Our beef with garlic sauce is the easy, hearty dish you’ve been looking for! This simple stir fry gives you tender, juicy beef and crisp broccoli in a flavorful garlic sauce. Serve it on a bed of rice or noodles for a delicious Asian-inspired meal.
What Makes Beef with Garlic Sauce So Good
- It’s ready to eat in no time at all. Less than 20 minutes on the stovetop is all you need to come up with a delicious, filling, healthy dinner you’ll enjoy eating!
- There’s really very little work involved. You can make your prep even easier by using pre-minced garlic and pre-chopped broccoli, too.
- It’s naturally low carb! Pair it with a side of this cauliflower fried rice for an incredible Chinese takeout copycat that won’t mess up your macros. Keto: If you’re keto, know that this recipe contains cornstarch, which is not keto-friendly due to its high glycemic index. Since it’s a small amount, you may decide it’s fine for you, or you may be more comfortable substituting. We haven’t tried them, but you may be able to use very small amounts (less than 1 tablespoon) of almond flour, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, or glucomannan powder with success.
Key Ingredients for Beef with Garlic Sauce
Beef – The key to the best beef with garlic sauce is to use the best beef. Flank steak and sirloin will be way more tender than cheaper cuts of beef.
Cornstarch – You might be tempted to skip this step, but don’t! It really makes a difference. Velveting coats the beef in a protective layer of cornstarch so it doesn’t overcook, and no one wants overcooked, tough, dry beef with garlic sauce.
Chef’s Tips
- If you’re serving your beef with garlic sauce on a bed of rice, cook your rice before starting the beef recipe. The beef and broccoli will cook faster than the rice, so if you start them at the same time, you’ll be waiting a while to eat!
- When you slice your beef into strips, make sure you cut against the grain of the meat. This way, you break up the muscle fibers and end up with tender meat. Cutting with the grain leaves you with chewy, tough meat.
- Garlic burns quickly, so keep a close eye on it and never stop stirring. You only want it golden and fragrant before you move on to the next step.
What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”
Our recipes focus on real ingredients and homemade elements. We try to avoid processed flour and sugar, like white flour or white sugar. Our recipes often swap less healthy options (like a commercial, deep-fried tostada) for an easy homemade version.
Our recipes are not necessarily low fat or low calorie, and we aren’t afraid of fat or carbs! Some of our recipes will be “skinny,” low carb, keto, paleo, dairy free, grain free, gluten free, Whole30, or vegan, and they will be labeled when they qualify for any of these diets. All our recipes are easy and family friendly!
More Asian-Inspired Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant Pot Sushi Rice
- Keto Egg Drop Soup
- Simple Asian Cucumber Salad
- Egg Roll in a Bowl with Creamy Chili Sauce (Keto, Whole30, Paleo)
- Whole30 Chicken Lo Mein
- Szechuan Chicken
We hope you loved this recipe as much as we did! We’d love for you to give us a star ★ rating below, and follow us on Instagram! For more delicious, healthy recipes, be sure to check out 40 Aprons.
Beef with Garlic Sauce
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Large skillet or wok
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak or sirloin cut into small, short strips
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon ginger grated
- 2 cups broccoli chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ⅓ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup rice cooked, optional, for serving
- white sesame seeds optional, for garnish
- green onions optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Place beef in large bowl and add cornstarch. Toss until beef is lightly coated, then set aside.
- In large skillet over medium-high heat, warm sesame oil until it begins to shimmer, then add garlic. Stirring frequently, cook garlic until golden and fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
- Add ginger to skillet. Cook approximately 1 minute.
- Stir in beef. Cook approximately 4 minutes, then add broccoli, soy sauce, garlic powder, and pepper. Stir to coat. Cook until meat is browned and broccoli is bright green.
- Remove from heat. Serve alone or over rice or noodles. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions (optional).
