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This beef stir fry recipe has been a staple in my family for 20 years. It’s rich in flavor, cooks in 30 minutes, and hits your protein and veggie goals all in one!

Beef Stir Fry Recipe in a dish

When we lived in Seattle, we had access to an incredible selection of crave-worthy Asian food (including steak stir fry). But as a frugal mom, I challenged myself to recreate those meals at home in an easy, cost-effective way. I started with the stir fry sauce ingredients (which are similar to those in my Beef Lo Mein recipe) because they’re the key to the flavors everyone loves. I figured out that nutty sesame oil and classic soy sauce, balanced with a little sugar, perfectly complement the savory garlic and onion.

While I can’t say that this beef stir fry recipe is fully “authentic”, I still believe this dish is incredible, easy to make, and hits my goal of making it manageable for every mom alike! Try it out and see it become a staple in your house for the next 20 years, too.

Hot tip: I’ve been loving Trader Joe’s shaved beef lately. It saves a lot of time and I’m always impressed with the quality. It’s the perfect meat to use in this recipe!

Beef Stir Fry Video

How to Make Beef Stir Fry

Here’s the rundown on how to make this steak stir fry recipe: prep the ingredients, cook the meat and veggies separately, then throw it all together. Read on to see a more detailed version!

  • Prep all the ingredients: Cut the beef into thin strips, carrots into strips, and onions into half rings.
  • Cook the meat: Preheat a skillet with olive oil, then begin cooking the beef on medium-high heat. Season with the Stir Fry Seasoning. Then, add the brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of the soy sauce, and the sesame oil. Continue to cook until the meat is browned and cooked through, then remove it from the skillet.
  • Cook vegetables: Cook the onions on the skillet on medium heat until softened, then add the carrots and cook until they’re also soft. Stir in the snow peas, season with the remaining tablespoon of soy sauce, and cook for another 2 minutes. Press the garlic into the pan and stir to combine.
  • Finalize and serve: Toss the beef back in the skillet and stir to combine. Garnish with green onions. Enjoy!

Serving tip: You will always see me serving stir fry with either white or brown rice. Or, if I’m trying to cut some carbs, cauliflower rice is great!

Beef cooking on the skillet
Carrots, onions and peas in a skillet
Beef stir fry in a skillet
Beef Stir Fry in a dish with rice

What Cuts of Beef Are Best For Stir Fry?

In stir fry, you want the beef to be tender. The key to this is slicing properly, but also using a good, tender cut. Here are my top choices when asked “what’s the best beef for stir fry?”.

  • Sirloin Steak (my go-to!): Sirloin is a lean, juicy, and mid-priced cut. It’s also good for grilling or making into kebabs/skewers.
  • Chuck Steak: Chuck steak is lean, chewy, and a budget-friendly steak. Since this cut comes from the shoulder region of the cow, it can be a bit tough.
  • Ribeye: Ribeye is a rich, fully-marbled, and more expensive cut. This cut is so deliciously tender that it is often eaten all on its own, but it’s great in stir fry, too.
  • Flank Steak: Flank steak is a lean, boneless, and another budget-friendly cut. It’s usually cut pretty thin, which makes it perfect for stir fry.

Stir Fry Tips & Tricks

If you’ve searched “stir fry” on my blog, you’ll quickly see I love them so much! I’ve got so many different kinds (including more beef stir fry dishes), so I feel like I can safely say I know most (if not all) the tips and tricks to making a real good stir fry.

  • Slice the steak into similar-sized strips: To evenly cook the steak strips, make sure to slice them evenly. Everyone knows you need a good quality knife to make this step easy!
  • Slightly freeze the steak first: If you slightly freeze the steak first, it becomes super easy to cut it into thin slices. And by doing so, you also promote even cooking. I usually freeze the meat for a quick 30 minutes prior to cutting.
  • Cut against the grain: When you slice beef against the muscle fibers versus alongside them, it makes each piece more tender and easier to chew. It’s so much better!
  • Use choice or prime grade meat: The better quality the meat, the better quality your stir fry will be. I opt for choice and prime grade beef for the best flavor.
  • Pat the beef dry before stir-frying: To help the beef form a nice crust, pat it dry of any excess moisture with paper towels before stir frying.
  • Cook in batches as needed: Avoid the impulse to cook everything all at once. Make sure to cook in batches so you still get a good crust on the beef!
  • Substitute the veggies (optional): If you need to, use whatever stir fry veggies you like most. String beans, broccoli, red bell peppers, mushrooms, and even sliced pineapples have been successfully used by other readers like you!

Ingredient swap: Many readers have asked about the “sweet ginger seasoning.” If you don’t have it, freshly grated ginger or a smaller amount of ground ginger can work well instead.

Storing & Reheating Stir Fry

This recipe makes about six servings of stir fry, so depending on the size of your family, you may need to store leftovers. Yay!

  • Refrigerator: Store leftover stir fry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
  • Freezer: I generally don’t love to freeze stir fry, but if you must, make sure it is completely cooled first. Then, transfer it to a freezer-safe plastic bag or airtight container for up to three months.
  • Reheating: Reheat stir fry in a pan or wok with a bit of oil until warmed through. The microwave is always an option, too!

More Asian Inspired Dishes

Recipe

Beef Stir Fry Recipe in a dish

The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe

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Servings
6 Servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
This beef stir fry recipe has been a staple in my family for over 20 years. It's rich in flavor, cooks in 30 minutes, and hits your protein and veggie goals all in one!

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare all the ingredients for the recipe. Cut beef into thin strips.
    Beef Stir Fry ingredients on the tray
  • Preheat the wok with olive oil and cook the beef until it's cooked through. Season with the sesame ginger hibachi seasoning. Add in the brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and sesame oil. Cook until the beef is browned, then remove the beef from the wok.
    Beef cooking on the skillet
  • Cut the onions into half rings and slice the carrots into thin strips. Cook the onions in the wok on medium heat until they're softened, then add the carrots and cook until they're also soft.
    Carrots, onions and peas in a skillet
  • Stir in the snow peas, season with the remaining 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and cook for another 2 minutes. Press the garlic into the mixture and stir to combine. Return the beef into the vegetable mixture and stir to combine.
    Beef stir fry in a skillet
  • Serve warm over white rice.
    Beef Stir Fry in a dish with rice
Nutrition Facts
The Best Beef Stir Fry Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 472 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 12g60%
Trans Fat 2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 14g
Cholesterol 107mg36%
Sodium 623mg26%
Potassium 670mg19%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 4219IU84%
Vitamin C 48mg58%
Calcium 77mg8%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Updated September 1, 2026

About Author

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Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.