Easy Beef and Broccoli using Leftover Steak

Name: Easy Beef with Broccoli using Leftover Steak
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 2 tablespoons water; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; 1 pound leftover steak, London broil, or firm cut of cooked beef (sliced and cut into bite size pieces); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided); 4 cups broccoli florets; 2 cups cooked rice; 1/3 cup soy sauce; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; ½ cup water

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Looking for the perfect recipe for leftover steak? You can't go wrong with Easy Beef and Broccoli stir fry with homemade ginger-soy sauce-it is a perfect leftover steak recipe that goes from fridge to table in under 30 minutes. This tasty stovetop meal can also be made with leftovers from London broil, flank steak, skirt steak, or any other firm cut of beef.

Easy Beef and Broccoli with Leftover Steak

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📹 Video
⏲️ Time needed
🥘 Ingredients
💭 Tips & FAQ
Substitutions and variations
📋 Instructions
🥗 What to serve with Easy Beef and Broccoli
🥩 What else can I do with leftover steak?
Recipe

📹 Video

⏲️ Time needed

Beef with Broccoli is a quick skillet meal using cooked steak-prep is 10-15 minutes and cook time is about 10 minutes. This meal can be on the table in 20-25 minutes.

🥘 Ingredients

Beef with Broccoli uses leftover steak mixed with broccoli florets in a homemade ginger-soy sauce served over rice.

I love this leftover steak idea because it is easy, flavorful, and can be a full meal by itself. It's perfect when made using leftovers from grilled steak or leftover London Broil from our Easy Crockpot London Broil recipe.

I like to plan leftovers (cooking extra for the purpose of using the leftovers in recipes like this) into my meal plans instead of chancing whether I will have leftovers or not.

ingredients for Beef and Broccoli: leftover steak, soy sauce, broccoli, rice, garlic powder, oil, salt, pepper, brown sugar, ground ginger — Ingredients for Easy Beef and Broccoli with Leftover Steak

Start with:

leftover steak, London broil, round steak, skirt steak, or another firm cut of beef
broccoli florets
cooked rice

Thickener:

cornstarch
water
garlic powder

Ginger-soy sauce:

vegetable oil
soy sauce
brown sugar
ground ginger
sesame oil (optional)

💭 Tips & FAQ

How long does leftover steak last in the fridge?

Leftover steak lasts 3-4 days in the refrigerator, so it's a good idea to plan this leftover dish into your meal plan within that time frame. Our planned leftover system typically calls for planning a steak dinner early in the week and 2 days later using the leftover steak in the stir fry.

How to avoid clumps in the sauce

It's important to add the cornstarch as directed. If mixed directly into the hot liquid in the pan, it will clump and not thicken. Making a slurry with cold or room temperature liquid before adding to the heat will prevent clumping.

How to make the stir fry with raw steak

This recipe is easy to make even if you don't have leftover steak. Simply use a firm cut of beef sliced into bite-size pieces, and reverse the steps for coating the beef: sauté the steak in oil first, cooking it an additional 4-5 minutes, then mix and add the cornstarch slurry. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, then remove from the pan and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

Why use broccoli?

Not only is broccoli a great pairing for steak, but it is also highly nutritious. Using raw broccoli is best; a ½-cup serving of raw broccoli provides almost 70% of the daily value of Vitamin K1 (source - https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/broccoli#:~:text=almost%2070%25%20of) and is an excellent source of Vitamins C and A (source - (https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/broccoli.html).

Can I use frozen broccoli?

You can use frozen broccoli, but you should plan to steam and drain it first. Putting frozen vegetables directly into a stir fry adds too much moisture, resulting in boiling rather than sautéing.

Substitutions and variations

What else can I add to the stir fry?

If you are looking for more variety, you can add sliced onions, carrots, fresh mushrooms, bell peppers, and other veggies to this dish. The ginger-soy sauce is best paired with large slices of hearty vegetables.

Can I use noodles instead of rice?

If you prefer a noodle stir fry, soba or rice noodles would make a delicious substitution for the rice. When we lived in Japan, we loved switching things up with yakisoba (Japanese fried noodles) instead of eating a stir fry over rice in the Chinese style. In a yakisoba stir fry, the meat, vegetables, and sauce are cooked with the noodles rather than served on top. Soba noodles are available at most grocery stores in the Asian aisle.

To make this into a beef and broccoli yakisoba, you should cook, rinse, and drain the soba noodles according to the package instructions first, then add them to the stir fry a couple of minutes before adding the sauce. It is important to dry the noodles well before adding them to the stir fry.

📋 Instructions

Make a slurry with cornstarch, water, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Add the leftover steak and toss until well coated.

composite image of a bowl with water, cornstarch, and garlic salt and a bowl with leftover steak — Make the cornstarch slurry and coat the leftover steak

Heat oil in a large skillet (add a few drops of sesame oil if you wish) and add the steak. Stir fry until reheated, about 1 minute. Use a light hand here since the steak is already cooked and only needs to be reheated.

Remove the reheated steak from the skillet. Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and add the broccoli. Stir-fry for about 5 minutes.

composite image of leftover steak in a skillet and broccoli in a skillet — Sauté the leftover steak, remove from skillet, then sauté the broccoli

In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and remaining cornstarch and water. Add the soy mixture and the steak to skillet.

pouring sauce over leftover steak and broccoli in a skillet — Mix the sauce and add it to the pan with the leftover steak and broccoli

Cook for 2-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve over cooked rice.

Beef slices with broccoli in a soy-based sauce served over white rice on a white plate with chopsticks to the side — Serve over cooked rice

🥗 What to serve with Easy Beef and Broccoli

A green salad with carrots, wonton strips, and Japanese ginger dressing (Makoto Ginger Dressing is my go-to dressing) is a perfect complement to this hearty stir fry.

🥩 What else can I do with leftover steak?

Steak sandwiches are another great way to use leftovers: try Carne Asada Tortas with homemade guacamole, cheese, and tomatoes, or Cheesesteak Sandwiches with sautéed onions and bell peppers.

Recipe

Easy Beef with Broccoli using Leftover Steak

4.34 from 322 votes

Easy Beef with Broccoli stir fry with homemade ginger-soy sauce is a perfect meal to make with leftover steak or London Broil.

Mary Ann

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 506

Ingredients

2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound leftover steak, London broil, or firm cut of cooked beef, sliced and cut into bite size pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
4 cups broccoli florets
2 cups cooked rice

Sauce

⅓ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ cup water

Instructions

Slice 1 pound leftover steak, London broil, or firm cut of cooked beef and cut into bite size pieces.
Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons water, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Add sliced leftover steak and toss until well coated.
Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet; add leftover steak and stir fry until reheated, about 1 minute.
Remove meat from skillet. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in pan; add 4 cups broccoli florets, stir-frying for about 5 minutes.
To make the sauce, mix together ⅓ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ½ cup water in a small bowl until cornstarch is dissolved.
Add soy mixture and cooked beef to skillet.
Cook for 2-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Serve over 2 cups cooked rice.

Notes

If you like sesame oil, you might add a tiny bit to the cooking oil at the beginning (I would start with ½ teaspoon and then add to taste-a little sesame oil goes a long way).

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 506 calCarbohydrates: 74 gProtein: 30 gFat: 9 gSodium: 953 mgFiber: 3 gSugar: 6 g

Comments

4.34 from 322 votes (289 ratings without comment)