This is the EASIEST Beef Stir Fry recipe with a 2-ingredient stir fry sauce. You likely already have all the ingredients in your pantry!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Sesame oil – use another cooking oil like grapeseed oil or canola oil instead.
- Sirloin steak – or another tender cut of beef like tenderloin or ribeye. You can also buy pre-cut strips at the grocery store.
- Garlic – fresh minced garlic is best but the jarred variety will work in a pinch.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
- Broccoli – cauliflower, bok coy and cabbage would all be good too.
- Carrot – swap out for another veggie of your choice like mushrooms, onions or water chestnuts.
- Baby corn – you can use frozen corn kernels, they just won’t be as crispy.
- Red pepper – or any other colour bell pepper like yellow or red.
- Rice – I like using white rice but you can use another rice of your choice or even quinoa.
Stir fry sauce
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- 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 beef stir fry
- Cook the rice.
- Sauté the steak.
- Mix together the stir fry sauce.
- Cook the veggies.
- Toss everything together.
- Serve and enjoy!
Two-ingredient stir fry sauce
The great thing about this beef stir fry is that the sauce comes together with just TWO ingredients: hoisin sauce and soy sauce. If you don't have hoisin sauce already on hand at home you can substitute the same amount of oyster sauce or add two tablespoons of honey instead. Really, it's quite versatile and there's no need to overthink it.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll want to use a tender cut of meat for this beef stir fry recipe. Stir fries are ready in about 10 minutes (the beef cooks for even less time), so you should use a cut of beef that has little to no fat or muscle fibres. I use sirloin steak and slice it against the grain into thin bite-sized slices, but other options for a beef stir fry include tri tip, tenderloin, top loin, flank steak, rib eye and shoulder cuts.
In order to tenderize the beef ahead of time, you can add 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of cornstarch to the beef along with 2 tbsp of soy sauce. Let it all sit in a large bowl or Ziploc bag for 30 minutes before sauteing on high heat. This should result in more tender beef, especially if you're using a tougher cut of meat.
The baking soda and cornstarch will create a layer that will prevent the meat from drying out and overcooking. You don't have to do this step if you're in a hurry, but it will result in tastier, more flavourful meat and who doesn't love that?!
If you'd like a thicker sauce, you can feel free to add in 1 tbsp of cornstarch. Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and add the sauce towards the end just like you would do if you were making the recipe normally. This will make the sauce a bit thicker and have more substance if you're choosing to serve the stir fry over rice or noodles.
Storing and reheating
This recipe is perfect for meal prep because it comes together in less than 30 minutes and in one skillet to boot. You can enjoy this stir fry for dinner, of course, but it also makes for amazing weekly lunches for work. Just divide everything up into glass meal prep containers and it will keep in the fridge up to 5 days.
I find that you don't get the same “leftovers” taste with beef as you do with chicken so that's always a bonus! To reheat, just pop the glass bowls into the microwave for 2-3 minutes and you've got one tasty lunch!
Freezing this recipe
I would not recommend freezing the stir fry itself because it depends heavily on the veggies you've used. Some of them can come out soggy when you reheat them, so as long as you don't mind that aspect you should be okay to freeze it. Make sure to freeze it in glass meal prep bowls, then reheat in the microwave for 6-7 minutes.
More easy stir fry recipes
- Sticky Ginger Sesame Tofu Stir Fry
- Chicken Stir Fry {Simple + Easy}
- Easiest Ever Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- 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
The Easiest Beef Stir Fry {2-Ingredient Sauce!}
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 8 oz sirloin steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp each salt & pepper
- 1 head broccoli, chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 can baby corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 red pepper, sliced
- Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Stir fry sauce
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
Rice (optional, to serve)
- 1 cup dry white rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp butter
Instructions
- Cook rice with water and butter together in a rice cooker (if serving with stir fry).
- Optional step for more tender beef (skip if you're in a rush): Add 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp baking soda and 2 tbsp soy sauce to sliced steak. Toss to combine and let marinate for 30 minutes in a large bowl or Ziploc bag.
- Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add steak, garlic, salt and pepper, sauteeing for 2-3 minutes until seared. Remove from heat and transfer to a plate. Meanwhile, mix stir fry sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Without wiping pan clean, add broccoli and carrots, then cover skillet with a lid. Cook for 3-4 minutes until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally. Add in baby corn and red pepper, sauteeing another 2 minutes.
- Add steak back to pan, along with stir fry sauce, tossing well to coat. Cook 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Serve overtop of rice and garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Diane K (foodieforpeace) says
I selected this recipe for the sauce. I had a 3 pack of hoisin and wanted to try some new recipes. Very tasty. Made as written with addition of sliced water chestnuts. Thanks for the Asian inspired recipe.
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed, thanks for leaving your review 🙂
Frida says
Can I make this recipe in the instsntpot?
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Frida – I’m sure you could but I haven’t tried it myself. Let me know if you end up trying it this way!
Ene says
I made it this first time . Turned out amazing,. I did double sauce .
Dorothy says
Loved this! Just took all the fresh veggies in the refrigerator and tada! The meat was so tender you could cut it with a fork!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed 🙂
Regina says
I substituted 1 small zucchini for the corn. Also, next time I would mix Less amount of dressing. But this was delicious
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed, Regina!
Beverly Sheffield says
Delish! And oh so easy!
Taylor Stinson says
So happy you enjoyed, Beverly!
Sevi says
Didn’t see any mention of:
Hoisin sauce
White wine
Water
Butter
In the instructions. They are shown in the ingredients list
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Sevi – there is no white wine in this recipe, I’m wondering if you have misread something? As you can see under the headings, you use the water and butter to cook the rice, and you mix the soy sauce and hoisin sauce together to make the sauce.
Blair says
Oh, I did the same as Kerri. I marinated the beef and left out the extra salt. The beef was *perfect*!
Blair says
I made it! Both my boyfriend and I *loved* it!! He said, “this is definitely a keeper!” The only suggested improvement (from him): increase the sauce. Next time, I’ll double it, just for him.
Taylor Stinson says
Oooooh I love that idea! So happy you enjoyed Blair 🙂
Kerri says
This is so good!! I did everything you listed except for adding salt (just because the soy sauce is salty enough for me) and it came out amazing. I used the tip you gave for the baking soda, corn starch and soy sauce as a marinade and the meat came out perfect. I have it plated with rice for this weeks meal prep. This ilrecipe is a keeper for me. And my other half tried it out and said we should have it for dinner one night too so its definitely a hit! Thanks!
Taylor Stinson says
So happy to hear that Kerri!!! 🙂