Name: Beef with Garlic Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound top sirloin (NY strip, or flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain); 1 tablespoon cornstarch; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; 2 tablespoons cooking oil (vegetable, canola, or avocado); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger; 1 red bell pepper (thinly sliced); 8 ounces mushrooms (any variety, thinly sliced); 1 cup broccoli florets; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil; 2 tablespoons green onion (sliced); Sesame seeds (for garnish)

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Our beef with garlic sauce is an easy 30-minute dinner made with thinly sliced steak, broccoli florets, garlic, fresh ginger, soy sauce, and savory seasonings.

Overhead view of beef, vegetables, and white rice in a serving bowl.

Tender strips of beef, broccoli, and peppers, tossed in a quick garlic sauce, all in one pan. That’s what I make when I want takeout flavor without waiting for takeout.

This dish is on regular rotation in our kitchen, a couple times a month, easy.

We switch up the veggies depending on what’s in the fridge, but the base never changes. We use good beef, plenty of garlic, and a savory sauce that coats every bite.

John is a pro when it comes to making beef with garlic sauce. He can get it cooked and on the table in less than 30 minutes. And there’s only one pan, too, so clean up is a breeze.

My Tips for the Best Beef with Garlic Sauce

Start with a cut you already like. Tender beef makes or breaks this dish. I buy top sirloin or NY strip, and filet when it’s on sale. Whatever you grab, slice it thin and against the grain.

Don’t overcook the beef. This is the big one. Cooking beef a few minutes too long turns it to shoe leather. I sear it really quick, pull it out, then add it back at the very end just to warm through.

Keep the heat up for a thicker sauce. The cornstarch on the beef is what thickens everything. It needs to get hot in order to thicken.

Swap the veggies. Snap peas, carrots, baby corn, or extra mushrooms all work. Use what you’ve got.

How to Make Beef with Garlic Sauce

Slice the steak thin, against the grain. Then, toss the strips with the cornstarch and garlic powder so they’re lightly coated.

Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium. Add the beef and sear it for 2 to 3 minutes per side, just until browned. Pull it out and set it aside.

Raw steak strips coated with cornstarch in a mixing bowl.

Close-up of browned steak strips cooking in a skillet.

Add a bit more oil to the same pan and turn the heat to low-medium. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the bell pepper, mushrooms, and broccoli. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the veggies are tender but still have a little bite. You don’t want them too soft.

Close-up of broccoli, mushrooms, and red peppers cooking in a skillet.

Saucy steak and vegetables topped with sesame seeds and green onions.

Place the beef back in the pan and pour in the soy sauce. Stir and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Drizzle with the sesame oil and give it one last stir.

Serve it hot over a bed of white rice or a pile of lo mein. Top it with green onions and sesame seeds and enjoy!

How to Store Leftovers

Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm it in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water, or microwave on half power until it’s heated through.