Quick & Easy Beef Stir Fry: A Weeknight Dinner Winner

Beef stir fry is a classic for a reason. It’s quick, it’s flavorful, and it’s endlessly adaptable to whatever vegetables you have on hand. This recipe focuses on delivering a delicious and satisfying meal in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right cut of beef to perfecting your stir-fry technique, ensuring a restaurant-quality dish in the comfort of your own home.

## Why This Beef Stir Fry Recipe Works

* **Speed:** This recipe is designed for speed. With minimal prep and quick cooking, you can have dinner on the table in a flash.
* **Flavor:** A well-balanced sauce is key to a great stir fry. This recipe uses a combination of soy sauce, oyster sauce (optional), ginger, garlic, and a touch of sweetness for a complex and umami-rich flavor.
* **Versatility:** Feel free to swap out the vegetables for your favorites or whatever is in season. Broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, and carrots are all great options.
* **Customization:** Adjust the level of spiciness to your liking by adding more or less chili flakes or sriracha.

## Ingredients You’ll Need

* **Beef:** 1 pound flank steak, sirloin, or ribeye, thinly sliced against the grain
* **Vegetables:** 1 bell pepper (any color), sliced; 1 onion, sliced; 2 cups broccoli florets; 1 cup sliced mushrooms
* **Aromatics:** 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 inch ginger, grated
* **Stir Fry Sauce:** 1/4 cup soy sauce; 2 tablespoons oyster sauce (optional, but recommended for depth of flavor); 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
* **Oil:** 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or peanut oil
* **Garnish:** Sesame seeds, chopped green onions (optional)
* **Rice:** Cooked rice, for serving

## Step-by-Step Instructions

### 1. Prepare the Beef

* **Slice the Beef:** This is arguably the most important step. Partially freezing the beef for about 30 minutes makes it easier to slice thinly. Use a sharp knife to slice the beef against the grain into thin strips, about 1/8 inch thick. Slicing against the grain shortens the muscle fibers, resulting in more tender beef.
* **Marinate the Beef (Optional but Recommended):** In a medium bowl, combine the sliced beef with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. This helps tenderize the beef and allows it to brown nicely during stir-frying. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator. While the beef marinates, prepare the vegetables and sauce.

### 2. Prepare the Vegetables

* **Wash and Chop:** Wash and chop all your vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Ensure the pieces are relatively uniform in size so they cook evenly. The key is to have everything prepped and ready to go before you start cooking because stir-frying happens quickly.

### 3. Make the Stir Fry Sauce

* **Combine Ingredients:** In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), cornstarch, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Make sure the cornstarch is fully dissolved to prevent lumps in your sauce. Set aside.

### 4. Cook the Beef

* **Heat the Wok or Skillet:** Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat until shimmering. The wok or skillet should be very hot to sear the beef and prevent it from steaming. If you don’t have a wok, a large cast-iron skillet works well.
* **Stir-Fry the Beef:** Add the marinated beef to the hot wok or skillet in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the pan, as this will lower the temperature and result in steamed beef instead of seared beef. If necessary, cook the beef in batches. Stir-fry the beef for 2-3 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove the beef from the wok or skillet and set aside.

### 5. Cook the Vegetables

* **Add More Oil:** Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the wok or skillet. Heat until shimmering.
* **Stir-Fry the Vegetables:** Add the onion and bell pepper to the wok or skillet and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the garlic and ginger and stir-fry for another 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic and ginger, as this will make the dish bitter. Add the broccoli and mushrooms and stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender-crisp.

### 6. Combine Everything

* **Add Beef and Sauce:** Return the cooked beef to the wok or skillet with the vegetables. Pour the stir-fry sauce over the beef and vegetables and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and coats the beef and vegetables evenly. Make sure to stir constantly to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the wok or skillet.

### 7. Serve

* **Serve Immediately:** Serve the beef stir fry immediately over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired.

## Tips for the Best Beef Stir Fry

* **Use High Heat:** High heat is essential for stir-frying. It helps to sear the beef and vegetables quickly, preventing them from becoming soggy.
* **Don’t Overcrowd the Pan:** Overcrowding the pan will lower the temperature and cause the beef and vegetables to steam instead of stir-fry. Cook in batches if necessary.
* **Prepare Everything in Advance:** Stir-frying happens quickly, so it’s important to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking.
* **Slice the Beef Thinly:** Slicing the beef thinly against the grain is crucial for tenderness.
* **Marinate the Beef:** Marinating the beef helps to tenderize it and adds flavor.
* **Adjust the Sauce to Your Taste:** Feel free to adjust the amount of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and red pepper flakes to your liking.
* **Use Fresh Ingredients:** Fresh ingredients will always result in a better-tasting dish.

## Variations and Substitutions

* **Vegetables:** Use any vegetables you like, such as snap peas, carrots, zucchini, or bok choy.
* **Protein:** Substitute the beef with chicken, pork, shrimp, or tofu.
* **Sauce:** Experiment with different sauces, such as hoisin sauce, black bean sauce, or teriyaki sauce.
* **Spice Level:** Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes or sriracha to your liking.
* **Gluten-Free:** Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.
* **Vegetarian:** Use tofu instead of beef and omit the oyster sauce. You can also add a splash of mushroom soy sauce for extra umami flavor.

## Serving Suggestions

* Serve over rice, noodles, or quinoa.
* Add a side of steamed vegetables, such as broccoli or green beans.
* Serve with spring rolls or egg rolls.
* Garnish with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, or peanuts.

## Storage and Reheating

* **Storage:** Store leftover beef stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
* **Reheating:** Reheat the beef stir fry in a skillet over medium heat, or in the microwave. Add a splash of water or broth if the sauce has dried out.

## Nutritional Information (Approximate)

* Calories: 400-500 per serving (depending on ingredients and portion size)
* Protein: 30-40g
* Fat: 20-30g
* Carbohydrates: 20-30g

## Detailed Recipe Card

**Yields:** 4 servings
**Prep time:** 15 minutes
**Cook time:** 15 minutes

### Ingredients:

* 1 pound flank steak, sirloin, or ribeye, thinly sliced against the grain
* 1 bell pepper (any color), sliced
* 1 onion, sliced
* 2 cups broccoli florets
* 1 cup sliced mushrooms
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 inch ginger, grated
* 1/4 cup soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons oyster sauce (optional)
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
* 1 tablespoon brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon sesame oil
* 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or peanut oil
* Sesame seeds, chopped green onions (optional), for garnish
* Cooked rice, for serving

### Instructions:

1. **Prepare the Beef:** Partially freeze the beef for 30 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain. Marinate with 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp cornstarch for 15-30 minutes.
2. **Prepare Vegetables:** Wash and chop all vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
3. **Make the Sauce:** Whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), cornstarch, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using).
4. **Cook the Beef:** Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Stir-fry beef for 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside.
5. **Cook the Vegetables:** Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to the wok. Stir-fry onion and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add broccoli and mushrooms; stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp.
6. **Combine:** Return beef to the wok. Pour in sauce and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until thickened.
7. **Serve:** Serve immediately over rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.

Enjoy your delicious and quick beef stir fry! This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a great way to get a healthy and flavorful meal on the table in no time.