This quick stir fry recipe is made with tender beef short ribs and a rainbow of veggies. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or takeout cravings!

Looking for a chicken stir fry recipe? Look no further! Simply swap out the short ribs for chicken breast, or try our hot and spicy Hunan chicken recipe.

best beef stir fry recipe in a serving tray

How to Make this Stir Fry Recipe

Making this stir fry recipe only requires a handful of ingredients and a couple of simple steps.

  • Brown the Short Ribs: Using a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut the short ribs into even-sized pieces. Next, brown them in a skillet over medium-high heat with a bit of salt. Remove the short ribs from the pan and set them aside.
  • Cook the Veggies: Add the diced carrots to the skillet and brown them. Next, add in the broccoli and asparagus.
  • Add the Sauce: Add the sauce into the mixture and allow it to simmer for a couple of minutes. Then, add the beef back into the pan and stir to combine. Enjoy!

Homemade Stir Fry Sauce Hack: Don’t want to use bottled sauce? No problem. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1 tbsp sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips & Tricks

Here you’ll find a handful of tips and tricks to help you nail this stir fry recipe.

  • Cook the veggies in the short rib drippings. For maximum flavor, put those short rib drippings to good work and cook the veggies in them. Bonus: This also means fewer dishes!
  • Experiment with different veggies. Swap out the veggies with your favorites. This recipe is super versatile and pretty much any and all veggies will work! Green beans, cabbage, zucchini, and bok choy work especially well.
  • Play around with different cuts of meat. You can use any cut of beef or chicken for this recipe. Skirt steak and flank steak are great options for beef and thighs will yield the most flavor if you’re using chicken. Whatever cut you use, make sure you slice the meat into similar-sized pieces against the grain to promote even cooking. You could even swap in shrimp!
  • Add some red pepper flakes for spice. If you’re a fan of spicy stir fry, add a couple of dashes of red pepper flakes to the skillet.
  • Thicken the stir fry with corn starch. If you like a thicker sauce, add in a little corn starch slurry (equal parts corn starch and water) to thicken the sauce.

Serving this Stir Fry Recipe

Stir fry is a meal in and of itself, but you can serve it alongside a bowl of steamed white or brown rice or on top of noodles. If you want to be extra healthy, serve it with creamy cauliflower rice, quinoa, or buckwheat. If you’re low carb, make a classic garden salad and toss it with China Coast salad dressing (the delicious dressing that comes on teriyaki plate salads!).

Storing Leftover Stir Fry

Whether you have a little bit of leftover stir fry you need to stow away or you doubled the recipe to freeze for a rainy day, find all the best storage tips here.

  • Refrigerator: If you want to keep beef short rib stir fry on hand for 3-4 days, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. An airtight container will help the stir fry continue to develop its flavor, making for some pretty awesome leftovers.
  • Freezer: If you’d like to have stir fry on hand for up to 3 months, allow it to cool completely and store it in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat it, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight or pop it in the fridge in the morning.

Reheating Tip: To reheat your stir fry, zap it in the microwave for a couple of minutes or warm it up in a skillet with a bit of oil.

FAQ

What is the secret to stir fry?

The secret to great stir fry is to cook the meat and veggies in separate batches to prevent over or under cooking any of the ingredients. At the very end, you’ll marry everything together.

How do you make stir fry taste good?

To make a stir fry taste good, you need to focus on the sauce. Whether you’re purchasing a store bought version or whipping one up homemade, taste it before adding it to the skillet and don’t be afraid to tweak it as necessary.

What is the best oil for stir frying?

The best oils for stir frying are the ones with higher smoke points. Sesame oil works great, as well as peanut oil or avocado oil.

How do you stir fry veggies without them turning soggy?

The key to not getting soggy veggies when stir frying is to cook the meat and veggies separately. This will prevent the veggies from overcooking.

How long does this stir fry last in the fridge?

This stir fry will stay fresh anywhere between 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

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About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

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.