Lighter Broccoli Beef is a gluten free take-out fake-out recipe that's not only easy to make, but much lighter than a restaurant's version!
Craving take out, but not the expense nor tummy-ache afterwards?
Try my irresistible and incredibly delicious, Lighter Broccoli Beef! Because who needs gluten, fat, and sugar-laden take out when you can make it much healthier and gluten-free in less than 30 minutes at home?
Lighter Broccoli Beef
This healthier Broccoli Beef recipe is from my ebook, Gluten-Free for Beginners: 30 Day Meal Plan and Guide for Gluten-Free Success. Of the 10 recipes in there, it’s one of my very favorites and I couldn’t help but share it here with everyone.
Thinly sliced steak and crisp-tender broccoli florets are smothered in a luscious stir fry sauce that’s the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy. Honest to goodness this Lighter Broccoli Beef might be my favorite take out fake out dish on IGE! I love that the entire recipe, which feeds four, calls for just 2 Tablespoons oil and 1/4 cup brown sugar when I can guarantee you a small take out container of the stuff would contain at least double that.
Raise your hand if a small take out container has EVER fed four people? (You better not be raising your hand.)
Ordering Chinese food from the neighborhood take out joint doesn’t exist when you have to eat gluten-free, and at the places it is offered the dish costs an arm and a leg. We’re talking $15+ for an entree. Yikes! My Lighter Broccoli Beef is one that I whip up whenever a take out craving strikes and it totally satisfies. The sauce is made from pantry staples so all I usually need to buy is the beef and broccoli.
Easy, quick, inexpensive (compared to take out, anyway!) and seriously delicious – do not wait another night to make it!
Start with flank or sirloin steak. I used to be able to find flank steak in the $5-8 range but that hasn’t been the case over the past couple of years, which is fine because sirloin tastes just as delicious in this dish.
Whichever cut you go with, slice it into strips as thinly as possible against the grain. Some grocery stores sell pre-sliced stir fry meat, so you could definitely go that direction too!
Add the sliced steak to a Ziplock back with gluten-free Tamari (or soy sauce if not GF) and corn starch OR gluten-free flour then close the bag, squish until everything is coated, and stash in the refrigerator to marinate while you prep the rest of the dish.
The Tamari will season the meat while the flour will create a nice crust on the outside when its stir fried.
Next, whisk together the Broccoli Beef sauce, that’s:
- Reduced-sodium gluten free Tamari
- Corn starch OR gluten free flour
- Low-sodium chicken broth
- Brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Minced garlic
- Ground ginger
- Red chili pepper flakes
Time for some heat! This recipe cooks in 5-7 minutes – TOTAL – so you’ll want to make sure you have everything on standby so you’re not rushing back and forth while the heat is on.
Heat a large wok or nonstick skillet over high heat then add 1/4 cup water. When it starts to simmer add broccoli florets then stir fry until crisp tender, 2-3 minutes. Scoop the broccoli out onto a plate then set aside.
Next add high heat cooking oil like canola or vegetable oil then, when it’s piping hot, add half the beef into a single layer in the bottom of the wok. Let the beef sit undisturbed for 30 seconds to form a crust on the bottom then stir fry until nearly cooked through — some pink still showing is fine.
Scoop onto the plate with the broccoli then heat another Tablespoon oil in the wok and repeat with the remaining beef.
Last step is to pour the sauce into the wok then let it simmer until thickened and bubbly, 2-3 minutes.
Add all the beef and broccoli back into the wok then stir fry for an additional minute or until everything is heated through.
Scoop the Lighter Broccoli Beef over cooked rice and say see ya’ to the delivery driver! Enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 lb flank or sirloin steak, cut very thin against the grain
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons reduced-sodium gluten free Tamari, divided, or soy sauce if not GF
- 2-1/2 Tablespoons gluten free flour OR cornstarch, divided
- 3/4 cup gluten free low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger OR 1 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes, or more or less
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons water, divided
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 2 Tablespoon vegetable oil, divided
- cooked rice, for serving
Directions
- Add sliced steak, 2 Tablespoons gluten-free Tamari, and 1 Tablespoon gluten-free flour or cornstarch to a large Ziplock bag then seal and squish to evenly coat. Place the bag into the refrigerator to marinate while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Add remaining 1/2 cup gluten-free Tamari, remaining 1-1/2 Tablespoons gluten-free flour or cornstarch, chicken broth, brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons water, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ground ginger/ginger paste, and red chili pepper flakes to a bowl then whisk to combine and set aside.
- Heat a large wok or nonstick skillet over high heat then add remaining 1/4 cup water. Once simmering, add broccoli then stir fry until crisp tender, 2-3 minutes. Remove to a plate then set aside.
- Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in wok then, once very hot, add 1/2 the marinated beef in a single layer. Let sit undisturbed until browned on the bottom, 30 seconds, then stir fry until just barely cooked through (some pink still showing is ok.) Remove to plate with broccoli. Heat remaining Tablespoon oil then stir fry remaining beef and add to plate.
- Add sauce to wok then simmer until slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes. Add cooked broccoli and beef back into the wok then simmer until everything is heated through, 1 minute. Serve over cooked rice.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Delicious! Easy to prepare and a big hit with my kids.
Wohoo! Thrilled to hear his, Holly! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
I’m new to cooking. This was my first time cooking meat, and I was worried it would be dry or chewy, but it was tender instead. It was so good! Thank you!
I’m thrilled to hear that, Viv! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating – and great job!!
This recipe is to die for. I know my way around the kitchen very well and I am a food snob; not easily impressed…but you did it! You impressed the day lights out of me! We loved this and we’ll make it again and again. So good, thanks for sharing! I’m a devoted follower now. :)
Oh my gosh, such high praise – I’m SO glad you loved the recipe, Priscilla!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Fantastic!!!!! I made this recipe for the first time for ourselves and friends (one of who has celiac disease). My friend is extremely finicky however she had two servings. I used a small round beef roast and marinated it with the flour and soy sauce for the afternoon, the results, the meat was very tender. I will absolutely make this recipe again, as well as my friend.
I’m so glad it was a hit with you and your friend, Helene! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
This has become a staple at our house. I originally found it 2 1/2 years ago and began using it when we were experimenting with a gluten free diet. It has since become a family favorite and we eat it pretty regularly even though we are not longer gluten free. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi, this looks great! Is there a place I can find the nutrition facts for this recipe ? (Lighter Broccoli Beef).
Thank you!
FYI… La Choy brand soy sauce is gluten free!
Fabulous dish, made it with my sister who is gluten free & we had so much fun. Do you think you could substitute anything else for the brown sugar? Wondering about Coconut Palm Sugar or Honey? Thank you for a terrific recipe!
I’m so glad you ladies loved it! Coconut sugar would be wonderful in here!