20 Minute Garlic Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein
Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein features tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef, combined with broccoli, carrots, and noodles, all enveloped in a flavorful sauce. This simple yet delicious meal is sure to satisfy!
You can also enjoy this beef and broccoli combination in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Try Slow Cooker Beef Stew or Instant Pot Shrimp And Broccoli for two flavorful recipes that your whole family will love.
20 Minute Garlic Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein
Quick and easy meals for your family are always a top priority. I especially love creating dishes that are effortless yet incredibly delicious! This Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein, for instance, is a family favorite. The tender beef and broccoli, coated in a sweet and sticky sauce, make for a dinner we often crave.
This is the perfect meal for your family, especially during the busy back-to-school season. I can whip it up in under 20 minutes without any stress. It’s simple to throw together at the last minute or prepare ahead of time. This filling and satisfying dinner at home is sure to become a favorite in your household, just as it is in ours!
Ingredients for Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein
This list of ingredients might seem lengthy, but don’t worry—you likely already have most of these staples in your pantry. Traditional Asian ingredients like hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil are essentials you’ll use repeatedly for their delicious flavors. This Garlic and Beef Broccoli Lo Mein also includes garlic, brown sugar, and pepper to give the sauce its perfect spice!
- Lo mein noodles or spaghetti noodles: Either will be delicious!
- Broccoli florets: Add to boiling water during the last 5 minutes of cooking the pasta.
- Olive oil: Use to coat the skillet before adding the steak to cook it perfectly.
- Flank steak: Slice against the grain for tenderness.
- Garlic cloves: Minced garlic adds great flavor to the steak.
- Carrot: Shredded carrots cook quickly in the skillet with garlic after the steak is done. Accordingly, ensure the skillet is hot. Afterward, add the garlic. Also, toss in the shredded carrots. Basically, they will cook rapidly. But, keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. So, generally, this step takes only a few minutes. Indeed, the carrots will be tender and flavorful.
- Brown sugar: Packed brown sugar provides a rich sweetness to the sauce.
- Soy sauce: Reduced-sodium soy sauce adds the perfect amount of saltiness.
- Hoisin sauce: Adds a thick, glaze-like texture with sweet and salty flavors.
- Sesame oil: Combine with soy sauce, hoisin, ginger, and seasonings for a perfect sticky-sweet sauce.
- Ground ginger: Offers a warm, spicy flavor with a touch of sweetness.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Adds a bit of heat.
- Pepper: To taste.
- Green onion and sesame seeds: Optional garnishes that add great flavor and visual appeal.
Let’s Make Lo Mein!
Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein is incredibly easy to make with just two pans and 20 minutes. It’s a restaurant-quality meal you can enjoy at home.
- Cook pasta: In a large pot of boiling water, cook the noodles according to package directions. Add the broccoli during the last 5 minutes of cooking and let them cook until tender. Drain the noodles and broccoli together.
- Cook steak: While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a medium-sized skillet. Cook the steak until it is no longer pink. Add the garlic and carrots, cooking for an additional minute.
- Mix sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and soy sauce. Afterward, add the hoisin sauce and sesame oil. Also, mix in the ginger. Basically, you then need to incorporate the red pepper flakes. But, don’t forget to add the pepper. So, generally, make sure everything is well combined. Indeed, your sauce is now ready to use.
- Toss everything together: Add the cooked noodles and broccoli to the skillet, pour the sauce on top, and toss until everything is well coated and incorporated.
Variations of Lo Mein
Traditionally, Lo Mein is a stir-fry dish made with noodles, vegetables, and meats tossed in an Asian sauce. One of the best things about Lo Mein is its versatility—you can customize this delicious mix of flavors and textures based on the vegetables and meats you have available. These variations make the meal more convenient and quick to prepare while still delivering the same great taste!
- No noodles: Skip the noodles for a simple veggie and meat stir-fry. The thick, sweet sauce is so flavorful that you won’t even miss the carbs!
- Protein: Substitute the beef with chicken or shrimp if that’s what you have on hand. For more great recipes, try Chicken Chow Mein or Shrimp Stir-Fry—your family will love them.
- Veggies only: Omit the meat for a tasty vegetarian version of this dish. For more details on making the BEST veggie Lo Mein, check out my 30-Minute Vegetable Lo Mein recipe. The Easiest Instant Pot Hibachi Steak And Vegetables is another excellent recipe to try!
Can You Make Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein Ahead?
Yes! This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Allow it to cool completely and store it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 6 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator and then warm it up in a skillet until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beef and broccoli sauce typically includes ingredients like soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and sometimes a sweetener like brown sugar or honey. These components combine to create a savory, slightly sweet, and flavorful sauce that coats the beef and vegetables in this popular Chinese dish. Additionally, these flavors meld together to enhance the overall taste profile of the dish.
Beef lo mein consists of lo mein noodles, sliced beef (usually flank steak or sirloin), assorted vegetables like broccoli and carrots, and a savory sauce made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and sometimes a sweetener such as brown sugar or hoisin sauce.
“Lo mein” is a term from Cantonese Chinese meaning “tossed noodles,” referring to the method of mixing boiled noodles with ingredients like meat, vegetables, and sauce. This creates a flavorful dish popular in Chinese cuisine.
Beef and broccoli is a dish that originated in Chinese-American cuisine. It is not a traditional Chinese dish but was developed in the United States as part of the adaptation of Chinese cuisine to American tastes.
More Savory Beef and Broccoli Recipes
- Beef Stroganoff Recipe
- Easy Beef Stir Fry Recipe
- Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Instant Pot Shrimp And Broccoli
- Easy Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
- Bodacious Broccoli Salad
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20 Minute Garlic Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of lo mein noodles or spaghetti noodles
- 3 cups of broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 8 ounces of flank steak sliced against the grain
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 medium carrot shredded
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce
- 2 teaspoons of sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
- Green onion for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook the noodles according to package directions. Add the broccoli during the last 5 minutes of cooking and cook until tender. Drain the noodles and broccoli together.
- Slice the flank steak across the grain into 1/4-inch strips.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a medium-sized skillet. Cook the steak until it is no longer pink.
- Add the minced garlic and shredded carrots to the skillet and cook for an additional minute.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, ground ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, and pepper.
- Add the cooked noodles to the skillet with the steak and vegetables. Pour the sauce over the mixture and toss everything together until well incorporated.
- Garnish with chopped green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
