The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (2024)

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This Beef Stir Fry is literally the best stir fry you’ll ever try. It cooks in under 30 minutes, is rich in flavors and reheats amazingly well.

This Beef Stir Fry doesn’t stand far from the Beef Lo Mein Recipe; it’s just as delicious, and I am excited for all of you to try both recipes.

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (1)

Beef stir fry recipe came one day out of the love we have for Beef Lo Mein. As always, we were trying to cut out carbs, and we knew that stir fry would be the best option. Kids can choose to have it with rice, and we like to load up on veggies.

p.s. If you love beefy recipes, you will love our Philly Cheesesteak Recipe!

Beef Stir Fry Consists Of

  • beef
  • carrots
  • snow peas
  • onion
  • garlic
  • soy sauce
  • brown sugar
  • sesame oil

How to Make Beef Stir Fry

On a hot skillet, cook beef until golden brown. Add soy sauce, brown sugar and sesame oil. Remove from skillet. Cook veggies until they soften, add soy sauce to the mixture. Add beef to the cooking veggies and serve while the dish is still warm.

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (2)

Beef to Choose for the Best Beef Stir Fry

The key to making beef tender in a stir fry is to make sure that you slice it properly. Remember to slice it thinly and against the grain (or the muscle fibers in the meat). Pretty much any cut of meat will work for Beef Stir Fry:

  • Sirloin Steak (my go-to!): A lean, juicy and mid-priced cut. Also good for grilling or making into kebabs/skewers.
  • Chuck Steak: A lean, chewy and budget-friendly steak. Since this cut comes from the shoulder region of the cow, it can be a bit tougher. However, when allowed to marinate overnight, this cut can be tender and juicy. Try to find a chuck steak that was cut from the top shoulder blade, which contains the most fat marbling in the chuck region.
  • Tri-tip: A large, triangular and mid-priced cut. It’s boneless and fairly tender. Tri-tip is most popular on the grill.
  • Ribeye: A rich, fully-marbled and more expensive cut. This cut is so deliciously tender that it is often eaten all on its own.
  • Flank Steak: A lean, boneless and budget-friendly cut. Flank steak is cut pretty thin, which makes it perfect for stir fry.

The Secret to the Best Sauce for The Beef Stir Fry

The secret is always in the sauce! Sesame oil provides a nutty flavor, soy sauce gives the Asian flare and sugar balances out the savory-ness of the garlic and onion. The key to making a great Asian-inspired sauce is to always make sure there is a bit of sweet (typically brown sugar) complimenting the salty.

Serveing Best Beef Stir Fry

Pair the Best Beef Stir Fry with white or brown rice. Cutting carbs? Prepare some cauliflower rice!

Try These Similar Recipes

  • Simple Yakisoba Noodles Recipe
  • Ground Beef Stir Fry
  • Korean Stir-Fried Sweet Potato Noodles Recipe
  • Mongolian Beef
  • Salmon Stir Fry

Recipe

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (3)

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe

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Servings

6 Servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

This Beef Stir Fry is literally the best stir fry you'll ever try. It cooks in under 30 minutes, is rich in flavors and reheats amazingly well.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb flank beef
  • 2 carrots
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 lb snow peas
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • oil for frying
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp sweet ginger seasoning (or any other Asian seasoning)

US UnitsMetric

Instructions

  • Prepare all ingredients for the recipe. Cut beef into thin strips.

  • Preheat the skillet with olive oil and cook beef until it's cooked through. Season with Asian seasoning. To the cooking beef, add brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and sesame oil. Cook until the beef is browned and remove beef from the skillet.

  • Dice carrots into thin strips and dice onions into half rings. Cook onions in the skillet on a medium heat until they’re softened, add carrots and cook until they’re also softened.

  • Stir in snow peas, season with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and cook for another 2 minutes. Press garlic into the mixture and stir to combine. Add beef into the vegetable mixture and stir to combine.

  • Serve warm over white rice.

Nutrition Facts

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 478 Calories from Fat 288

% Daily Value*

Fat 32g49%

Saturated Fat 12g60%

Cholesterol 107mg36%

Sodium 623mg26%

Potassium 696mg20%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 29g58%

Vitamin A 4260IU85%

Vitamin C 47.9mg58%

Calcium 117mg12%

Iron 5.7mg32%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Posted August 23, 2019

About Author

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (9)

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.

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  1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (16)

    LizFeb 2, 2024

    I'd like to make this beef stir fry using chuck steak. You suggest marinating the beef overnight if I use chuck. What do I use for a marinade?

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (17)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 2, 2024

      Hi Liza, I would suggest cutting it very thin agains the grain. This will ensure that the beef is tender. I would do 1/3 of the potion of the sauce ingredients. So 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1/2 tbsp brown sugar and let it sit. I haven't tried this method but I am pretty sure it would work. Hope this help 🙂 Please report back!

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (19)

      Natalya DrozhzhinNov 3, 2023

      Hi Karina! These ingredients would be fine frozen, however I do think it's best served fresh or even refrigerated for later vs freezing!

  2. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (20)

    Dan JSep 9, 2023

    Is it ok to use Chinese 5 spice instead of ginger?

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (21)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 11, 2023

      Hi Dan, I personally would not use it because it would create a different flavor. If you don't have ginger, I would just leave it out.

  3. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (22)

    TendaiJun 20, 2023

    Hey .....can I use ground ginger and slice the green,red pepper and yellow paper and is it okay if I also add BBQ sauce.I also don't have sesame oil can I use vegetable oil or olive oil

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (23)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJun 20, 2023

      Hi Tendai, The recommended sweet ginger seasoning is a combination of spices, so if you were to substitute it with just ground ginger, I would use about 1/2 tsp. of ground ginger. Or, a better option is freshly grated ginger. Sliced peppers will be a tasty addition to the dish. Feel free to add those. However, I would not add BBQ sauce. For the most Asian inspired flavor, I recommend using sesame oil, but in a pinch, vegetable or olive oil is fine. Hope this helps!

  4. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (24)

    DanMar 23, 2023

    Got my hands on a Chinese cook book but also photographed yer recipes, wish me luck and she she née,

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (25)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMar 23, 2023

      Hi Dan! I am wishing you the best of luck! I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. Enjoy!!

  5. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (26)

    Dennis YanceyMar 12, 2023

    I prepared this dish minus the garlic and onions due to IBS issues. I used a standard bag of stir fry veggies and it was delicious.
    Thanks for the recipe.
    Be blessed

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (27)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMar 12, 2023

      Hi Dennis, I am thrilled that the recipe was a success! Thank you for sharing your feedback. Enjoy!

  6. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (28)

    CynthiaFeb 3, 2023

    What is sweet ginger seasoning?

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (29)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 3, 2023

      Hi Cynthia, Thank you for that question. It is an Asian seasoning. If you have access to an oriental grocery store, they would have it. Or you can get some on Amazon! Hope this helps.

  7. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (30)

    SusanaDec 7, 2022

    I made it and it came out very good. I actually found the sweet ginger seasoning and also used a bit fresh ginger and broccoli/sweet peppers. I mixed in a little soy with cornflour too. Just little things I generally used, added to the already good recipe. Thanks!

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (31)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 8, 2022

      Hi Susana, Sounds like you made a killer meal! Thank you for sharing your process! Enjoy!

  8. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (32)

    KeithFeb 16, 2022

    I used broccoli snow peas onion and mushrooms. Fresh ginger and rice noodles. It was amazing!

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (33)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 16, 2022

      Sounds amazing, Keith! Fresh ginger is always a game change. Thanks for commenting!

  9. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (34)

    DannyJan 22, 2022

    Everyone tried it but wouldn't eat it !! Went by the recipe to a T. I've had better. Sorry

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (35)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJan 23, 2022

      Hello, Danny. Thank you for your feedback, and I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it as you'd hoped! I hope the next recipe you try is more satisfying!

  10. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (36)

    KellyNov 3, 2021

    Really great recipe the family enjoyed it! I used Asian 5 spice seasoning it was perfect! Thank you!

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (37)

      Natalya DrozhzhinNov 5, 2021

      Thanks for the feedback, Kelly. I love 5 Spice! I bet it elevated the dish so much. Keep on sharing your variations – these are so helpful.

  11. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (38)

    StephSep 20, 2021

    Switched the snow peas to broccoli, used beef fajitas and it turned out delish. Saving this recipe to prep again. Thanks!

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (39)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 21, 2021

      Steph, thank you for sharing this variation with me, sounds delicious! I'm glad you loved the recipe 😊

  12. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (40)

    SusanJun 2, 2021

    Delicious, Easy recipe. I used an Asian spice blend I had and smashed the garlic. Had fillet of beef and it was tender and flavorful. Thanks

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (41)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJun 2, 2021

      Susan, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe. I am curious what exactly was the Asain spice blend you used? Do you remember what it was called?

  13. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (42)

    MadelaineFeb 26, 2021

    Would just regular ginger work? I don't have any sweet ginger seasoning. Do you have other spice substitutes?

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (43)

      Natalya DrozhzhinFeb 28, 2021

      Hey Madelaine, yes you can use fresh ginger, it will work great. Enoy

  14. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (44)

    Charmaine ErskineNov 15, 2019

    Love your recipes but I need to know how many servings (dieting!).

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (45)

      Natalya DrozhzhinNov 16, 2019

      Look up in the gray area where is tells you the cooking time, it says the servings as well. For this recipe its 6.

  15. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (46)

    NelyaJun 22, 2014

    Would it be ok to use top round steak instead of flank steak?

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (47)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJun 22, 2014

      Any cut would work as long as you like how tender it is.

  16. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (49)

    VickJun 4, 2014

    I see pressed garlic can I just dice it instead of using a press?

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (50)

      Natalya DrozhzhinJun 4, 2014

      Yes, you totally can 😉

  17. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (51)

    Debbie TracyApr 18, 2014

    making this tonight. Looks yummy and easy to prepare!

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (52)

      Natalya DrozhzhinApr 18, 2014

      Hey Debbie, I hope you guys love it just as much as we did. 🙂

    1. The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (54)

      Natalya DrozhzhinApr 3, 2014

      Hi Valentina, totally agree that easy recipes are the best. We could hardly stop our selves from going for refills non-stop.

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in stir-fry beef? ›

Velvet the beef: The velveting technique involves tenderizing, marinating, and a quick searing of the meat. To tenderize: Sprinkle with baking soda (the secret Chinese meat tenderizer). To marinate (a quick marinade): Add basic beef marinade and mix to coat evenly. Let marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight.

What is the secret ingredient in stir-fry? ›

Ketchup could be used to enhance store-bought stir fry sauces as well. It will give them a flavor boost and a bit more richness, too. You can also try mixing a few tablespoons in with some teriyaki sauce to create a more complex flavor.

How to make beef super tender for stir-fry? ›

Instructions
  1. Place the beef in a bowl and sprinkle over the bicarbonate of soda. ...
  2. Rub the bicarbonate of soda into the beef so it's thoroughly coated.
  3. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  4. Thoroughly rinse the beef in cold water, drain, then pat dry with kitchen towels.
  5. Use as per your recipe.
Jul 11, 2023

What makes stir-fry taste better? ›

Aromatic ingredients like garlic, ginger, green onions, chilies and spices. These ingredients are typically added to the oil first to infuse it with flavor. You won't need much; a few teaspoons to a tablespoon of total aromatic ingredients per person adds a serious amount of flavor.

Is cornstarch or baking soda better for velveting beef? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

What are the three rules of stir-frying? ›

Food & Dining

The first is to cook your protein and your vegetable separately, and combine them only after both are fully cooked. A second rule of thumb for stir-frying: Choose one vegetable per stir-fry. Finally, always remember to add liquid only after everything is more or less finished cooking.

What is the best thickener for stir-fry? ›

Cornstarch! In his book How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, Mark Bittman recommends mixing 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the same amount of water, and tossing this into the stir fry just when it's almost done. It thickens in seconds, picking up the flavors of everything already in the dish and coating evenly.

How to make stir-fry more flavourful? ›

5. Add flavour.
  1. Herbs: basil, oregano, cilantro.
  2. Spices: cumin, coriander, cardamom.
  3. Reduced sodium or no sodium added broth.
  4. Fresh lemongrass, garlic or ginger.
  5. 100% fruit juice.
  6. Citrus zest.
  7. Lower sodium soy sauces (<600 mg sodium per tablespoon)
Sep 16, 2019

What is the best spice for stir-fry? ›

Best Herbs And Spices For Stir Fry
  • Ginger. Ginger root is one of the most popular spices used in stir frys. ...
  • Cumin. Cumin has an intense aroma with warm, earthy flavours and tart undertones. ...
  • Galangal. ...
  • Chilli. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Coriander. ...
  • Mint. ...
  • Basil.

What not to put in stir-fry? ›

"Tomatoes should never go in a stir fry — not at all." Chef Natasha Ford adds that they're too mushy. "They would just make your stir fry soupy," she says. "If you really want to use them, keep them as fresh and uncooked as possible.

What are the 2 primary techniques used for stir-fry? ›

Dry stir-frying (干炒) – without coating, raw ingredients are stir-fried relatively longer time to evaporate their water content. Mixed stir-frying (抓炒) – main ingredients are coated with starched base batter (either with egg or just water), deep-fried, then mixed quickly with various sauce.

How do you keep beef from getting tough in stir-fry? ›

There are a few methods, but this is the easiest way:
  1. Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts.
  2. Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse, pat off excess water.
  4. Proceed with stir fry recipe. It can be marinated with wet or dry seasonings, or cooked plain.
Feb 23, 2019

Why is Chinese stir-fry beef so tender? ›

Joyce's Recipe Notes

Adding water to any type of chicken, pork, or beef marinade not only rehydrates the meat so that it becomes juicier and moister but when combined with soy sauce it also makes it a mini brine which gives it another level of hydration so your beef always stays tender and juicy.

What makes good stir-fry meat? ›

Packages of pre-cut beef strips, beef for stir-fry, are often available in the meat case. Most tender beef cuts, such as sirloin, tri-tip, ribeye, top loin (strip), tenderloin, shoulder center (Ranch Steak), shoulder top blade (Flat Iron) and shoulder petite tender, can be cut into strips for use in stir-fry recipes.

What flavouring to add to stir-fry? ›

Best Herbs And Spices For Stir Fry
  1. Ginger. Ginger root is one of the most popular spices used in stir frys. ...
  2. Cumin. Cumin has an intense aroma with warm, earthy flavours and tart undertones. ...
  3. Galangal. ...
  4. Chilli. ...
  5. Turmeric. ...
  6. Coriander. ...
  7. Mint. ...
  8. Basil.

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