and these broccoli and cheese pinwheels.
Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Main base for the sauce. Be sure to use the low-sodium variety.
Oyster Sauce: For added flavor. This can be made without oyster sauce, but I find that it adds so much flavor and makes the dish taste more authentic.
Garlic: For added flavor.
Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce and to marinate the beef.
Baking Soda: Used to help tenderize the beef. Baking soda helps to break down the fibers in any cut of beef, making it more tender when cooked.
Black Pepper: For a little added spice and flavor.
Brown Sugar: For added flavor. This can be made without brown sugar, but it adds a nice subtle sweetness to the stir fry.
Oil: To cook the beef

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Recipe Substitutions & Additions

Beef: You may substitute sirloin tips in this recipe for another cut of beef. Be sure to use a cut of beef that is tender so that it is not chewy and tough when cooked.
Soy sauce: You may substitute the soy sauce with coconut aminos for a lower sodium option.
Oyster sauce: You may substitute the oyster sauce with equal parts soy sauce, but this will change the overall taste of the stir-fry. I love using oyster sauce because it makes the dish taste more authentic. I usually purchase the Lee Kum Kee Panda brand oyster sauce.
Cornstarch: Used as a thickener and may be replaced with all-purpose flour.

Step By Step Instructions

STEP 1: Slice the beef against the grain into thin strips. Place it into a bowl and add in the soy sauce, cornstarch, black pepper, and baking soda. Mix all of the ingredients together well and set aside to marinate (Image 1).

STEP 2: Mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl and set it aside (Image 2).

STEP 3: Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to a pan on medium, high heat then add in the beef. Use a spoon to separate the pieces so that they do not overlap (Image 3). Cook the beef for a couple of minutes per side, until browned on all sides, and remove it from the pan (Image 4).

STEP 4: Add the broccoli to a pot of boiling water and boil for exactly 2 minutes. Drain and set aside. The broccoli may still seem hard, but it will soften further as it cooks in the sauce. You may also steam the broccoli until firm.

STEP 5: Add a little more oil to the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Add in the minced garlic and move it around the pan to cook until it slightly browns (Image 5).

STEP 6: Pour in the sauce and stir until it begins to thicken (Image 6).

STEP 7: Add in the broccoli and the beef and stir until everything is fully coated (Images 7 & 8). Serve over white rice or noodles!

Tips For Sucess

This recipe is not specifically a baby recipe, but a family recipe that can be accommodated for a baby. Once you cook the beef, you can set aside a few pieces before adding the sauce mixture to the pan. Alternatively, you can set aside a small amount of the sauce and water it down a bit to reduce sodium.

Storage

This stir fry will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat in a covered saucepan over medium-low heat on the stove until warmed through. If the sauce appears to be thick add a splash of water to thin it out.

Sautéed beef strips served with broccoli and white rice

Recipe FAQs

What is the best cut of beef to use for this recipe?

You want to be sure to use tender cuts of beef so that the meat isn’t too hard and chewy when cooked. Cuts like sirloin and flank steak are tender cuts that will be soft when cooked.

What is the trick to getting the beef to be tender?

The trick is to tenderize the beef when marinating. The cornstarch used in this recipe serves as a meat tenderizer which helps break down the fibers in the meat.

Does the broccoli have to be cooked beforehand?

You don’t have to cook the broccoli beforehand and can simmer in the sauce afterward, but I prefer to boil/steam it in advance so that it is tender in texture, especially if serving to little ones.