Craving comfort food with a gourmet twist? This quick and easy beef and broccoli ramen stir-fry meets both requirements.
It marries the beloved flavors of classic beef and broccoli with ramen’s irresistible texture.
It’s the perfect blend of umami-rich sauce, tender strips of steak, and crisp broccoli, all tossed with chewy noodles. I’m telling you, my family went wild for this dish!
Grab your chopsticks, and get ready to indulge. This dish is both familiar and excitingly new!
Why You’ll Love This Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry
Quick Preparation: You can whip this meal up in under 30 minutes. It’s the ideal choice for busy weeknights when time is of the essence.
Restaurant-Quality Taste: The fresh, flavorful ingredients in this recipe will rival any takeout meal. You get a quality, fine-dining experience without ever leaving the house.
Highly Adaptable: You can easily tweak this recipe to suit your and your family’s tastes. Use chicken or tofu instead of beef, and add as many extra veggies as you like.
Family-Friendly Appeal: The noodles in the stir-fry make this dish extremely kid-friendly. And even adults can’t say no to a jazzed-up version of ramen noodles.
Ingredients
- Flank Steak: Though other cuts work, flank steak is perfect. It’s lean, thinly sliced, and packed with flavor. It’s the ideal choice for quick stir fry recipes.
- Broccoli Florets: These bite-sized florets are crisp, green, and nutritious. They add a pop of color and a fresh flavor to the dish.
- Instant Ramen Noodles: Grab a couple of packs of instant ramen noodles for convenience. You won’t need the seasoning packets. Discard them or save to add extra flavor to other recipes.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: Savory and umami-rich, soy sauce adds depth but isn’t overpowering. Use low-sodium to keep the salt levels down.
- Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce and help it cling to the noodles.
- Sesame Oil: For that nutty, distinctly Asian flavor.
- Lime Juice: Use freshly squeezed for the best flavor. It adds bright, citrusy notes to help balance the more savory ingredients.
- Yellow Onion & Garlic: These aromatics bring a sweet and savory flavor to the stir-fry.
- Olive Oil: It’s used for sauteing.
- Sesame Seeds: Add them as a final crunchy garnish to the top of the finished dish.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry
Though it isn’t as easy to make as plain instant ramen, this recipe isn’t difficult. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Prepare the sauce. Whisk the soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, lime juice, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Continue until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, then set aside.
2. Cook the noodles. Add the instant ramen to a large pot of boiling water. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until they’re just tender. Then, drain and rinse them under cold water. Set aside.
3. Blanch the broccoli. Add the broccoli to a small pot of boiling water. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain and transfer the florets to a bowl of ice water immediately to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.
4. Cook the steak. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the steak slices and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until browned. Transfer them to a plate and set aside.
5. Cook the veggies. Add another teaspoon of oil to the skillet used to cook the steak. Stir-fry the onion for 3 to 4 minutes, then add the broccoli and continue cooking for 2 to 3 more minutes. Once done, transfer the veggies to the plate with the steak.
6. Coat the noodles. Add the final teaspoon of olive oil to the skillet. Then, add the cooked noodles and pour the sauce over them. Toss for 1 to 2 minutes to evenly coat.
7. Combine. Transfer the steak and veggies back to the pan with the noodles. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes until everything is well combined and heated through.
8. Garnish and serve. Transfer to serving plates and garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy hot!
Tips for the Best Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry
Here are my best tips and tricks for this recipe:
- Prep everything beforehand. This recipe moves quickly once you start. So, have everything sliced, measured, and ready to go before beginning.
- Slice the steak thinly. You can often find flank steak already sliced into thin strips. If cutting it yourself, do so thinly, evenly, and against the grain. Thin, even strips cook quickly and will be more tender.
- Let it marinate. For more flavor, cut and marinate the steak several hours ahead of time. A mixture of soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and cornstarch works well.
- Keep things even. If you notice unusually large pieces, break or cut them into smaller ones. As with the steak, evenly sized pieces will cook better.
- The hotter, the better. One of the best things about stir-fry recipes is how quickly they come together. However, the key to making that happen is using high heat. You may be tempted to lower it, but don’t. High heat will give you the best sear on the steak.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan! If using a large skillet or wok, you should have plenty of room. If your pan is smaller or you’re doubling the recipe, though, you may not. In that case, cook in batches. Overcrowding will lead to steaming, not frying.
Variations
There are also several variations you can try. Here are a few:
- Switch up the beef. Sirloin, skirt steak, and top sirloin all work well for this recipe.
- Ditch the steak. You can also use a different type of protein, such as chicken, tofu, or even shrimp. Just remember to adjust your cooking time accordingly.
- Spice up the sauce. Adjust the soy sauce and other sauce ingredients to suit your tastes. You can also add extra garlic, ginger, or red pepper flakes.
- Add extra veggies. Bell peppers, carrots, bok choy, etc., all work well in this recipe. You can also add snow peas, cut asparagus, and more.
- Don’t forget to garnish! Sesame seeds are an excellent garnish. You can also top the dish with chopped green onions or crushed peanuts.
How to Store
Have leftovers? Store them for later!
To Store: Transfer cooled leftovers to an air-tight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
To Reheat: Reheat leftover stir-fry in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You can also microwave the leftovers in 30-second intervals, stirring between each. (The stovetop method works best!)
Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry
4
servings10
minutes20
minutes444
This beef and broccoli ramen stir-fry is even better than takeout! It’s a hearty, savory meal that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons sesame oil
juice of 1/2 lime
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 (3-ounce) packages instant ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded
2 cups broccoli florets
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, lime juice, and minced garlic until the cornstarch is fully dissolved. Set the sauce aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the ramen noodles and cook until just tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain the noodles and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Blanch the broccoli florets. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 1-2 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain and immediately transfer the broccoli to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add the sliced flank steak and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until browned. Transfer the steak to a plate and set aside.
- Add another teaspoon of olive oil to the skillet. Stir-fry the sliced onion for 3-4 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Add the broccoli florets. Continue to stir-fry for an additional 2-3 minutes until the broccoli is crisp-tender. Transfer the vegetables to the plate with the steak.
- Heat the remaining teaspoon of olive oil in the skillet. Add the cooked ramen noodles and pour the prepared sauce over them. Toss the noodles with the sauce for 1-2 minutes until they are evenly coated and the sauce has thickened.
- Return the steak and vegetables to the skillet with the noodles. Stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes to combine and heat everything through.
- Transfer the beef and broccoli ramen stir fry to serving plates. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and serve hot. Enjoy!
Notes
- Because the recipe moves so quickly, you should prep everything beforehand.
- Slice the steak thinly and evenly. Marinate it ahead of time for extra flavor.
- Ensure the broccoli florets are evenly sized.
- Use high heat, and don’t overcrowd the pan.
