Quick and Easy Beef Stir-Fry

Got some leftover veggies and pantry essentials to use up? This classic beef stir-fry is the answer. It’s a quick, 25-minute recipe that uses ingredients you probably have on hand—and if not, no worries, you can easily swap them out!

Packed with tender beef, fresh vegetables, and a savory sauce, this stir-fry is the ultimate weeknight meal. Serve it with steamed rice or noodles for a delicious, satisfying dinner that’s sure to become a favorite.

How to Prepare Beef Stir-Fry

The most time-intensive part of making stir-fry is prepping the ingredients. Cutting your meat and vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces takes a little time and effort, but it’s worth it for the final dish.

Once your ingredients are chopped, cook the beef on one side of a large pan or wok, and the vegetables on the other side. When everything’s cooked through, combine them, then add soy sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Some stir-fry recipes call for a specific sauce, typically made with a combination of broth, soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine vinegar. For this recipe, we stick to simple soy sauce, but feel free to add a stir-fry sauce or marinate the beef if you like.

Which Cut of Beef Works Best for Stir-Fry?

Flank steak is a popular choice for stir-fry, but you can also use other cuts like sirloin, skirt steak, Denver steak, or even beef chuck.

Beef chuck steak is a budget-friendly option, but it does require a bit of extra prep. Be sure to trim away any tough connective tissue from the steaks before cooking.

How to Cook Beef Stir-Fry

For the best stir-fry results, using a wok is ideal. Its large, sloping sides allow you to stir and flip the ingredients easily, plus it heats up quickly and requires less oil than a skillet.

If you don’t have a wok or a carbon steel pan, any skillet will work in a pinch. Just be prepared to cook the meat and vegetables in separate batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.

Make sure to preheat the pan and oil before adding your ingredients—when they hit the pan, they should sizzle right away. For the best results, use an oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or peanut oil.

Dinogo Community Feedback and Praise

"I added this recipe to my favorites list less than a month ago and I've already made it at least five times with different variations each time. My family loves it, and I’ve paired it with both rice and noodles—it’s always a hit. I typically use beef stew meat and switch up the vegetables based on what I have. I’d highly recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a quick and easy meal that the whole family will enjoy," says Tiana Marie Ginorio.

"Both my husband and I loved this dish. It was so simple to make and ready in no time. I swapped flank steak for the sirloin and didn’t have any green onions, but other than that, I followed the recipe exactly. It tasted great, but we felt it needed a little extra kick, so after a few bites, we added crushed chilis for some heat," shares Dinogo Allstar France C.

"I made this exactly as the recipe said, except I only used half a red bell pepper since that’s all I had on hand. It didn’t affect the dish at all, and the level of spice was just right. I served it over rice, and it was the best quick meal I’ve made all week," raves Shoebox.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 pound beef sirloin, cut into 2-inch strips

• 1 ½ cups fresh broccoli florets

• 1 red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks

• 2 carrots, thinly sliced

• 1 green onion, chopped

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

Prepare all your ingredients ahead of time.

Heat vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the beef for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned.

Mix the beef back in with the vegetables and season with soy sauce and sesame seeds. Continue cooking and stirring for about 2 more minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Serve immediately and enjoy your meal!

Nutrition Information (per serving)