Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe (Better Than Takeout)
A Tasty Dish for Even Those Busy Nights
When my kids were babies and we spent a lot of time at a Chinese restaurant.
The women who worked there adored my children. They would scoop them up, carry them around, and smile at them like proud aunties. Some parents might have minded, but I never did because their affection felt genuine, and it created something unexpected.
As the kids grew into toddlers, the attention shifted a little, but the kindness stayed. And without realizing it at the time, those early experiences opened the door for my kids to appreciate not just the food, but the people and culture behind it.
Here’s a pic of the kids celebrating Lunar New Year in 2013!
🥦 How Beef and Broccoli Became “Our Dish”
As the kids got older, one dish always rose to the top… Beef and Broccoli.
While Chinese cuisine spans thousands of years, Beef and Broccoli as we know it likely developed during the rise of Chinese restaurants in the United States in the early 20th century. It’s not ancient… but it is a staple now, and for good reason.
It’s simple, balanced, and approachable… especially for kids.
During a homeschool study on China and the Great Wall, I decided to make Beef and Broccoli at home and came up with a version that’s…
- easy enough for weeknights
- flexible for different proteins
- “authentic-ish” without being intimidating
We still make it regularly!
What You’ll Need
- flank steak
- broccoli
- white onion
- ginger
- garlic
- low-sodium soy sauce or Coconut Aminos
- brown sugar
- cornstarch (thickening agent)
- oil, I recommend coconut, sesame, or olive oil
- pepper flakes (optional)
Helpful Notes
- Flank steak can also be labeled London Broil. If neither is available, you can substitute:
- skirt steak
- flat iron
- sirloin
- tri-tip
- hanger steak
- For extra tender beef, massage the sliced beef with 1 tsp baking soda + ¼ cup water, let sit 1–2 hours, rinse thoroughly, then cook.
- Coconut aminos are soy-free and lower sodium. They’re slightly sweeter than soy sauce and work well here.
- The sauce must boil for cornstarch to thicken properly.
Serving Ideas (Make It Your Own)
Traditionally, Beef and Broccoli is served with white rice, that’s what we use too (usually jasmine).
You could also serve it with…
- noodles
- fried rice
- brown rice
There’s no wrong choice here. Make what fits your family. Sometimes we pair this dish with some eggrolls or dumplings from the frozen isle of our grocery store.
👉 If rice is part of your routine, a small rice cooker makes this dish nearly effortless.
👉 Wide bowls + chopsticks turn dinner into an experience instead of just a meal.
(I’ve linked the exact tools we use in a short Amazon list below.)
🥢A Simple Way to Celebrate Chopstick Day (Feb 6th)
This recipe pairs perfectly with Chopstick Day or Lunar New Year. Even if kids don’t master chopsticks, trying them…
- builds fine motor skills
- encourages patience
- sparks curiosity about culture
We have never forced the chopsticks. My husband and I use them, my daughter has begun using them too… my sons are not that into it, but that’s ok.
Learning Connections (if you’re homeschooling or like to add enrichment)
This meal has naturally tied into…
- studies on China
- the Great Wall
- Lunar New Year
- cultural food traditions
If you want to go a step further…
- pair dinner with a picture book about China
- watch a short geography video
- practice chopsticks together
One of our favorites was Where Is the Great Wall?, which gives just enough information to spark interest.
(I’ve linked some of our favorite Chinese educational tools in a short Amazon list below.)
Enjoy Your Beef & Broccoli
Enjoy your delicious and flexible Beef and Broccoli, that’s become regular dish for my family. It really is perfect for an easy way to celebrate Lunar New Year, Chopstick Day (February 6th), any homeschool lesson that focuses on China, or just as a yummy meal!
If you try beef and broccoli, I’d love to hear how it goes… or tell me if you do anything to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Comment below or head over to Instagram or Facebook, share your pics, and tag me @bemandfam… I’d love to see them!
Enjoy!
BEM and Fam 🙂
👉 Save This for Later
PS. This post has some affiliate links, read more about those here.
👇Print this Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Quick and easy dish if you are craving some Chinese influenced foods!
- 3 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp cornstarch divided
- 1 pound flank steak or substitute a pound of other meat or veggies
- ½ cup soy sauce or coconut aminos use the lower sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsp packed brown sugar
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp fresh grated ginger you can use powder, read the bottle to make the substitution equivalent
- 2 tbsp oil divided
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- ½ cup white onion sliced
- rice or noodles optional
- pepper flakes optional
-
In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water.
-
Add the beef to the bowl and toss to combine.
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In a separate small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch with the soy sauce or coconut aminos, brown sugar, garlic and ginger. Set the sauce aside.
-
Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and once it is hot, add the beef and cook, stirring constantly until the beef is almost cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a plate and set it aside.
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Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pan and once it is hot, add the broccoli florets and sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is tender, about 4 minutes.
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Return the beef to the pan then add the prepared sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until the sauce thickens slightly. Serve with rice or noodles and sprinkle with pepper flakes if you want to spice it up a bit!
Ingredient Notes & Helpful Tips
- Flank Steak Substitutions
Flank steak isn’t always easy to find and may be labeled differently depending on the store. I usually find it sold as London Broil, but if neither is available, these cuts work well (in order of preference):- Skirt steak
- Flat iron steak
- Sirloin steak
- Tri-tip steak
- Hanger steak
- Optional Step for Extra Tender Beef (Takeout-Style Tip)
If you’d like especially tender beef, you can use a traditional stir-fry technique sometimes called velveting.- Mix ¾–1 teaspoon baking soda with ¼ cup water, massage it into the sliced beef, and let it rest for 15–20 minutes (not longer).
Rinse the beef very thoroughly, pat dry, and then continue with the recipe.
- Mix ¾–1 teaspoon baking soda with ¼ cup water, massage it into the sliced beef, and let it rest for 15–20 minutes (not longer).
- Soy Sauce vs. Coconut Aminos
Coconut aminos are a gluten-free, soy-free alternative to soy sauce. They’re lower in sodium and slightly sweeter, which works well in this dish. I use them to limit soy intake, and no one in my family notices the difference. - Thickening the Sauce
For the cornstarch to properly thicken the sauce, it must come to a gentle boil. If the sauce doesn’t thicken right away, give it another 30–60 seconds of heat. - Serving Ideas
This dish is most commonly served with white rice, but it’s flexible. You can also serve it with noodles, brown rice, or fried rice. I usually use jasmine white rice, but make what your family enjoys.
