This quick and delicious beef and onion stir fry is one of those go-to recipes when you need an easy recipe that’s both hearty, satisfying and most of all - budget frienly. Crispy beef is paired with sauteed onions and coated in a the most delicious sauce ever! You need to make this.
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This Chinese food classic can be ready in under 30 minutes! Serve it over fluffy rice and, if you’re feeling indulgent, top it with a raw egg yolk for a creamy, rich finish. Trust me, do this!
If you love this recipe, you need to check out my other Chinese recipes, such as Sweet Chili Chicken, Beef Udon Noodles, and Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Why you will love this beef stir fry recipe!
- Easy to make. Perfect for busy weeknights, my boys absolutely devours this dish!
- Meal Prep. This recipe is great for meal prep. Just double the recipe and you're good to go! To be honest, it's better the next day.
- Simple ingredients. Big flavor, minimal effort.
Jump to:
- Why you will love this beef stir fry recipe!
- What you need to make beef and onion stir fry
- How to make beef and onions stir fry
- Substitutions
- Equipment
- 9 Kitchen Essentials
- How to store and reheat
- Top tips for success
- Beef and Onion Stir Fry - FAQs
- Related
- How to serve your beef stir fry
- Don't miss out!
- Beef and Onion Stir Fry
- Food safety
What you need to make beef and onion stir fry
- Ground beef (you can use sirloin and cut into small pieces)
- White onions, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- Avocado oil (for frying)
Stir Fry Sauce:
- Water
- Light soy sauce
- Sweet soy sauce (or dark soy sauce)
- Ketchup
- Sesame oil
- Vegetarian oyster sauce
- Cornstarch
- Sugar
Optional: Egg yolk - highly recommended
Garnish: Green onions, sliced
Serve with freshly steamed rice!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make beef and onions stir fry
Beef and onions stir fry is easy to make, here are my step-by-step instructions.
- Step 1: Prep the sauce.
- Step 2: Prep the rest of the ingredients (garlic and onion).
- Step 3: Saute the onions and set aside.
- Step 4: Brown the ground beef until you get crispy bits. Add the garlic.
- Step 5: Add the sauce.
- Step 6: Saute until the sauce thickens.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the stir fry sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes, or until it softens and turns translucent. Remove and set aside.
- Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it up as it cooks. Let it brown until crispy on the bottom for that extra depth of flavor. The pan juices will evaporate, let the beef get a nice sear before moving it around.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Add back the onions.
- Pour in the stir fry sauce and stir vigorously to combine. Let it simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and onions.
- Serve the stir fry over freshly cooked rice, garnishing with green onions.
**Optional: Crack an egg yolk on top of the hot stir fry and mix it for a creamy, velvety finish. Enjoy!
Substitutions
- Ground beef – Sirloin steak, or another cut of beef, sliced into thin strips. I just love how easy it is with ground beef.
- White onion – Red onions or yellow onions for a sweeter, more colorful option
- Avocado oil – Olive oil, vegetable oil, peanut oil, or any neutral oil
- Vegetarian oyster sauce – Regular oyster sauce. Worcestershire sauce for a similar umami depth.
Equipment
This Beef & Onion Stir Fry is easy to make, here are a few things that will make it easier for you.
- Wok
- Knife
- Cutting board
check out my list...
9 Kitchen Essentials
life-changing tools that will make your time easier in the kitchen!
How to store and reheat
Storing:
Store leftover beef and onion stir-fry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating:
To reheat, warm it in a pan over medium heat until heated through. You can also microwave it in short bursts, stirring in between. Add a splash of water if needed to restore moisture.
Top tips for success
- Let the ground beef have a good sear before moving it around. This will ensure the beef has a nice crust that will give so much flavor to the dish.
- If using sirloin beef or steak, use thin slices – Cutting beef into thin slices helps it cook quickly and stay tender.
- Mise en place - this dish comes together quickly. Make sure everything is prepped and ready to go.
Beef and Onion Stir Fry - FAQs
Tender slices of beef from the best choices like sirloin, flank, or ribeye work well. Cheaper cuts of beef can also be used if sliced thinly and marinated properly. I personally love using ground beef. It is affordable and it cooks quickly.
Stir-fry the onions first, remove then sear the ground beef until all the juices are gone and the beef has crispy bits for extra flavor.
The best choices for stir-fry include flank, sirloin, or ribeye. For an authentic Chinese cuisine touch, marinate with Shaoxing wine for extra tenderness. I love using ground beef for this recipe.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
How to serve your beef stir fry
As a busy mom, I tend to keep things simple for dinner and stick to a protein, side, and salad or roasted vegetables. Here are some ideas for Beef & Onion Stir Fry:
- Serve with rice and a side of Garlic Braised Kale.
- Pair with Garlic Fried Rice.
- Also, serve this with Asian Coleslaw as a refreshing side salad.
Don't miss out!
Beef and Onion Stir Fry
This quick and delicious beef and onion stir-fry is one of those go-to recipes when you need an easy recipe that’s both hearty, satisfying and most of all - budget friednly. Crispy beef is paired with sauteed onions and coated in a the most delicious sauce ever! You need to make this.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 2 people 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Wok
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 whole white onion, cut into small pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp avocado oil for frying
Stir Fry Sauce:
¼ cup water
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp sweet soy sauce (or dark soy sauce)
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp sesame oil
½ tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp sugar
Optional:
Egg yolk
Garnish:
Green onions, sliced
Serve with freshly steamed rice!
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the stir fry sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes, or until it softens and turns translucent. Remove and set aside.
- Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it up as it cooks. Let it brown until crispy on the bottom for that extra depth of flavor. The pan juices will evaporate, let the beef get a nice sear before moving it around.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant. Add back the onions.
- Pour in the stir fry sauce and stir vigorously to combine. Let it simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and onions.
- Serve the stir fry over freshly cooked rice, garnishing with green onions.
Optional: Crack an egg yolk on top of the hot stir fry and mix it for a creamy, velvety finish. Enjoy!
Notes
- Let the ground beef have a good sear before moving it around. This will ensure the beef has a nice crust that will give so much flavor to the dish.
- If using sirloin beef or steak, use thin slices – Cutting beef into thin slices helps it cook quickly and stay tender.
- Mise en place - this dish comes together quickly. Make sure everything is prepped and ready to go.
Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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