Experience a burst of flavors with our Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry, starring tender flank steak. This quick and easy recipe promises a savory symphony of perfectly seasoned beef and broccoli, all effortlessly prepared in your Instant Pot for a satisfying meal in no time.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Quick And Easy: Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make in the Instant Pot, but it also results in a tender and flavorful flank steak.
- Flavourful: The marinade adds depth of flavor to the meat, while cooking it under pressure helps to lock in moisture for a juicy and succulent texture.
- Versatile: With so many options for sides, you can customize your meal according to your preferences and dietary needs.
If you love this recipe you'll also love Colombian Sabana De Res steak!
📋 Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients and food items needed for this stir-fry and sauce recipe:
📋 Main Ingredients
- Flank Steak: Is the protein-rich star of the dish, providing a robust, meaty flavor and tender texture that holds up well in the stir fry.
- Small Fresh Broccoli: These little green trees add crunch and a slightly bitter flavor that complements the savory sauce and the tender beef.
- Sliced Mini Red Peppers: Bring a sweet and slightly tangy flavor, enhancing the overall taste and adding a vibrant color to the dish.
- Thinly Sliced Onion: Provides a sweet, caramel-like flavor when cooked, adding depth to the stir fry.
- Fresh Snow Peas: Add a delightful crunch and a fresh, slightly sweet flavor that balances the rich, savory elements of the dish.
- Green Onions Sliced For Garnish: Add a pop of color and a fresh, slightly spicy flavor that finishes the dish beautifully.
For The Sauce:
- Minced Garlic: It adds a pungent, spicy kick that's essential to the flavorful profile of the stir fry.
- Soy Sauce: A staple in Asian stir fries, soy sauce lends a deep, savory, umami flavor that enhances the other ingredients.
- Sesame Oil: This oil infuses the dish with a nutty, slightly sweet flavor that's distinctive and delicious.
- Beef Broth: It adds richness and a meaty flavor to the sauce, complementing the beef perfectly.
- Brown Sugar: It brings a subtle sweetness that balances out the salty soy sauce and the tanginess of the peppers.
- Cornstarch: This thickening agent gives the sauce its glossy, rich texture, making it cling to every piece of meat and vegetable for maximum flavor.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Stir-Fried Beef Variations
- Classic Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry: Marinate flank steak in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, then sauté with colorful vegetables for a classic stir fry.
- Spicy Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry with Red Pepper Flakes: Add a kick by including red pepper flakes in the beef marinade for a spicy twist, adjusting the heat to your liking.
- Low Sodium Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry with Low Sodium Soy Sauce: Opt for heart-healthy by using low sodium soy sauce, sautéing beef and vegetables for a flavorful, reduced-sodium version.
🔪How To Cook Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry?
Here are the step-by-step instructions for this beef and broccoli stir fry recipe:
- Combine the sauce ingredients garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, beef broth, and brown sugar together in a small bowl & whisk.
- Add your thinly sliced beef to the Instant Pot then add your sauce mixture.
- Close the Instant Pot lid, close the seal. Cook on manual for 10 minutes.
- Natural release for 10 minutes & then do a quick pressure release. Remove beef from pot & set aside.
- Turn off the Instant Pot & then turn it on to saute. Whisk in cornstarch & stir until the stir fry sauce thickens. Add the beef back in & stir.
- Add in steamed broccoli florets and other veggies. This can be pressure cooked for one minute at the start of the recipe or steamed in the microwave as you cook your meal.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and serve over white rice.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Select the Right Cut: Choose tender cuts like flank or sirloin, which are ideal for quick cooking and remain tender under pressure.
- Sauté Before Pressure Cooking: Briefly sautéing the beef and vegetables before pressure cooking enhances their flavor and texture, crucial for a great stir fry.
- Quick Release Pressure: Use the quick release method after pressure cooking to prevent the beef from overcooking and to preserve the crisp texture of the vegetables.
💭 FAQs
Store your savory Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry in the refrigerator for up to three days. Allow it to cool completely before transferring it into an airtight container to maintain its flavors.
For longer-term storage, freeze your beef stir fry in a sealed, freezer-safe container for up to two months. Ensure the dish is thoroughly cooled before freezing.
Flank steak is a long odd odd-looking piece of meat. It comes from the bottom abdomen of the cow, so it contains a lot of muscle.
Flank steak has a lot of beefy flavor, but it can tend to be tough. That’s why cooking it in your Instant Pot is the perfect way to cook it.
The most important thing to remember when cutting flank steak is to cut against the grain. You will see long strands of tough fibers running through the meat, and that is the grain.
To cut against the grain, you will cut crosswise and sever the fibers instead of cutting along them. This will make the meat easier to chew.
If you want to add more ingredients to this beef and broccoli recipe you can add baby corn and ¼ teaspoon of fresh ginger.
You can use either dark soy sauce or light soy sauce and can always add a splash of oyster sauce to the mix too for a little extra flavor. Also don’t forget the salt and freshly ground pepper.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite Recipes to serve with Beef Stir Fry Using Flank Steak:
Flank steak is a versatile and flavorful cut of beef that can be paired with a variety of sides to create a delicious and well-balanced meal. Here are some ideas for what to serve with flank steak:
- Grilled Vegetables: Flank steak pairs well with grilled vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, and onions. The smoky flavors from the grill complement the rich and savory flavors of the steak. You can marinate the Vegetables in a similar marinade as the steak for even more flavor.
- Roasted Potatoes: Crispy Roasted Potatoes are a classic side dish for any type of steak, and flank steak is no exception. You can roast them with herbs and spices or simply season with salt and pepper. For added richness, you can also toss in some chopped bacon or top with grated cheese.
- Rice: Flank steak is commonly served with rice in many cuisines such as Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. You can try making Fried Rice to go alongside your flank steak for a complete and filling meal. You can also opt for a healthier option like Brown Rice or Quinoa.
- Salad: A light and refreshing salad can balance out the richness of flank steak. Some good options include a simple green salad with vinaigrette dressing, a Caesar Salad, or a tomato and cucumber salad.
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Instant Pot Beef Stir Fry Using Flank Steak
Ingredients
- 3 lbs Flank Steak
- 4 cups Broccoli Small Florets
- ½ cup Mini Red Peppers Sliced
- 1 Onion Sliced
- 2 cups Snow Peas
- Green Onions sliced for garnish
- 2 tablespoon Minced Garlic
- ½ cup Soy Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 3 tablespoon Cornstarch
Instructions
- Combine the sauce ingredients garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, beef broth and brown sugar together in a small bowl & whisk.
- Add your sliced steak to the Instant Pot then add your sauce mixture. Close the Instant Pot lid, close the seal. then cook on manual for 10 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes & then do a quick release.
- Remove beef from pot & set aside. Turn off the Instant pot & then turn it on to sauté whisk in cornstarch & stir until sauce thickens.
- Add the beef back in & stir. Add in steamed broccoli. This can be pressure cooked for one minute at the start of the recipe or steamed in the microwave as you cook your meal.
- Serve over rice.
This looks gorgeous and really yummy, next on my list to try. Thanks for the great recipes.
My kind of food. Saving this recipe to try it out. Thank you for the great recipe.
You're welcome. Enjoy this fab recipe!
On the ingredients you say to use 4 c chopped broccoli, then at the end of the instructions you said to add steamed broccoli and steak back to pot. So did you steam your broccoli separately? Could you just add it to pot and return lid and let steam for ten mins.? Brand new to IP, learning the tricks. Thanks!
yes you steam the broccoli either in the microwave or in your instant pot for one minute before cooking the meal. If you added broccoli to the dish for ten minutes it would go mushy.