Beef and Green Beans Stir Fry is easy to make and tasty! Marinated sliced beef, stir fried with a slightly crunchy green beans in a flavorful sauce - I recommend serving with rice!
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Green beans vs String beans vs French beans
Green beans is kind of a blanket term for many different types of green beans so I thought I would clarify.
Green beans and string beans are actually the same at this point as it used to be called string beans due to this 'string' that ran down the side of the pod that many remove before eating. However, the strings have been bred out of most modern varieties. It is also known as 'snap beans' (not to be confused with snap peas.)
French beans (aka Haricots Verts or Filet Beans) are actually green beans too! However, they are slightly smaller and skinnier than regular green beans because they are harvested earlier, and that's why they're smaller and more tender, and can be slightly more expensive too.
So basically, you can use any of these interchangeably for the most part. Just know that if you are using french beans cooking time might be shortened as it's already more small and tender than regular green / string beans.
How to trim green beans
Trimming the green beans will remove the tough parts of the green beans. My mom literally will not eat the tough parts of it for example.
It's not very hard to trim! There are a couple of different ways. I like to do things the easiest ways possible, so there are two ways I'll mention here.
First is you can line up your green beans all next to each other uniformly. Make sure they're all lined up so the ends are all one line. And then using a knife cut off all the tough ends on one end. Then, switch sides and cut off the other ends too in one line.
The second way is to use kitchen shears / scissors, and just cut off the tips of the green beans - snip snip you're done.
For this recipe, I'm cutting the green beans anyway to about 2 inch lengths so I just used kitchen shears for it.
Do you boil green beans before stir fry
I get this question sometimes, and really it's up to you. This process is called blanching. Blanching vegetables help jump start the cooking process (so it doesn't take as long to cook), and it helps retain flavor, color and texture.
I personally do not blanch my green beans before stir frying because I'm just cooking for 1-2 people and it's just easier to skip the step, however, I do use chicken broth to almost 'steam' the green beans during the cooking process to help speed up the cooking. I also don't find that I'm losing any flavor, color and texture when I cook it this way.
How to make Beef and Green Beans Stir Fry (Step by Step)
First, gather and prepare your ingredients:
- 1 lb beef, sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 lb green beans, cut in to 2 inch pieces
- 4 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup chicken broth (or water)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- Salt, to taste
Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, salt, and beef in a large bowl or zip lock bag. If you are about to cook it, let it marinade at the very least 30 minutes up to overnight. If you are making this ahead, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before cooking.
In a large cooking pan, add cooking oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef (with marinade), and stir fry until mostly browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
If pan is dry, add a little more oil and then add green beans and garlic and stir fry for about 3 minutes, and then add ¼ cup of chicken broth and cover. Allow it to cook for 1 minute.
Uncover, and add the beef, oyster sauce, sugar, and salt to taste, and stir fry until beef and green beans are tender but not soggy.
Remove from heat and serve! I recommend with some white rice.
Storage & Reheat
Storage:
- Fridge: Let leftovers cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not ideal - green beans lose their crisp texture after thawing. If you MUST, freeze in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Just know it's not going to be as crisp (but maybe you're ok with that.)
Reheat:
- Stovetop: Best option. Heat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth or water until warmed through.
- Microwave: Heat in short 30-second intervals, stirring in between, to avoid overcooking the beef.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different cut of beef?
Yes! Flank steak, sirloin, or skirt steak work best for quick stir fries. Just slice thinly against the grain.
What if I don't have oyster sauce?
You can substitute with soy sauce + a pinch of sugar will do the trick.
Do I have to blanch the green beans first?
Nope, stir frying with a splash of broth and covering with a lid will steam them just enough while keeping them crisp. You can though if you prefer! I just am a lazy cook 😀
Can I make this ahead?
Yes, marinate the beef up to overnight, then stir fry everything fresh before serving. The dish is best enjoyed hot off the wok.
Beef and Green Beans Stir Fry Recipe
Tender marinated beef stir fried with crisp green beans in a savory sauce — simple, flavorful, and perfect with rice for a quick dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef, sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 lb green beans, cut in to 2 inch pieces
- Cooking oil, as needed
- 4 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup chicken broth (or water)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Marinate Beef: In a bowl or zip-top bag, combine beef with soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Marinate for at least 30 minutes (up to overnight).
- Cook Beef: Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high. Stir fry beef until mostly browned. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Green Beans: Add a little more oil if needed. Stir fry green beans and garlic for about 3 minutes, then add broth. Cover and steam for 1 minute.
- Combine: Uncover, return beef to the pan, add oyster sauce, sugar, and salt to taste. Stir fry until beef and green beans are cooked through but still crisp.
- Serve hot with steamed rice!
Notes
- Slice beef thinly against the grain for tenderness.
- Don’t overcook green beans — they should stay slightly crisp.
- Double the sauce if you like extra to drizzle over rice.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Hiware 10-Pairs Fiberglass Chopsticks - Reusable Chopsticks Dishwasher Safe, 9 ½ Inches - Black -
Eleulife Wok Pan with Lid, 13 Inch Carbon Steel Wok with Spatula, Nonstick Woks and Stir-fry Pans, No Chemical Coated Flat Bottom Chinese Wok for Induction, Electric, Gas Stove, All Stoves
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L.k.k Panda Brand Oyster Sauce 18oz
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Wan Ja Shan Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce, 33.8 fl. oz. VEGAN. NON-GMO. NO MSG ADDED. 100% Naturally Brewed. No Chemical Soy Sauce.No Caramel Coloring.
-
Lee Kum Kee, Pure Black Sesame Oil, 7.3 oz
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Wan Ja Shan Organic Aged Soy Sauce, 33.8fl.oz
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 416Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 610mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 32g
The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands for more precise nutrition information. Keep in mind that if there is a marinade, often times not all the ingredients will be consumed.
More Delicious Easy Green Beans Recipes!
- Another great protein to add is Chicken! So if you prefer that, definitely check out my Chicken Stir Fry with Green Beans! I recommend serving with rice!
- Or if you're looking for veggie side dishes, try my Chinese Green Beans Stir Fry! Made soy, honey, garlicky sauce - so tasty!
- If you need another tasty green beans veggie side dish, check out my Oven Roasted Garlic Butter Green Beans! Super tasty and easy and goes together with almost anything!
- Another tasty veggie side dish is my Green Beans and Tomatoes! This is an easy and delicious veggie dish to make! I absolutely love the flavor of the buttery garlicky tomato sauce!
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