Crispy Beef And Broccoli

I’m sharing a delicious Crispy Beef and Broccoli recipe that features crispy fried beef, tender broccoli, and a flavorful sauce made with gluten-free soy and rice vinegar. The entire meal takes just about 26 minutes and serves four people.

Why I’ll Love This Recipe

I love how the beef turns crispy and golden before it’s coated in a tangy-sweet sauce—then comes together with bright, tender broccoli. It’s quick, requires minimal fuss, and uses pantry-friendly ingredients. I particularly appreciate the flexibility to switch up oils or tweak the sauce to suit my taste.

Ingredients

(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
¼ cup cornstarch
½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Neutral cooking oil
4 cups broccoli florets

For the Sauce:
¼ cup gluten-free soy sauce
⅓ cup water
3 tablespoons cane sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon cornstarch

For Serving:
4 cups cooked rice
¼ cup chopped green onions

Directions

1. I toss the beef strips in cornstarch and black pepper until they’re lightly coated.

2. I heat about ½ inch of neutral cooking oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until the oil’s very hot (watch for a sizzle when testing with a piece of beef). I fry the beef in two batches for 3–4 minutes per batch until it’s crispy and golden, turning once. Then I transfer it to a bowl.

3. I discard the oil and clean the pan. Next, I whisk together the sauce ingredients, pour them into the pan over medium-low heat, and simmer for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens. Then I add broccoli to the pan and cook for another 1–2 minutes before returning the beef and stirring everything together.

4. I serve the crispy beef and broccoli over cooked rice, garnished with chopped green onions.

Servings And Timing

• Yield: Serves 4

• Prep Time: ~10 minutes

• Cook Time: ~16 minutes

• Total Time: ~26 minutes

Variations

• I could swap flank steak for sirloin or ribeye if I prefer.

• To make it oil-free, I might stir-fry the beef instead of deep-frying.

• I could use tamari instead of soy sauce or swap cane sugar with honey or brown sugar for different sweetness.

• For extra zing, I might add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of sesame oil.

• I could customize the veggies by adding bell peppers, carrots, or snow peas alongside, or replacing rice with noodles or cauliflower rice.

Storage/Reheating

I store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator—up to about 3–5 days. To reheat, I gently warm the stir-fry in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or stock if needed to loosen the sauce. I find the beef stays reasonably crispy, although the broccoli softens a bit, which is still tasty.

FAQs

1. What cut of beef works best?

I prefer flank steak because it’s lean and tender when sliced thin against the grain; sirloin or ribeye also make great alternatives depending on what I have on hand.

2. Can I make it ahead?

Yes—beef can be pre-sliced and coated in cornstarch up to a day ahead, and sauce ingredients can be whisked together ahead of time to speed things up when cooking.

3. Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! As written, it’s gluten-free thanks to the use of gluten-free soy sauce. If I use regular soy sauce, it would no longer be gluten-free.

4. Can I double or halve the recipe easily?

Absolutely—scaling is simple. I just multiply or divide the ingredient amounts and adjust cooking in batches as needed.

5. What if the sauce isn’t thickening enough?

If the sauce seems too thin, I whisk in a little extra cornstarch dissolved in water and cook it a minute longer; if too thick, I thin it with a splash of water or broth.

Conclusion

I find this Crispy Beef and Broccoli to be a great dish for busy nights when I still want something flavorful and satisfying. It comes together fast, looks impressive, and hits that sweet-savory balance perfectly. I love that I can make tweaks based on what’s in my pantry or to suit my mood—and that it reheats so well for leftovers.