Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe

This Beef Stir Fry is ready in 30 minutes! With tender beef, crisp vegetables, and a flavourful sauce, it’s the best easy weeknight dinner.

This beef stir fry is what I make when I’m craving takeout but am so hungry I don’t want to wait for delivery. I’ve even figured out how to make the beef so tender, just like you’d experience in a restaurant.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Simple sauce: All you need are two ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!
• Customizable: Try out different veggies and protein to make this stir fry your own.
• Restaurant-quality: The beef tastes just like the kind at a Chinese takeout joint!

Ingredients and substitutions

• Sesame oil – you can use canola oil, but it’ll have a milder flavour.
• Sirloin steak – or another tender cut of beef like tenderloin or ribeye.
• Garlic – fresh minced garlic is best, but the jarred variety will work in a pinch.
• Broccoli – cauliflower, bok coy and cabbage would all be good too.
• Carrot – swap out for another veggie like mushrooms or water chestnuts.
• Baby corn – you can use frozen corn kernels, they just won’t be as crispy.
• Red pepper – yellow or orange pepper would also work.
• Rice – I like using white rice but brown rice or quinoa would be good too.

Stir fry sauce

• Low-sodium soy sauce – tamari or coconut aminos are the best substitutes here.
• Hoisin sauce – substitute for oyster sauce or use 2 tbsp of honey instead.

How to make this recipe

Step 1: Prep your ingredients.

Cook the rice and make the sauce.

Step 2: Sear the steak.

Sear with the garlic, then remove from the pan.

Step 3: Cook the veggies.

Cook in the pan until tender.

Step 4: Toss everything together.

Add the steak and sauce to pan, and cook until the sauce thickens. Serve over rice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this dish vegetarian or vegan?

Absolutely! Substitute the beef with firm tofu, tempeh, or even king oyster mushrooms for a delicious and protein-packed vegetarian stir-fry.

How do I prevent the beef from becoming tough?

To maintain tenderness, cook the beef over high heat for a short time, searing it quickly. And avoid overcrowding the pan, as this can cause the beef to steam rather than sear.

Can I make a low-carb stir-fry?

Yes! Use cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles instead of traditional rice or noodles.

Are there any healthy alternatives to soy sauce?

Yes! Try reduced-sodium soy sauce, coconut aminos, tamari, or even a homemade stir-fry sauce using rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic.

What to serve with beef stir fry

These sides will turn your beef stir-fry into a complete restaurant-quality meal!

• Classic choices like jasmine rice, brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice.
• Serve it over rice noodles, vermicelli, Chinese egg noodles or ramen.

How to store and reheat

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat: Warm in a pan over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between.

Freeze & reheat from frozen: Freeze without rice for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a pan or microwave until heated through.

Meal prep tools

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this beef stir fry into your weekly lunches.
• A rice cooker will automatically cook the side dish of rice for you.
• I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen so I always have steak on hand!
• Use these Ziploc bag holders if you’re marinating the steak ahead of time.
• Get a large wok to cook this stir fry in.