Sesame Beef Stir Fry (Easy 30-Minute Recipe)
Make sesame beef stir-fry with tender strips of beef, crisp carrots, and snow peas coated in a delicious homemade ginger-soy sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. This veggie-packed, one-skillet dinner is ready in just 30 minutes with no marinating, cornstarch, or complicated steps!
Servings 4 servings
Calories 291kcal
Ingredients
- ¼ cup soy sauce, low-sodium or coconut aminos
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar or sugar-free alternative
- 3 garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger grated; or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon canola oil or avocado or vegetable oil
- 1 pound beef strips sirloin, top round or flank steak cut into thin strips
- 2 cups carrots cut into matchsticks or sliced thin
- 6 ounces snow peas strings removed
- ½ cup green onions sliced, white and green parts
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl, then set aside.
- Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef in a single layer, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook for about 2–3 minutes per batch, turning as needed, until browned and nearly cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Add carrots to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add snow peas and the white parts of the green onions. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Pour in the ginger soy sauce and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring to coat the vegetables.
- Return the beef to the skillet. Toss until the beef is cooked through and everything is coated with sauce. Remove from heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil.
- Top with remaining green onions and sesame seeds at serving time.
If the skillet is too dry, add more oil before adding the vegetables.
Notes
Cutting beef into strips: Place the beef in the freezer for 20–30 minutes to firm it up, making it easier to slice thinly. Use a sharp knife to cut the beef against the grain into thin strips for the most tender results. Don't freeze it solid.
Toast sesame seeds (Optional): Toasting intensifies their flavor. Place sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden and fragrant. Transfer to a plate immediately to prevent burning.
Vegetable substitutions: Swap the carrots and snow peas for broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, or your favorite stir-fry vegetables. Cut them into bite-sized pieces and adjust the cooking time until crisp-tender. Aim for about the same total amount of vegetables.
Refrigerator: Store leftover sesame beef stir-fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The vegetables will soften slightly as they sit.
Reheat: Warm in a skillet over medium heat until heated through, adding a splash of water or soy sauce if needed. You can also microwave individual portions in short intervals, stirring between each.
Nutrition
Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 794mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 4mg
