Beef Stir Fry Recipe {20 minute meal!} - Belly Full (2024)

Published: March 5, 2021Updated: March 15, 2021Author: Amy

Tender strips of sirloin steak and crisp snow peas are cooked in a quick and flavorful homemade sauce in 20 minutes for a fantastic easy dinner!

After years of making countless stir fry dishes, I can whip up a simple, yet impressive one on the fly. Especially if I’ve got my all-purpose stir fry sauce on hand.

• This chicken and broccoli stir fry and pepper steak are old favorites.
• We never get tired of this easy cashew chicken.
• When we’re in the mood for noodles, instead of rice, this ramen stir fry hits the spot every time.

Each one has a perfect balance of savory, salty, tangy, and sweet, but still with its own unique flavor. I adore that about stir-fries.

This beef stir fry is another standard, making an appearance on our dinner table at least once a month. It’s incredibly quick and easy, but loaded with flavor.

Beef Stir Fry Recipe Ingredients

Beef Stir Fry Sauce

• Soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and Brown Sugar: The combination of these three ingredients is dynamite. A salty, tangy, and sweet flavor explosion. (Dry sherry is a good substitute, if you can’t find Shaoxing wine.)
• Fresh ginger: For wonderful aromatics and flavor. Use fresh for optimal results.
• Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce.

For the Stir Fry

• Beef sirloin: Cut thin, it’s like a sponge to a wonderful marinade.
• Snow Peas or Snap Peas: We love the fresh crispness, slight sweetness, and bright green color of snow peas!
• Scallions: A subtle peppery flavor and my favorite way to finish off a stir fry.
• Red pepper flakes: Adds flavor and a tiny bit of heat.
• Vegetable oil: To sauté the beef and vegetables. For even more flavor, use sesame oil.
• White rice: For serving, to absorb that tasty sauce.

Best Beef for Stir Fry

Beef sirloin is my first choice and go-to when choosing beef for stir fries. It’s lean, cooks quickly, and remains tender. However, you can also use flank steak or chuck steak.

How to Make Stir Fry Beef Tender

• Slice Across the Grain. Slice thinly across (not with) the grain of your beef. This helps break down the fibers and make it tender.
• Marinade It. Tossing the beef with the sauce before you start cooking, even if it’s just for a couple minutes, helps tenderize it and also makes a big difference in flavor.
• Don’t Overcook. Overcooking the beef will make it tough and hard to chew. In this recipe, the beef is cut into thin strips and seared for only a minute, then transferred to a plate, and added back in with the sauce to finish cooking.

How to Make Beef Stir Fry

This dish comes together fast. Here’s a summary.
*Scroll below for the detailed printable recipe card.

1. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce, then add the sliced beef and toss to coat.
2. Warm oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add snow peas and stir for 45 seconds to char slightly. Transfer to a plate.
3. Allow pan to get very hot again. Add half the meat (leaving most of the marinade still in the bowl), along with half the scallions. Let the meat sear, without stirring for one minute. Turn meat over and cook for another 30 seconds. Transfer to a clean plate. Repeat with other half of meat, allowing pan to get very hot again first (adding additional oil, if needed.)
4. After turning the meat, add the first plateful of meat, the rest of the marinade, the snow peas, red pepper flakes, and other half of the scallions.
5. Stir over high heat for 1 minute to thicken, then remove from heat. Serve immediately over cooked hot rice.

Proper Storage

To Make Ahead. The beef can be sliced and stored in a tightly covered container up to 1 day in advance. You can also combine your sauce ingredients in a bowl or jar up to 1 day in advance. Both should be stored in the refrigerator, separately.
To Store Leftovers. Allow to cool completely, then place leftover stir fry in an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Freeze. Allow to cool completely, then store in an airtight freezer-safe container. It will keep up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, keeping in mind that cooked frozen and thawed vegetables tend to have a mushy texture.

Beef Stir Fry Video

I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!