Sure, ordering takeout can seem like the fastest route to dinner, but if you have an air fryer and a great recipe, that might not be the case. Our air fryer beef & broccoli takes just 30 minutes to put together. This classic Chinese-American dish features tender strips of beef, perfectly cooked broccoli florets, and a savory-sweet sauce. Since sauces don’t always stick to food in the air fryer, the key is to microwave the sauce until it’s thick and toss it with already air fried beef and broccoli rather than try to cook it all together. Serve with white rice to complete the takeout vibes, or add a scoop of brown rice for a healthier meal.
You're likely to love this recipe so much, it's worth keeping the ingredients in your pantry to get to dinner even faster. Stock up on Shaoxing wine, toasted sesame oil, and reduced-sodium soy sauce if you don't keep them on hand already.
No air fryer? No problem. We've got a classic beef and broccoli recipe for you that uses a skillet instead.
low-sodium chicken broth
reduced-sodium soy sauce
packed light brown sugar
cornstarch
Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
toasted sesame oil
Freshly ground black pepper
flank or skirt steak, cut against the grain into 1/8" slices, then cut into 1" to 2" pieces
cloves garlic, finely chopped
reduced-sodium soy sauce
cornstarch
finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
small broccoli florets (from about 2 heads)
vegetable oil
Thinly sliced scallions, toasted sesame seeds, and steamed or sticky rice, for serving
In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and wine. Microwave on high, stirring halfway through, until sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in oil; season with a few grinds of black pepper.
Laura Rege is a Food Stylist and Recipe Developer who regularly contributes recipes and styles videos and photos for Delish. If she isn't in the Delish kitchens, you'll most likely find her out on the town looking for the next food trends in the US and on her travels abroad.
