I basically find myself craving Chinese takeout all the time…for SURE multiple times a week. Why? Is it because it tastes so dang good or is it because of the simplicity of just being able to run in and grab it from the counter and peace out, maybe sneaking a few bites in the car on the way home 😬?
It’s probably a combo of both.
The problem with this is that Chinese takeout is usually pretty dang unhealthy for you, unfortunately. I wish that wasn’t the case and then we could eat it happily for dinner multiple times each week (yaassss), BUT – it is the case. However…solution! Just make classic Chinese takeout recipes at home!
This recipe in particular is just cray cray easy and SOOOO satisfying if you are trying to kick a take out craving. The sauce is only made up of a few ingredients, and all you have to do is pop everything together in the Instant Pot and forget about it for a little while!
Let’s talk specifics:
- The beef: flat iron steak, thinly (ish) sliced against the grain. If you can’t find flat iron steak or would rather use something else, literally anything works. If you’re looking for a cheap cut similar to flat iron, hanger steak and flank steak are both great substitutes.
- The sauce: beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pinch of pepper flakes. And that’s it! It’s sweet, it’s savory, and it has delicious depth of flavor from all the different things we throw in. To thicken it up at the end, we throw in a quick cornstarch slurry with the IP on the saute setting, and it thickens up in no time, leaving you with a deliciously thick sauce that coats the meat and veggies to perfection!
- The broccoli: if we added the broccoli in with the beef in the Instant Pot, it would be a little overcooked. So what I love to do is grab a steamer bag of frozen broccoli and just pop that baby in the microwave when the beef is almost done. No extra pans dirtied, no extra work for you, and a bag of perfectly steamed broccoli ready to be smothered in your delicious sauce!
And that’s all we’ve got! The process here is crazy easy too – there is no browning the beef, no sauteing any veggies in the pot first – nothing. It’s just a dump, stir, and cook type of situation, and I am SO DOWN for those types of easy weeknight meals, especially when they taste this good.
Try it, people – you’ll love it. Promise!
Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds flat iron steak, sliced thinly against the grain
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (sub tamari if gluten free)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 12 ounce bag frozen broccoli (the kind that you steam in the microwave while still in the bag)
Instructions
- Add your sliced beef, beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and pepper flakes to your Instant pot. Stir to combine, seal the lid, and cook on manual high pressure for 12 minutes
- Meanwhile, steam your broccoli in the microwave according to package instructions
- When the Instant Pot is done, quick release the pressure, remove the lid, and turn the Instant Pot onto the saute setting on high
- Make a cornstarch slurry* (stir together your cornstarch + enough water to make it liquidy) and add it to your sauce once it’s simmering. Stir to combine and let it thicken for a minute or two
- Season to taste and stir in your broccoli. Serve!
Notes
*The amount of cornstarch you add will depend on how thick you like your sauce. I like my sauces with Chinese food to be thicker, so I added 3 tablespoons. If you’re unsure, start with 2 tablespoons in your slurry, and if you want it thicker make another slurry with the remaining tablespoon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 346
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 775 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 81 mg
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more yummy Asian recipes? Check these out:
