Learn how to make Beef Stir Fry with vegetables and healthy beef stir fry sauce for a 30 minute dinner.
Everyone will love this healthy dinner of a restaurant quality!
Beef Stir Fry
Wait, this healthy stir fry is even better than restaurant’s because you control the amount of sugar, sodium and MSG. Wait, we have no sugar or MSG in our beef stir fry recipe.
The end result – tender browned meat with crisp vegetables coated in a delicious Asian sauce.
I have never seen a kid not liking Asian food. I think it’s the fact that vegetables are coated in sweet and salty sauce makes them way more appealing. Just let them try my healthy chicken stir fry.
Tips for Best Healthy Stir Fry
- “Stir fry” means to cook small pieces of food quickly on high heat and stirring constantly. So make sure all ingredients are prepped before you light the stove.
- Use well-preheated wok.
- I also love to use large ceramic non-stick skillet. Its low walls allow meat to brown more than in a wok. Truth about homemade stir fries.
- Add stir fry sauce before vegetables look cooked to avoid mushy stir fry.
- Whisk sauce once again before adding to the wok to mix in settled at the bottom cornstarch.
Best Vegetables to Stir Fry
Look for firm vegetables that cook quickly when sliced thinly (if necessary).
- Bell peppers
- Zucchini
- Snow (snap) peas
- Carrots
- Onions
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Asparagus
- Mushrooms
- Bok choy
- Water chestnuts
- Garlic
What Is the Best Meat?
- Tender cuts like sirloin, ribeye, tri-tip, tenderloin, shoulder part can be cut into thin strips.
- Make sure to cut against the grain – find the direction of the grain (meat lines lengthwise) and then slice across.
- I used wild meat, venison, many times because my mom’s family is into hunting. It is a bit chewy but works like a charm. Again, depends which part.
Healthy Beef Stir Fry Sauce
Our healthy stir fry sauce consists of the most clean and simple ingredients you probably have on hand right now: soy sauce, maple syrup or honey, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper. No brown sugar or oyster sauce as those are not as healthy and clean.
It is not the end of the world if you replace maple syrup or honey with brown sugar if that’s all you have on hand. I also have used dried ginger many times. Flavor is not as great as freshly grated but saved a trip to a grocery store.:)
The Best Oil for Stir Fry
When you cook on high heat the best oil to use is the oil with high smoke point. The most healthy one is avocado oil with smoke point of 520 degrees F. However, my favourite oil to use for stir frying is toasted sesame oil because it’s so Asian. I do switch between both, to be honest. Here is a table with all oils and their smoke points.
How to Make Healthy Beef Stir Fry
- In a small bowl, whisk together Beef Stir Fry Sauce ingredients and set aside.
- In a wok, toast cashews and transfer to a small bowl.
- Return wok to high heat and add 1 tbsp oil. Add beef and cook until brown and crispy, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain juices if necessary.
- Move beef to a side of the wok and add remaining oil and veggies. Cook 3-4 minutes.
- Add cashews, pour sauce and stir. Cook stir fry until sauce has thickened, about 3 – 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Garnish with green onion and serve hot over brown rice, quinoa or noodles of choice.
What to Serve With?
More Healthy Copycat Stir Fry Recipes:
- Healthy beef and broccoli – better than any takeout!
- Healthy peanut chicken soba noodles – rave reader reviews for this one!
- Salmon stir fry with green beans for a low carb dinner.
- Instant Pot stir fry with frozen chicken and vegetables, how easy?!
- Buckwheat stir fry inspired by my Ukrainian heritage!
And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly cooking videos!
PrintHealthy Beef Stir Fry
How to make Easy Beef Stir Fry with vegetables and healthy beef stir fry sauce in 30 minutes. EVERYONE will love this healthy dinner!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Beef Stir Fry Sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (I used Bragg liquid aminos)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 5 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Beef Stir Fry:
- 2 lbs beef sirloin, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 3 medium bell peppers, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 large zucchini, cut into quarters
- 9 oz snap (snow) peas
- 3/4 cup cashews, unsalted
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame or avocado oil, divided
- 3 large green onions, chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together Beef Stir Fry Sauce ingredients and set aside.
- In a wok, toast cashews on medium heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
- Return wok to high heat and add 1 tbsp sesame oil. Add beef and cook until brown and crispy, for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Move beef to a side of the wok and add remaining sesame oil, bell pepper, zucchini and snap peas to the centre of the wok. Cook vegetables for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add cashews, pour sauce and stir. Cook stir fry until vegetables are tender and sauce has thickened, about 3 – 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Garnish with green onion and serve hot over brown rice, quinoa or noodles of choice.
Store: Refrigerate covered for up to 24 hours.
Notes
“Stir fry” means to cook small pieces of food quickly on high heat and stirring constantly. So make sure all beef stir fry ingredients are prepped before you light the stove.
Use well-preheated wok.
When you cook on high heat the best oil to use is the oil with high smoke point. The most healthy one is avocado oil with smoke point of 520 degrees F. However, my favourite oil to use for stir frying is toasted sesame oil because it’s so Asian. I do switch between both, to be honest.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
