Sizzling Skillet Beef and Celery: A Flavorful and Easy Weeknight Dinner

Skillet meals are a weeknight dinner champion. They’re quick, easy to clean up, and endlessly adaptable. This Skillet Beef and Celery recipe is no exception. It’s a delicious, savory dish that comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of tender beef, crisp celery, and a flavorful sauce creates a satisfying and balanced meal. This recipe also offers a great way to use up leftover beef or ground beef, making it both budget-friendly and environmentally conscious.

Why You’ll Love This Skillet Beef and Celery

Beyond its speed and simplicity, this Skillet Beef and Celery recipe offers a number of other advantages:

* **Flavorful and Savory:** The combination of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil creates a rich and umami-packed sauce that perfectly complements the beef and celery.
* **Healthy and Balanced:** This dish provides a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. Celery is low in calories and rich in vitamins A, C, and K, while beef provides essential iron and zinc.
* **Versatile and Adaptable:** You can easily customize this recipe to suit your preferences. Add other vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms. Adjust the sauce to your liking by adding more or less soy sauce, ginger, or garlic. You can also substitute the beef with other protein sources like chicken or tofu.
* **One-Pan Meal:** This recipe is cooked entirely in one skillet, minimizing cleanup and making it ideal for busy weeknights.
* **Budget-Friendly:** This recipe can be made with affordable ingredients, especially if you use ground beef or leftover cooked beef.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this Skillet Beef and Celery recipe:

* **Beef:** 1 pound ground beef or thinly sliced steak (such as flank steak or sirloin). If using steak, slice it against the grain into thin strips.
* **Celery:** 4-5 stalks, thinly sliced.
* **Garlic:** 2-3 cloves, minced.
* **Ginger:** 1 tablespoon, minced (fresh ginger is best, but ground ginger can be substituted).
* **Soy Sauce:** 3 tablespoons (use low-sodium soy sauce to control the salt content).
* **Sesame Oil:** 1 tablespoon.
* **Cornstarch:** 1 tablespoon.
* **Brown Sugar:** 1 tablespoon (optional, for a touch of sweetness).
* **Vegetable Oil:** 1 tablespoon (for cooking).
* **Green Onions:** 2-3, thinly sliced (for garnish).
* **Sesame Seeds:** 1 teaspoon (for garnish).
* **Red Pepper Flakes:** 1/4 teaspoon (optional, for a touch of heat).
* **Cooked Rice or Noodles:** For serving.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to make this delicious Skillet Beef and Celery:

**1. Prepare the Beef (If Using Steak):**

If you’re using steak, slice it against the grain into thin strips. This will ensure that the beef is tender and easy to chew. You can also marinate the steak for 15-20 minutes in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch for extra flavor and tenderness. This step is optional, but recommended.

**2. Prepare the Sauce:**

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and brown sugar (if using). Set aside.

**3. Cook the Beef:**

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef (or sliced steak) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. If using ground beef, drain off any excess grease.

**4. Add the Aromatics:**

Add the minced garlic and ginger to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

**5. Add the Celery:**

Add the sliced celery to the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes, until slightly softened but still crisp-tender. You want the celery to retain some of its crunch.

**6. Add the Sauce:**

Pour the sauce over the beef and celery and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, until thickened.

**7. Garnish and Serve:**

Remove the skillet from the heat and garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes (if using). Serve immediately over cooked rice or noodles.

Tips and Variations

Here are a few tips and variations to customize this Skillet Beef and Celery recipe:

* **Add Other Vegetables:** Feel free to add other vegetables to this dish. Bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, or carrots would all be great additions. Add them to the skillet along with the celery.
* **Make it Spicy:** If you like spicy food, add more red pepper flakes to the sauce or a dash of sriracha. You can also use a chili garlic sauce for extra flavor and heat.
* **Use Different Protein:** You can easily substitute the beef with other protein sources like chicken, pork, tofu, or shrimp. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
* **Add Nuts:** For added crunch and flavor, sprinkle some chopped peanuts or cashews over the finished dish.
* **Make it Gluten-Free:** To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure that your cornstarch is gluten-free.
* **Add Oyster Sauce:** A tablespoon of oyster sauce can add a deeper umami flavor to the sauce. Be mindful of the sodium content.
* **Marinate the Beef:** Marinating the beef, especially if using steak, will make it more tender and flavorful. A simple marinade of soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch will work wonders.
* **Adjust Sweetness:** Adjust the amount of brown sugar to your liking. If you prefer a less sweet dish, omit the brown sugar altogether.
* **Use Leftover Cooked Beef:** This recipe is a great way to use up leftover cooked beef. Simply add the cooked beef to the skillet in the last few minutes of cooking to heat it through.

Serving Suggestions

This Skillet Beef and Celery is delicious served over:

* **Cooked Rice:** White rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice all work well.
* **Noodles:** Egg noodles, ramen noodles, or rice noodles are all great options.
* **Quinoa:** For a healthier alternative, serve over quinoa.
* **Cauliflower Rice:** For a low-carb option, serve over cauliflower rice.

It can also be served as a side dish or as a filling for lettuce wraps.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

* **Storage:** Store leftover Skillet Beef and Celery in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
* **Reheating:** Reheat the leftovers in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave.

Nutritional Information (Approximate)

(Based on 4 servings, using ground beef):

* Calories: Approximately 350-400 per serving
* Protein: 30-35 grams
* Fat: 20-25 grams
* Carbohydrates: 20-25 grams

*Note: Nutritional information is approximate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients and portion sizes used.*.

Recipe Card

**Skillet Beef and Celery**

A quick and easy skillet meal featuring tender beef and crisp celery in a flavorful sauce.

**Prep Time:** 10 minutes
**Cook Time:** 20 minutes
**Total Time:** 30 minutes
**Servings:** 4

**Ingredients:**

* 1 pound ground beef or thinly sliced steak
* 4-5 stalks celery, thinly sliced
* 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon sesame oil
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 2-3 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
* 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
* 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
* Cooked rice or noodles, for serving

**Instructions:**

1. If using steak, slice it against the grain into thin strips. Marinate if desired.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and brown sugar (if using).
3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess grease if using ground beef.
4. Add garlic and ginger to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
5. Add celery and cook for 3-5 minutes, until slightly softened but still crisp-tender.
6. Pour sauce over the beef and celery and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, until thickened.
7. Remove from heat and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes (if using).
8. Serve over cooked rice or noodles.

**Notes:**

* Add other vegetables as desired.
* Adjust sweetness and spiciness to taste.
* For gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Enjoy your delicious and easy Skillet Beef and Celery!