Beef Stir Fry is loaded with mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers. The easy 3-ingredient beef stir fry sauce adds amazing Asian BBQ flavor. Serve this with a side of steamy white rice and you’ll satisfy any craving for takeout.
Just like Chicken Stir Fry, orShrimp Fried Rice, this is a one-pan, easy dinner that is better than going out.
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Beef Stir Fry Recipe
Stir fry is the ultimate quick dinner. This recipe is cooked in just 20 minutes. High-heat cooking results in tender and juicy beef caramelized with the beef stir fry sauce. This recipe moves fast so be sure to have all of your ingredients sliced up and ready to go before you fire up the stove.
I learned how to make this recipe on a blogging retreat hosted by Camp Chef. One of their chefs was cooking for everyone Hibachi style and when I inquired about the sauce, he didn’t hesitate to share it with me. It shocked me that it could be so simple with just 3 ingredients, but so tasty! I couldn’t wait to recreate this easy recipe in my backyard.
What Kind of Beef is Used for Stir Fry?
Good news: you don’t need the most expensive cut of beef for tender beef stir fry. Top sirloin is our favorite beef for stir fry because it is relatively inexpensive and produces juicy results). These are generally the best beef cuts for stir fry:
- Top Sirloin Steak (or go-to)
- Chuck Steak
- Ribeye
- Tri-tip
- Flank Steak
How do you Ensure Tender Beef?
The right cut (see recommendations above) is critical. Also, be sure to:
- Thinly Slice your beef
- Cut steak against the grain
- Sear over high heat (sealing in the juices)
- Don’t crowd the pan which cools the pan quickly and results in chewy beef
The Best Beef Stir Fry Sauce
A great stir fry is all in the sauce (which is why our Beef and Broccoli is so popular)! The ingredients for this beef stir fry sauce will surprise you and you probably already have them in the refrigerator. The combination is sweet, savory and smoky. It caramelizes on the beef for a tantalizing Asian BBQ flavor.
Keep in mind if you use a sweet BBQ sauce, the sauce will be considerably sweeter which is why we opted to use an original BBQ sauce. Also, use Tamari soy sauce to make this a gluten-free beef stir fry!
Which Vegetables are Best for Stir Fry?
You can change up the vegetables for variety or to use up what you have on hand. Veggies are important for bulking up a stir fry and making it a meal in one pan. The best vegetables for stir fry cook fast when thinly sliced. You can substitute with any of these:
- Bell Peppers
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini (green or yellow squash)
- Snap peas
- Carrots (sliced into matchsticks)
- Onion
- Asparagus
- Broccoli cut into florets
How to Make Stir-Fry Sauce
1. Stir together 3 Tbsp BBQ sauce, 3 Tbsp real maple syrup and 2 Tbsp soy sauce. Set aside.
How to Make Beef Stir Fry
1. Heat a large heavy panor wok over high heat with 1 Tbsp oil. Add thinly sliced beef to the hot pan in a single layer and sauté undisturbed 2-3mins. Stirand sauté 2 min or until nearly cooked through. Season lightly withsalt and pepper, add ginger and garlic and sauté 1 minute.
2. Drizzle beef with sauce to taste (I added 5 Tbsp) and stir-fry another1 min or until fully cooked through. Remove beef to a plate and cover to keep warm. Wipe the pan clean with a damp paper towel.
3. Place the same pan over high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Once hot, add mushrooms, season lightly with salt and pepper and stir fry until golden (5 min) then remove mushrooms to the plate with beef.
4. Add 1 Tbsp oil, sliced onion and vegetables and stir fry 8 minutes or until softened and golden.
5. Combine vegetables withbeef and mushrooms, drizzle in more sauce to taste (I added another 2 Tbsp) and stir fry just until hot.
Which Oil is Best for Stir Fry?
Since you are cooking over high heat, use an oil with a high smoke point. Our favorite is extra light olive oil (we use it for everything from baking to stir-fries because it is neutral in flavor and has a high smoke point). Other good options include canola oil, grape-seed oil, avocado oil or peanut oil.
You’ll find this Beef Stir Fry recipe on your list of recipes to repeat. It’s especially fun to cook it over a flat cooktop outdoors, Hibachi style!
More Asian Copycat Recipes
We love to recreate our favorite restaurant copycat recipes because it is so easy to make them at home and is often healthier. From Fresh Spring Rolls to crispy Egg Rolls and all kinds of stir-fry recipes, I hope you find some new favorites here.
- Kung Pao Chicken
- General Tso’s Chicken
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Chicken Chow Mein
- Teriyaki Meatballs
Easy Beef Stir-Fry Recipe with 3 Ingredient Sauce
4.99 from 149 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
This beef stir fry has a ridiculously simple sauce and is loaded with mushrooms, zucchini and bell pepper. All you need to make this Asian Beef Stir Fry a meal is a bowl of buttery, steamy white rice.
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 4 as a main course
Ingredients for Beef Stir-Fry:
- 1 lb Top sirloin steak, thinly sliced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 medium yellow zucchini, sliced on the diagonal
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 lb mushrooms, thin sliced
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
- 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds, for garnish
- 3 Tbsp Oil to Saute, *
Ingredients for Asian BBQ Sauce:
- 3 Tbsp original BBQ Sauce, we used Stubbs brand
- 3 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce, we used Tamari brand – gluten free
Instructions
Stir together the 3 sauce ingredients and set aside.
Heat a large heavy pan or wok over high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. When oil is hot, add beef in a single layer and sautee undisturbed 2-3 mins. Stir and sautee another 2 min or until nearly cooked through. Season lightly with salt and pepper, add ginger and garlic and sautee 1 min.
Drizzle beef with sauce to taste (I added 5 Tbsp) and stir-fry another 1 min or until beef is fully cooked through. Remove beef to a plate and cover to keep warm. Wipe pan clean with a paper towel.
Place clean pan over high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Once oil is hot, add mushrooms, season lightly with s & p and stir fry until golden (5 min). Transfer mushrooms to the plate with beef.
Add 1 Tbsp oil along with sliced onion and veggies and stir fry about 8 min or until soft and golden.
Combine vegetables with beef and mushrooms, drizzle in more sauce to taste (I used another 2 Tbsp) and stir fry just until hot. Serve over steamy white rice.
Notes
If you using a sweet BBQ sauce, sauce will be considerably sweeter which is why we opted to use an original BBQ sauce.
This recipe also works well with pork strip loin or tenderloin.
*Use a high smoke-point oil such as: extra light olive oil, avocado oil, canola.
Nutrition Per Serving
259kcal Calories24g Carbs28g Protein5g Fat1g Saturated Fat66mg Cholesterol468mg Sodium894mg Potassium2g Fiber17g Sugar1060IU Vitamin A49.7mg Vitamin C70mg Calcium2.9mg Iron
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Nutrition Facts
Easy Beef Stir-Fry Recipe with 3 Ingredient Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
259
% Daily Value*
Fat
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Cholesterol
66
mg
22
%
Sodium
468
mg
Potassium
894
mg
26
%
Carbohydrates
24
g
8
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
17
g
19
%
Protein
28
g
56
%
Vitamin A
1060
IU
21
%
Vitamin C
49.7
mg
60
%
Calcium
70
mg
7
%
Iron
2.9
mg
16
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Keyword: beef stir fry
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 259
Natasha Kravchuk
