Chinese Beef and Broccoli (One Pan Take-Out) Recipe

Sizzling Chinese Beef and Broccoli (One Pan Take-out) Recipe

Quick and savory Chinese beef and broccoli promises a delightful meal that’s easier than ordering takeout.

Crisp vegetables and tender meat dance together in a single skillet, creating magic with minimal cleanup.

Restaurant-quality flavors burst from this simple dish without complicated techniques or fancy equipment.

Marinades infuse rich umami notes into every bite, making you feel like a professional chef.

Home cooking reaches new heights when simplicity meets incredible taste in this classic Chinese-inspired recipe.

Comfort and convenience merge perfectly, inviting you to whip up this crowd-pleasing dish that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Your culinary adventure starts right here with this irresistible one-pan wonder.

Chinese Beef Broccoli With One-Pan Weeknight Ease

  • Quick Weeknight Savior: Whip up restaurant-quality Chinese beef and broccoli in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy families craving a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • One-Pan Wonder: Minimal dishes and cleanup with this single-pan recipe, saving time and reducing kitchen mess while delivering maximum flavor and minimal effort.
  • Protein-Packed Healthy Option: Lean beef combined with nutrient-rich broccoli creates a balanced meal that provides essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals in one satisfying dish.
  • Customizable Comfort: Easily adaptable recipe allows home cooks to adjust spice levels, swap proteins, or modify vegetables to suit individual taste preferences and dietary needs.

Chinese Beef & Broccoli (One-Pan) Ingredients

Main Protein:
  • Beef Sirloin: A tender cut that absorbs marinade well, provides rich flavor and protein for the dish.
Marinade Ingredients:
  • Soy Sauce, Peanut Oil, Cornstarch, Baking Soda: Creates a tenderizing and flavor-enhancing mixture for the beef, helping it stay juicy and soft during cooking.
Aromatics:
  • Garlic, Ginger: Fresh ingredients that add depth and authentic Chinese flavor to the stir-fry.
Sauce Components:
  • Chicken Stock, Dry Sherry, Soy Sauce, Dark Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar, Cornstarch: Builds a complex, savory-sweet sauce that coats and glazes the beef and broccoli.
Vegetable:
  • Broccoli Florets: Adds fresh green color, crisp texture, and nutritional value to the one-pan dish.
Optional Serving Base:
  • Rice, Noodles: Traditional accompaniments that absorb the flavorful sauce and complete the meal.

Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry Steps

Step 1: Marinate the Beef

Toss beef slices with:
  • Soy sauce
  • Peanut oil
  • Cornstarch
  • Baking soda

Let sit for at least 30 minutes to tenderize and absorb flavor.

Step 2: Mix the Stir-Fry Sauce

Whisk together:
  • Chicken stock
  • Dry sherry
  • Soy sauce
  • Dark soy sauce
  • Brown sugar
  • Cornstarch

Set aside for later.

Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics

Heat peanut oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat.

Add minced garlic and grated ginger.

Stir briefly until fragrant.

Step 4: Sear the Beef

Add marinated beef in a single layer.

Cook until browned and caramelized, stirring occasionally for even searing.

Step 5: Combine with Broccoli and Sauce

Add broccoli florets to the pan.

Pour in the sauce and stir continuously.

Cook until broccoli is crisp-tender and everything is coated in a glossy glaze.

Step 6: Serve Fresh and Hot

Transfer to a platter and serve over steamed rice or noodles.

Beef and Broccoli One-Pan Cooking Tips

  • Let beef soak in marinade for at least 30 minutes to enhance tenderness and flavor absorption.
  • Use baking soda in marinade to help break down protein fibers, ensuring incredibly soft beef slices.
  • Add broccoli towards the end of cooking to maintain crisp texture and vibrant green color.
  • Stir cornstarch thoroughly to avoid lumps and achieve smooth, glossy sauce that perfectly coats ingredients.
  • Use high heat for quick stir-frying to seal in beef's juices and create delicious caramelized edges.

Reheating Chinese Beef and Broccoli

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
  • Warm beef and broccoli in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken stock to prevent dryness and restore sauce consistency.
  • Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly and maintain meat's tenderness.
  • Consume refrigerated leftovers within 2-3 days for best flavor and texture, discarding if any unusual odors or signs of spoilage appear.

Savory Complements for Chinese Beef Broccoli

  • Pair Crisp Riesling with Beef: A light, slightly sweet German white wine complements the savory soy sauce and cuts through the richness of beef, creating a balanced flavor profile.
  • Create Jasmine Rice Bed: Serve the beef and broccoli over fluffy jasmine rice to absorb the delicious sauce and provide a soft, aromatic base that enhances the dish's overall texture.
  • Match Asian Beer Companion: Select a cold Tsingtao or Sapporo beer to refresh the palate, its crispness perfectly offsetting the umami-rich beef and salty soy sauce elements.
  • Enhance with Pickled Vegetables: Add a small side of quick-pickled cucumbers or daikon radish to introduce a tangy, crunchy contrast that brightens the hearty main dish.

Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry Pan Options

  • Gluten-Free Version: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos, use gluten-free cornstarch, and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
  • Vegetarian Option: Swap beef with firm tofu or seitan, marinate similarly, and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock for a plant-based alternative.
  • Low-Carb Adaptation: Replace rice or noodles with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles, and reduce brown sugar for a lower-carbohydrate meal.
  • Spicy Kick Variation: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce during cooking to introduce extra heat and complexity to the traditional recipe.

FAQs

  • Can I use a different type of oil for cooking?

You can substitute peanut oil with vegetable oil or canola oil, which have similar high-heat cooking properties and neutral flavors.

  • Is baking soda really necessary in the marinade?

Baking soda helps tenderize the beef by breaking down protein fibers, making the meat more soft and smooth during quick stir-frying.

  • What cut of beef works best for this recipe?

Flank steak or sirloin are ideal because they’re lean, tender, and slice easily into thin strips for quick cooking.

  • Can I make this dish gluten-free?

Use tamari instead of regular soy sauce and ensure your chicken stock is gluten-free to create a gluten-free version of this classic takeout-style dish.

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Chinese Beef and Broccoli (One Pan Take-Out) Recipe

Chinese Beef and Broccoli (One Pan Take-Out) Recipe


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4.5 from 25 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Sizzling Chinese beef and broccoli delivers restaurant-quality comfort with minimal kitchen effort. Packed with savory flavors and tender meat, this quick one-pan meal brings authentic Asian cuisine straight to your dinner table.


Ingredients

Scale

Proteins:

  • 1 lb (454 g) boneless flank steak

Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons dry sherry
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Vegetables and Aromatics:

  • 1 head broccoli, cut to bite-size florets
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ginger, minced

Cooking and Seasoning:

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (optional)

Instructions

  1. Tenderize beef slices by massaging them with a mixture of soy sauce, peanut oil, cornstarch, and baking soda, allowing the flavors to penetrate deeply for 30 minutes.
  2. Create a rich sauce by whisking together chicken stock, dry sherry, both light and dark soy sauces, brown sugar, and cornstarch until smooth and well-integrated.
  3. Ignite a hot skillet with peanut oil, then quickly sauté minced garlic and grated ginger until their aromatic essence fills the kitchen.
  4. Introduce marinated beef to the sizzling pan, spreading pieces evenly to ensure a golden-brown caramelization on all sides.
  5. Gently fold in crisp broccoli florets, then pour the prepared sauce over the meat and vegetables, stirring continuously to coat and prevent burning.
  6. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken, transforming into a glossy glaze that clings to the beef and broccoli, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
  7. Once the broccoli reaches a vibrant green tenderness and the sauce reaches a perfect consistency, remove from heat and serve immediately over steamed rice or soft noodles.

Notes

  • Optimize meat tenderness by slicing beef against the grain, ensuring each bite remains incredibly soft and juicy.
  • Prevent broccoli from becoming mushy by stir-frying quickly at high heat, maintaining a vibrant green color and crisp texture.
  • Customize the dish for gluten-sensitive diets by substituting regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos, preserving authentic Asian flavor profiles.
  • Enhance protein variety by swapping beef with chicken, tofu, or shrimp, creating versatile meal options without compromising the recipe’s core essence.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 370
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 760 mg
  • Fat: 21 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 28 g
  • Cholesterol: 80 mg
Emily Harper

Emily Harper

Nutrition Consultant & Recipe Analyst

Expertise

Healthy Recipe Modification, Nutritional Analysis & Meal Planning, Global Cuisine & Dietary Adaptations​

Education

School: French Pastry School, Chicago, IL

Program: L’Art de la Pâtisserie

Focus: Intensive training in traditional French pastry techniques, baking theory, and confectionery arts. ​


Emily’s journey started in a pastry kitchen but took a detour into the world of health and flavor science.
Graduating from the French Pastry School and studying nutrition opened her eyes to a new mission: making healthy food taste like something you’d actually crave.
At Dining At Home, Emily’s the go-to for smart, feel-good recipes that don’t trade flavor for nutrition.
She’s all about adding a fresh spin on old favorites and finding small ways to make everyday meals a little brighter.
Outside of the kitchen, Emily is most at home walking forest trails, testing plant-based recipes, or sharing a picnic under a wide-open sky.

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