Beef and Broccoli Noodles - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

4.95 from 19 votes

Feb 16, 2023, Updated Nov 20, 2023

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For everyone who loves Beef & Broccoli, this one is for you! These Beef and Broccoli Noodles have all the hallmarks of our favorite dish (tender beef, crisp broccoli, delicious sauce) but paired with chewy lo mein noodles – they’re out of this world! Trust me, you’re going to love this one! If you’re looking for the traditional version WITHOUT the noodles, head to my Beef and Broccoli recipe!

Watch the Beef and Broccoli Noodles Recipe Video Below!

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Ingredients for Beef and Broccoli Noodles

I love these Beef and Broccoli noodles because they’re savory and so delicious! Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make the best Beef and Broccoli Noodles!

Beef Marinade

  • 1lbflank steak
  • 1tspsalt
  • 1/2tspwhite pepper
  • 1/4tspbaking soda
  • 1tbspshaoxing wine
  • 2tbsplight soy sauce
  • 1tbspcornstarch
  • 1tbspneutral oil

Sauce

  • 2tbsplight soy sauce
  • 1tbspdark soy sauce
  • 1tbspoyster sauce
  • 1tbspsugar
  • 1/2tspwhite pepper
  • 1tspsesame oil
  • 1/4tspMSG (optional)
  • 3/4cupchicken stock
  • 1tbspcornstarch

Other Ingredients

  • 1lblo mein noodles
  • 1lbbroccolicut to 1″ pieces
  • 5clovesgarlicminced
  • 1tbspgingerminced
  • 4tbspneutral oil

Beef and Broccoli Noodles: Recipe Instructions

Slicing and Marinating your Beef

The first step in making this recipe is cutting the steak against the grain into 2″ pieces that are 1/4″ thick (refer to photos). Cut the steak into uniform pieces so they cook evenly when we fry them.

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Next, place the sliced steak into a bowl with baking soda, light soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, cornstarch, and avocado oil. Mix well with your hands and let marinate for at least 15-20 minutes. While the steak marinates, mince garlic, slice white onion, and bell pepper.

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A quick 20 minute beef marinate will ensure your beef is super tender when cooked! This is thanks to the baking soda and cornstarch marinade and cooking the beef quickly in oil known as “velveting”, which ensures the beef is moist and tender! Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the marinade:

  • Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Baking Soda
  • Shaoxing Wine
  • Light Soy Sauce
  • Corn Starch
  • Neutral Oil (I prefer Avocado oil)

Premix the Beef and Broccoli Sauce

Premix the sauce in a bowl by combining light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, MSG, chicken stock, and cornstarch.

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Fry Beef and Blanch Broccoli and Noodles

Heat 4 tablespoons of neutral oil (I prefer avocado oil) in a pan or wok over high heat until just smoking. Add the steak, in batches if needed, for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and remove and set the steak pieces aside.

In a separate pot, blanch your lo mein noodles in boiling water for 1-2 minutes less than the package directions call for and remove. These noodles will finish cooking in the pan when the dish comes together. Blanch the broccoli for 1 minute and drain.

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INGREDIENTS TIPS

FLANK STEAK
Make sure to cut these at an angle to 1/4″ wide strips! See image above for reference.

BAKING SODA
This is the KEY ingredient to super tender beef. Baking soda is commonly used in Chinese cooking to tenderize beef. If you’re curious about the science behind it – baking soda neutralizes acid and raises the pH level, which causes the meat to become more alkaline. This means the proteins INSIDE the meat will have more trouble tightening up – when the proteins can’t tighten up, the meat ends up much more tender when cooked (instead of constricting together aka getting tough!)

SHAOXING WINE
If you cannot or do not want to use wine, you can substitute with sherry, mirin, or chicken stock!

NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. The flavor profile does not go.

MSG
As always, this is optional 🙂

Fry Aromatics and Finish in the Pan

After the beef is cooked, in the same oil, fry garlic and ginger for 15 seconds followed by your blanched broccoli and stir fry for another 30 seconds over high heat.

Add back your beef, noodles, and pour in your sauce. Mix and continue cooking over high heat until the sauce has thickened (about 1-2 minutes). Enjoy!

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Beef and Broccoli Noodles - CJ Eats Recipes (8)

Important Recipe Tips for Beef and Broccoli Noodles (Undercook Your Noodles!)

RECIPE TIPS

UNDERCOOK YOUR NOODLES
Don’t forget that the lo mein noodles will finish cooking in the pan! I always cook my lo mein noodles 1-2 min less than the package instructions call for. This way, they come to my preferred doneness by the time the dish is done in the pan!

CUT YOUR BROCCOLI INTO SIMILAR SIZES
Cutting your broccoli into similar sizes ensures that they will cook to the same level of doneness. Even though it’s one additional step, I always recommend doing so – the finish product will be worth it!

BLANCH YOUR BROCCOLI
Similarly, I know blanching your broccoli for only a few seconds seems like an unnecessary waste of time – but I assume you, this step is crucial to soften the broccoli (while still keeping it crisp in the final dish)! Do not skip the blanching!

If you liked this Beef and Broccoli Noodles recipe, check out some of the most popular Chinese Take-Out recipes on the blog! Please consider giving a rating and commenting down below what you thought of the recipe! It really helps out the blog!

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Beef and Broccoli Noodles

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 4

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Save

Beef and Broccoli Noodles - CJ Eats Recipes (9)

These Beef and Broccoli Noodles have all the elements of beef and broccoli, but in a savory noodle dish that you're going to love!

Ingredients

Beef Marinade

Sauce

Other Ingredients

  • 1 lb lo mein noodles
  • 1 lb broccoli, cut to 1" pieces
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp ginger, minced
  • 4 tbsp neutral oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Slice your beef at an angle to 1/4" wide strips and marinate for 20 minutes with salt, white pepper, baking soda, shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, cornstarch, and neutral oil.

  • Premix the sauce in a bowl by combining light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, MSG, chicken stock, and cornstarch.

  • Mince garlic and ginger, and cut broccoli into 1" pieces. Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute, drain well and set aside.

  • In a large pot of boiling water, cook your lo mein noodles for 1 minute less than package directions, drain and set aside.

  • In 4 tbsp of neutral oil over high heat, fry your beef for 2-3 minutes and remove. In the same oil, fry garlic and ginger for 15 seconds followed by your broccoli and stir fry for another 30 seconds over high heat.

  • Add back your beef, noodles, and pour in your sauce. Mix and continue cooking over high heat until the sauce has thickened (about 1-2 minutes). Enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Beef and Broccoli Noodles - CJ Eats Recipes (10)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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Beef and Broccoli Noodles - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is beef and broccoli sauce made of? ›

Sauces and oils: This beef and broccoli recipe calls for oyster sauce, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Sherry: Cooking sherry adds a sweet, nutty flavor to the beef and broccoli. Sugar: White sugar lends a hint of sweetness. Cornstarch: A teaspoon of cornstarch thickens the sauce.

What is the best cut of beef for beef and broccoli? ›

Don't worry, the ingredients for this dish are pretty basic, which make this the perfect easy weeknight meal! Flank steak– Flank Steak is perfect for beef and broccoli because it is lean and tender. Use a sharp knife to cut the steak into thin strips going agains the grain.

How to thicken up beef and broccoli? ›

The cornstarch in the Beef and Broccoli Sauce will thicken as it simmers with the broccoli. If you still would like a thicker sauce, then just keep simmering until it reaches desired consistency. Your sauce will become thicker the longer it is simmers.

Can you eat noodles with meat? ›

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite recipes to make for my family. Not only do we all enjoy the tender, juicy steak and savory noodles in this delicious brown sauce, but we love the delicious vegetables in this! It's a healthy and complete meal in a single skillet.

What is the brown sauce in Chinese food called? ›

Oyster sauce is commonly used in Chinese food and adds a savory, salty, umami flavor. Both can be found in most grocery stores. If you like, you can add grated or minced ginger or garlic. Serve your homemade brown sauce with a beef, chicken, or pork stir-fry or chow mein dish.

What to use instead of oyster sauce? ›

  • Fish sauce. Although it's not a perfect substitute, you can use fish sauce in place of oyster sauce in some recipes. ...
  • Soy sauce. Soy sauce is an easy substitute for oyster sauce since it's a common pantry staple. ...
  • Hoisin sauce. ...
  • Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki sauce. ...
  • Vegan mushroom sauce.
Jul 12, 2021

How do Chinese get their beef so tender? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

How do you make stir-fry beef so it's tender? ›

How to tenderise beef – easily!
  1. Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts.
  2. Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse, pat off excess water.
  4. Proceed with stir fry recipe. It can be marinated with wet or dry seasonings, or cooked plain.
Feb 23, 2019

What can I use instead of beef broth in beef and broccoli? ›

Chicken Broth – While the taste might be slightly different, chicken broth makes a great substitute for beef broth. In most recipes, you won't even notice a difference! And because you can use a one-to-one ratio, it's easy peasy.

Why is my beef and broccoli bland? ›

Perfect your sauce.

So many beef and broccoli sauces are just weak. They aren't bold enough to stand up to the beef and veggies, and end up wet and bland at the bottom of the pan. To make the most flavorful sauce, I use a base of jarred oyster sauce. It has a salty & rich punch that you just can't get anywhere else.

What is a substitute for cornstarch in beef and broccoli? ›

5 Best Cornstarch Substitutes
  1. All-Purpose Flour. Yep, that's right — all-purpose flour is a very stable thickener. ...
  2. Arrowroot Powder. If you happen to have this starch on hand, you're in luck: It has the same thickening power as cornstarch, and it creates a beautiful, shiny sauce. ...
  3. Potato Starch. ...
  4. Rice Flour. ...
  5. Tapioca Starch.
Jun 23, 2023

Can you use flour instead of cornstarch for beef and broccoli? ›

Sure! You'll need to use about twice as much flour as you would cornstarch to get the same thickening power (so for this recipe that would be ¼ cup). We'd still recommend dissolving the flour separately in a little of the broth before stirring it into the slow-cooker, so you don't get lumps.

Why can't you eat noodles everyday? ›

They're high in sodium

One of the largest contributors to dietary sodium intake is processed foods, including instant noodles. Having a diet high in salt has been linked to an increase in the risk for stomach cancer, heart disease and stroke.

What is the best cut of beef for beef and noodles? ›

Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients you will need to make homemade beef and noodles: Beef roast: I recommend using either beef chuck roast or sirloin, both of which are marbled with fat and become extra-tender when slow-cooked.

When to add noodles to stir fry? ›

Sear for 1 minute without stirring, then stir-fry another minute to work in the aromatics. Add the vegetables. Stir-fry another minute or so until everything nearly cooked, another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the noodles: Swirl another tablespoon of oil around the hot wok.

What is the sauce made of from Chinese chicken and broccoli? ›

What's In the Sauce for Chicken and Broccoli? Basic stir-fry sauce is made up of aromatics like ginger and garlic, dark and regular soy sauces, sesame oil, oyster sauce, sugar, Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing wine) and white pepper. Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce enough to coat the chicken and vegetables.

What does Chinese brown sauce taste like? ›

The spicy tang of ginger, the aroma of garlic, and red-chile heat are complemented by Chinese rice wine and toasty sesame oil in this classic sauce.

What is the name of brown meat sauce? ›

A classic French brown sauce would be demi glace. Demi glace is equal parts veal or beef stock and sauce espagnole, reduced by half. Demi glace is the base for all sorts of other sauces.

What is Panda Express broccoli beef made of? ›

Ingredients: broccoli, water, beef, soybean oil, contains less than 2% of: garlic, phosphoric acid, corn starch, potato starch, modified food starch, soy sauce, salt, rice wine, caramel color, sesame oil, sea salt, brown sugar, sodium phosphate, natural flavor, yeast extract, phosphoric acid, spices.

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