This simple stir-fried broccoli is a tasty side dish that’s quick and easy to make. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy this wholesome vegetable with a slightly sweet, savory sauce with a little kick. Serve it as a side dish, over noodles or white rice. Either way, it’s delicious!
What's great about this recipe
- Quick and Easy: This stir-fried broccoli is a simple dish that comes together in no time, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Versatile Serving Options: Enjoy it as a side dish, or serve it over noodles or white rice for a substantial meal.
- Minimal Prep: With just a few ingredients and simple steps, this recipe is straightforward and stress-free.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with affordable ingredients, this dish is easy on your wallet.
Ingredients
- Oil – We use canola oil which is a neutral (flavorless) oil. Use your favorite cooking oil if it is suitable for sauteing.
- Stir fry sauce – Most of the ingredients for the sauce are easy to find. Cornstarch, brown sugar, garlic, ginger powder, and crushed red pepper are commonly available. For the low sodium soy sauce and hoisin sauce, look in the international section of large supermarkets, a specialty market, or online.
- Produce – Fresh broccoli is a must for this recipe. Frozen broccoli will turn soggy with the sauce and the cooking time.
- See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
How to make stir-fried broccoli
Add the water and cornstarch to a jar or to a medium bowl. Use a fork or a small whisk to stir the mixture until the cornstarch dissolves.
Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper (if using). Stir the stir fry sauce vigorously until combined. Then stir well right before using because the corn starch tends to settle at the bottom.
Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the broccoli. Cook it for 4-5 minutes to heat it up. Stir frequently.
Next, add the stir fry sauce. Stir and toss to coat the broccoli with the sauce. Lower the heat to medium-low and cover.
Cook for 6-10 minutes until the desired doneness is reached. We prefer the broccoli a little snappy, so we opt for less cooking time. For a more tender texture, choose the longer cooking time.
Serve as a side dish, over noodles or rice and enjoy.
Storing Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat the broccoli in the microwave or a covered nonstick skillet with 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth until heated through. Freezing is not recommended.
Reheat leftovers to a temperature of at least 165°F. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
Recipe tips and notes
- If you are not a fan of spicy food, eliminate the crushed red pepper.
- Substitute fresh ginger for powdered ginger if you have it on hand. Powdered ginger is stronger, so increase the amount of fresh ginger if desired.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in water before adding it to recipes to prevent clumping and ensure it distributes evenly throughout the sauce.
Frequently asked questions
No, there is no precooking needed. The broccoli will steam with the sauce until the desired tenderness is reached.
Yes, add other vegetables or meat. Add any meat first and cook through before adding the broccoli and sauce. For hard vegetables like carrots, cook them partially before adding them in.
Make this recipe a meal by serving it over noodles or white rice. The sauce will coat both beautifully. Or serve it as a side dish with egg fried rice or chicken fried rice.
Broccoli recipes are great! They’re easy to make with minimal prep and use budget-friendly ingredients. If you're looking to incorporate more broccoli into your family meals, try this crowd-pleasing broccoli mac and cheese, our popular chicken and broccoli pasta, and my personal favorite, broccoli cauliflower soup.
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📖 Recipe
Stir-Fried Broccoli
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Water
- 1 tablespoon Corn Starch
- ¼ cup Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Hoisin Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 Large Garlic Cloves grated or minced
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Powder use fresh if you have it on hand (grated or minced)
- Pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes optional (leave it out if you don’t like spicy)
- 1 tablespoon Oil use your favorite if it is suitable for sauteing
- 1¼ - 1½ pounds Broccoli Florets washed and drained
Instructions
- Add the water and cornstarch to a jar or to a medium bowl.
- Use a fork or a small whisk to stir the mixture until the cornstarch dissolves.
- Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper (if using).
- Stir the stir fry sauce vigorously until combined. Then stir well right before using because the corn starch tends to settle at the bottom.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the broccoli. Cook it for 4-5 minutes to heat it up. Stir frequently.
- Next, add the stir fry sauce. Stir and toss to coat the broccoli with the sauce. Lower the heat to medium-low and cover.
- Cook the broccoli with the sauce for 6-10 minutes until they reach the desired doneness. We enjoy our broccoli a little snappy. For tender broccoli increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
- Serve the broccoli as a side dish, over noodles or rice and enjoy.
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
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