An easy and healthy orange beef stir fry! You'll love this Asian inspired beef and broccoli stir fry recipe with hints of orange for a super fast weeknight dinner. It's a WHOLE LOTTA YUM in less than 30 minutes!
Orange Beef is so delicious!
Quick and easy Asian inspired recipes will always be a favorite in our house. We are not claiming this is an authentic Chinese orange beef or broccoli beef recipe, our version is made with ingredients home cooks can easily get at any grocery store.
This healthy orange beef recipe is a favorite in particular, get dinner on the table fast plus the leftovers are great for making meal prep lunches or dinners for the week. All you need is a large skillet!
If you love easy beef stir fry recipes, then you'll also love our pepper steak stir fry and our Korean ground beef bowls!
- Amazing Flavor Combo - the blend of orange with tender beef is divine!
- Fast and Simple - ready in just 30 minutes; perfect for weeknight dinners. Get your favorite Chinese inspired broccoli beef recipe at home but made healthier.
- Customizable - easily swap in other veggies or add some heat with red pepper flakes.
- Healthy - packed with vitamins from the broccoli and the antioxidant goodness of oranges. Made with real ingredients and honey for a touch of sweetness.
- Great for meal prep!
Ingredients list
Using a fresh orange is an important part of the recipe, you not only need the juice but you need the orange peel too! A small amount of orange peel really increases the orange flavor.
- orange juice and orange zest - from a fresh orange
- rice vinegar
- soy sauce
- honey - other types of sweeteners can be used instead
- stir fry meat or thinly sliced beef like shredded beef strips or even ribeye steak
- cornstarch - used to thicken the sauce and add a bit of crispy to the beef. You can also use flour or you can skip it.
- fine sea salt
- coarse ground black pepper
- broccoli - just the crowns cut into bite sized pieces
- mild oil - extra virgin olive oil, canola, or vegetable oil
- red bell pepper - we used red but other colors such as yellow, orange, or green are great too.
- Red pepper flakes - adds a touch of heat but overall this is still a mild dish.
- Optional garnishes- sliced green onions, sesame seeds, fresh cubed orange segments, red pepper flakes
** Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact quantities **
Substitutions
As written, our recipe is dairy free and low carb. It's easy to make gluten free and even lower in carb with our swaps below!
- Gluten-free: use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce.
- Paleo: replace soy sauce with coconut aminos and use arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch.
- Low-sugar: use a sugar substitute instead of honey such as a keto friendly honey substitute or using golden monk fruit.
How to Make Orange Beef and Broccoli
- In a small bowl combine the fresh orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. In a medium bowl, add the sliced beef, cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
Cook
2. In a large skillet, add the broccoli and 1 cup of water to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook the broccoli partially covered until it's bright green and crisp-tender (about 4-6 minutes). Set aside. Discard any water and wipe clean with a paper towel.
3. Add the oil to the pan. Over medium-high heat, sauté the beef until it's browned (2-4 minutes). You might need to cook this in two batches if the skillet isn't large enough.
4. Add the broccoli, red bell pepper strips, a pinch of red bell pepper strips, and orange juice mixture to the skillet. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens, which will just take a couple of minutes.
5. Serve with a side of rice and garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Recipe notes
- You want to use a quick cooking high-quality beef and not something like stew meat. Cuts like top or bottom round steak, or ribeye steak are tender and don't need to be cooked long like chuck roast or brisket, which have tougher connective tissues.
- Feel free to swap up the veggies or leave them out! This would also be delicious with chopped orange slices mixed in.
- To make this recipe low carb, skip the money and use monk fruit to taste and then use tamari sauce or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
Recipe Variations
- With other veggies: add green beans, carrots, or snow peas for extra crunch.
- Spicy version: throw in some red pepper flakes or sliced fresh chilies.
- Without orange peel: if you prefer, leave it out for a milder orange flavor.
- Add nuts: sprinkle in some toasted cashews or almonds for added texture.
What to serve on the side
- Steamed Rice: white or brown are both great.
- Noodles: Lo mein noodles, rice noodles, or low carb hearts of palm noodles add an extra layer of texture to this dish.
- Steamed Vegetables: Keep it healthy and light with some steamed veggies like carrots or green beans on the side.
- Spring Rolls: Who doesn't love spring rolls?
- Asian Slaw
- Easy Egg Drop Soup: Ours takes just 15 minutes!
- Cauliflower Rice: For a low-carb option, serve your orange beef over cauliflower rice.
Storing & Reheating
- Storing: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through or microwave the leftovers.
FAQ's
The best cuts of beef for orange beef stir fry are those that are tender and lean, such as flank steak, sirloin, or tenderloin. These cuts cook quickly and absorb the flavors of the sauce well. Do not use beef such as stew meat since it's thick connective tissues require slow cooking.
Yes, you can use store-bought orange juice for this recipe. However, for the best orange flavor you need both fresh orange juice and orange peel. Without the orange peel, the recipe won't have as much orange flavor.
More Healthy Stir Fry Recipes
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Recipe
Healthy Orange Beef
Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 ½ tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 lb stir fry meat or top or bottom round steak cut into small strips 2" x ¼"
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 bunch 1 lb broccoli, the crown cut into small bite site pieces.
- 1 tablespoon mild oil
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 2"x ¼" strips
- 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange zest
- Pinch of Red pepper flakes
- Optional garnishes- sliced green onions sesame seeds, fresh cubed orange segments, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the fresh orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. In a medium bowl, add the sliced beef, cornstarch, salt, and pepper.
- In a large skillet, add the broccoli and 1 cup of water to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook the broccoli partially covered until it's bright green and crisp-tender (about 4-6 minutes). Set aside. Discard any water and wipe clean with a paper towel.
- Add the oil to the pan. Over medium-high heat, saute the beef until it's browned (2-4 minutes). You might need to cook this in two batches if the skillet isn't large enough.
- Add the broccoli, red bell pepper strips, a pinch of red bell pepper strips, and orange juice mixture to the skillet. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens, which will just take a couple of minutes.
- Serve with a side of rice and garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!
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