Sesame Beef and Broccoli Recipe

Sesame Beef and Broccoli is the busy cook’s secret weapon! This ultra-quick sheet pan meal is made with juicy steak, fresh broccoli, and a finger-lickin’ sesame soy sauce. Goodbye, takeout, and hello, steak!

Want to use your Instant Pot? Try this Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli!

A Saucy, Takeout-Style Sheet Pan Dinner – So Easy!

On a busy night, do you find yourself looking longingly at a takeout menu, wishing you could just zap a savory meal onto your table? I think we’ve all been there! But, before you dial that number, take a look at this simple recipe for a takeout-style classic: tender chunks of beef and crisp broccoli florets, cooked in a perfectly balanced sesame soy sauce. Sound good? I think so, too!

But, even better is how quick and easy this is to make! If you have steak, broccoli, and a couple of pantry staples on hand, you can have dinner on the table in under 20 minutes, no lie. Throw some rice on the stove or in your rice cooker, and you will forget all about takeout as you bask in your homemade “stir fry” glory! This is the perfect nourishing, tasty, and easy meal for busy families.

Is Beef and Broccoli Healthy?

Definitely! Beef steak is high in protein, and depending on the cut, it can be a good source of fat as well. Steak also delivers iron, zinc, selenium, B-vitamins, and tons of other beneficial nutrients. Broccoli is a great partner for steak, because it’s high in fiber (good for digestion) and vitamin C (super important, and also aids in the absorption of iron – win-win!).

Sesame oil and olive oil are high in antioxidants that add a dose of healthy fat, and the other ingredients in the dressing, like soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar are minimal – and even they contain some vitamins and minerals (particularly if you use raw sugar; white sugar is not considered nutritious).

What You’ll Need

Okay, let’s talk ingredients. Confession: as much as I love juicy steak and crisp-tender broccoli, I think the star of this show might just be the sesame sauce! It is just bursting with flavor, and so simple to make.

For the Sesame Sauce

• Soy Sauce: Low sodium soy sauce is my favorite, but tamari or coconut aminos also work.
• Sesame Seed Oil: This gives the sauce an addictively smooth, nutty taste, like your favorite stir-fry.
• Brown Sugar: To add a touch of sweetness and warmth. Raw sugar or honey could be used instead.
• Olive Oil: For texture and to help the broccoli and steak bake without drying out in the oven.
• Vinegar: I like to use white vinegar, but rice vinegar would be great, too.
• Sugar: In addition to the brown sugar, you’ll need a small amount of granulated sugar. Not a fan? Substitute more brown sugar, honey, etc.
• Salt: You might think that only soy sauce is needed to season the dish, but many stir-fries use both soy sauce and regular salt, to get the proper seasoning without overdoing the flavor of soy.

For the Beef and Broccoli

• Broccoli: You’ll want to use fresh broccoli florets here, not frozen. Even when thawed and drained, frozen broccoli contains a lot of excess moisture.
• Steak: My top choice is boneless sirloin steak. You can use other tender steaks instead, if you prefer. Cut the steak into 2-inch pieces
• Garnishes: Toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions make a fun and flavorful garnish.
• Cooked Rice: For serving.

How to Make Sesame Beef and Broccoli

Making sheet pan beef and broccoli is so simple – all you have to do is coat the ingredients in a flavor packed sauce, and then bake for about 10 to 15 minutes. Seriously, that’s it! Here’s the rundown, in detail:

1. Prep the Oven, Baking Sheet, and Sauce. To begin, set your oven to preheat to 450˚F. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet – I use cooking spray, but you can rub it lightly with any high-heat cooking oil. Set the baking sheet aside. Finally, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame seed oil, brown sugar, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
2. Coat the Broccoli in the Sauce. Add the broccoli to the sesame sauce. Toss gently to coat, and transfer the broccoli to the prepared baking sheet. (A slotted spoon or pair of tongs work well for this.)
3. Coat the Steak in the Sauce. Next, place the steak pieces into the sauce, toss to coat, and transfer to the baking sheet.
4. Bake. Bake the steak and broccoli for 10 to 14 minutes, until the steak is cooked through and the broccoli is fork-tender. 
5. Enjoy! Take the sheet pan out of the oven, scoop the steak and broccoli onto a serving plate, and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve with rice.

Is Sirloin Steak Tough?

Sirloin steak is kind of a catch-all term for a few different cuts of beef, and yes, some of them can be chewy if not prepared properly. In this recipe, you should be aiming to cook the steak to about medium or slightly over. If it gets much more “done” than that, you are running the risk of toughness, because typically sirloin steaks are lean, and can’t stay tender when cooked well-done.

Tips, Tricks, and Variations

Are you hungry yet? Sesame beef and broccoli is so juicy, saucy, and perfectly balanced that I start craving it as soon as I think about it. If you’re ready to cook, go for it – but do take a second to check out these quick tips before you go!

• Steak Substitutions: If you don’t see sirloin steak at your grocery store or butcher, no problem! Top sirloin fillets, ribeyes, New York Strip steaks, chuck eye steaks… any tender steak about one inch thick is fine! Look for an evenly- and generously-marbled steak for the best flavor and texture.
• The Broiler Trick: Want to flavor-blast this dinner even more? It’s as easy as turning on your broiler! For the last minute or two of cooking, broil instead of bake to get a little caramelization and char going on the edges of the steak and broccoli. Just be careful not to overdo it – broiling can take food from “perfect” to “burned” very quickly.
• Add Veggies: This dish doesn’t have to be all about broccoli! You can use mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, cauliflower, green beans, bok choy, you name it. I recommend sticking to tender vegetables, since potatoes and other dense root veggies take longer to cook.

What to Serve with Beef and Broccoli

To serve, I like to make a big pot of whatever rice I’m crushing on at the moment – jasmine rice, sticky rice, plain long-grain rice, brown rice… all of them bring a special twist to this easy sheet pan dinner. However, you can serve so much more than just rice with beef and broccoli! Check out these easy recipes for inspiration.

• Zucchini Noodles: Also known as zoodles, these long shreds of fresh zucchini are an addictively delicious alternative to regular noodles – and they go beautifully with savory Asian-style beef and broccoli.
• Oyster Mushrooms: These easy Pan-Fried Oyster Mushrooms are garlicky and satisfying, perfect with a hearty helping of sheet pan beef and broccoli.
• Cauliflower Rice: Another low-carb favorite, tender white cauliflower makes a great substitute for regular rice. Check out this simple tutorial on How to Make and Store Cauliflower Rice, and see for yourself!

How to Store and Reheat the Leftovers

• You can store this for 3 – 4 days in the fridge, packed into an airtight container or food storage bag. 
• Reheat over low heat on the stove, in a covered skillet or saucepan. If the beef and broccoli seem dry, add a splash of water or beef broth.

Can I Freeze Sesame Beef and Broccoli?

• Sure thing! Just pop your cooled beef and broccoli into a big freezer bag, and gently press out as much air as possible before you seal it.
• Freeze for 3 to 4 months, and thaw in the fridge before reheating.

ENJOY!

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