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Garlic Beef Stir Fry

Get ready to elevate your weeknight dinners with my Garlic Beef Stir Fry recipe! Crafted with thinly sliced beef, tossed in a homemade garlic butter soy sauce, and served over fluffy rice with a sprinkle of fresh green onions, this dish is a flavor-packed sensation ready in just 5 minutes! Say goodbye to takeout and hello to a delicious, homemade meal that’s sure to become a family favorite!

Garlic beef stir fry being picked up with a fork.

Why I Love This Recipe

What I love about my Garlic Beef Stir Fry recipe the most is how it represents a delicious fusion of my Japanese Beef Pepper Lunch and Garlic Butter Steak Cubes creations, crafted right in my kitchen in only 5 minutes! The secret lies in the thinly sliced beef, ensuring quick prep and perfectly tender beef every time, just like in my Pan Seared Korean BBQ Brisket recipe!

Made in minutes with no prep work needed, it’s as simple as you can get, making this recipe truly exceptional. It’s perfect for someone looking for a quick, fuss-free meal using thinly sliced beef with a simple sauce made with real ingredients, ideal for a quick lunch or simple dinner paired with a green salad tossed in my Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing. So why wait? Let’s dive in and savor the deliciousness together!

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • Sliced Beef – thinly sliced ribeye, chuck or top sirloin beef often marked shabu shabu meat found at Asian grocery stores. Can also used shaved beef.
  • Salt – sea salt preferred to lightly season the beef.
  • Black Pepper – ground, to lightly season the beef.
  • Neutral Oil no taste or flavor with high cooking temperature. Some choices are sunflower oil, peanut oil, sallower oil, vegetable oil, and canola oil. 
  • Rice – rice of choice.
  • Soy Sauce – low-sodium Soy Sauce preferred. Can also use tamari for gluten-free. Used as the base flavors for the sauce.
  • Japanese Sake – typically will come in a large bottle labeled junmai sake. Can also substitute with dry sherry wine or Chinese cooking wine, found at local grocery stores or Asian markets. Helps give the sauce to mellow out the flavors and add a touch of umami.
  • Garlic– freshly grated garlic. Used to provide main flavors found in the sauce.
  • Butter – salted or unsalted. Used to mix with sauce.

🥩 Beef Ingredient Note

Use Shaved Beef available at grocery stores as a budget-friendly alternative to the Japanese style sliced beef.

Ingredients for garlic beef stir fry on the countertop.

Essential Kitchen Equipment

  • Wok or Deep Large Skillet

Directions

Step 1 Start by boiling out Japanese sake in a skillet for 15-20 seconds.

Japanese sake being boiled in a sauce pan.

🍶 Boiling Sake Pro Tip

For a quicker alternative to boiling sake, you can simply Microwave for 30-45 Seconds.

Step 2 Melt butter in a microwave for 20-30 seconds. Then, combine the melted butter with the boiled sake, soy sauce, grated garlic, and black pepper to prepare the sauce.

Japanese style garlic butter sauce in a mixing bowl.

Step 3 Add oil to a wok or a large skillet and bring it up to temperature under medium heat. Once the oil is preheated, add in sliced beef and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the beef is browned.

Thinly sliced beef cooked in a skillet.

🍳 Cooking Pro Tip

Avoid Overcooking the thin slices. Once they’re browned, they’re ready. It’s best to use Medium Heat to cook the meat evenly. This approach preserves the tenderness and flavor of the beef slices.

Step 4 Pour the sauce over the browned beef and mix to ensure all beef is coated. Transfer the cooked beef and sauce on top of rice and finish with a sprinkle of green onions on top.

Garlic beef stir fry served on top of rice.

Recipe Variations

For a delightful twist on this recipe, consider using thinly sliced pork to create my Japanese Pork Stir Fry. Simply swap out the beef for pork and adjust the sauce accordingly for a flavorful variation. Alternatively, opt for sliced steak to prepare my Japanese Steak Stir Fry, offering a different texture with a similar style of flavors!

Pairing Recommendations

Pair this garlic beef stir fry with a refreshing Japanese Cabbage Salad for a crisp contrast, and add a side of Japanese Soy Sauce Pickled Garlic or Japanese Style Roasted Garlic Bulb for extra flavor! You also can’t go wrong with a bowl of comforting bowl of Tofu Miso Soup!

Garlic beef stir fry being picked up with a fork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How thinly should I slice the beef for this recipe?

For best results in this recipe, slice the beef to a thickness similar to deli meat. If you're slicing the beef yourself, a helpful tip is to do so when the meat is semi-frozen. This semi-frozen state provides a firmer texture, which makes it easier to achieve uniform slices.

What kind of pan should I use for stir-frying the beef?

For stir-frying the beef, a wok is ideal as it provides ample space for stirring the ingredients. However, if you don't have a wok, a large skillet will also work well for this recipe.

Can I add extra vegetables to the stir fry, and if so, which ones work best?

Absolutely! You can add extra vegetables to the stir fry, and I suggest incorporating onions and sliced carrots for added flavor and texture.

Storage Tips

Best enjoyed freshly made but leftover can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

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Watch How To Make It

Garlic beef stir fry on top of rice topped with green onions.

Garlic Beef Stir Fry

Indulge in the savory delight of Garlic Beef Stir Fry, a quick and flavorful Japanese-inspired dish crafted with thinly sliced beef and a homemade garlic butter soy sauce. Perfect for a fuss-free meal, this recipe offers a delicious fusion of flavors in just minutes. Try it now for a satisfying dining experience!
5 from 3 votes
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: garlic beef stir fry
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Print Recipe
Calories: 421kcal

Ingredients

Beef

  • 1/2 lbs Thinly Sliced Beef can used shaved beef
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Neutral Cooking Oil oil with no taste
  • 2 Cups Rice rice of choice
  • 1/2 Stalk Green Onions

Sauce

  • 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Japanese Sake
  • 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
  • 2 Clove Garlic grated
  • 1 tbsp Butter

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients.
    Ingredients for garlic beef stir fry on the countertop.
  • Add Japanese sake in a skillet and boil for 15-20 seconds.
    Japanese sake being boiled in a sauce pan.
  • Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 20-30 seconds. In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, boiled Japanese sake, soy sauce, grated garlic, and black pepper.
    Japanese style garlic butter sauce in a mixing bowl.
  • Add thinly sliced beef to a wok or large skillet coated with preheated cooking oil. Lightly season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 1-2 minutes until the beef is browned.
    Thinly sliced beef cooked in a skillet.
  • Add the sauce to the beef and ensure the beef is coated. Transfer the cooked beef onto the plate with rice and drizzle any remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle chopped green onions on top.
    Garlic beef stir fry served on top of rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 771mg | Potassium: 372mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 206IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg
*Values Based Per Serving
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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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