Stir-fry Beef with Onion: a quick but flavor-packed meal!
If you don’t want to spend more than 20-30 minutes on dinner, go for stir-fry beef with onion. Its simple and rich flavors will become more delicious combined with tender beef and the ultimate sweetness of onions caramelized in a skillet. Whether you are a beginner or a professional chef, you will love this meal and want to add it to your top meals. This recipe is the best option for a busy week because it shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes.
Overview of the ingredients:
Here are the ingredients you need to buy:
- Beef: A piece of beef ready for a stir-fry cut is the best for this recipe. The best choices are flank steak or beef sirloin. Both are tender and take a short time to be cooked.
- Onion: Apart from onion bringing this delicious meal an amazing flavor, this root veggie is necessary for a rolling, sweet, caramelized flavor.
- Soy sauce: This is savory and brightens the umami flavor, which balances the sweet root veggie and beef.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds an aromatic flavor to meals.
- Green Onion: This spicy ingredient is always close to adding an Asian meal.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger always gives a more fresh aroma.
- Vegetable oil: This ingredient brings closer flour to the onion soil.
- Brown sugar: To enhance the sweetness of this root veggie, a pinch of brown sugar is added.
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Stir-fry Beef with onion
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepare the beef:
- Slice the beef thinly into bite-sized pieces cut across the grain. This makes the beef tender and reduces the time it will cook.
2. Slice the onions:
- Peel and slice the onion thinly so that they cook uniformly and caramelize evenly.
3. Make the sauce:
- Mix soy sauce with garlic and a pinch of brown sugar in the small bowl.
4. Cook the beef:
- Now heat a wok or large pan over medium-high heat. Put some vegetable oil to heat; once the pan is hot, throw in your sliced beef.
- Stir fry for 2-3 minutes until browned and cooked through, then set aside.
5. Caramelize the onions:
- Now add a little more oil to the same pan. Add your onions, cooking and giving them a good stir. Leave them alone to get a bit of color, then stir again. Cook them for another 5–6 minutes, until golden brown and caramelized.
6. Add garlic and ginger:
- Toss in some garlic and ginger and cook for another minute, making sure to stir constantly so that the garlic doesn’t burn.
7. Combine:
- Put the cooked beef back into the pan with the onions. Pour in the sauce mix and toss everything. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the beef is well coated and everything is hot.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, Tips, and Variations

Stir-fry Beef with onion
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve your stir-fry beef with steamed rice, noodles, or a side of sautéed vegetables. For a bit of freshness, garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds.
Storage Suggestions:
- Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pan over medium heat to keep the beef tender.
Tips and Variations:
- If you like a bit of heat, a sprinkle of chili flakes during the stir-fry or adding a chopped chili pepper is perfect.
- You can also add more vegetables, such as bell peppers, mushrooms, or snap peas, to make the dish more exciting.
- A splash of oyster sauce can also be used to make it more packed with flavor.
FAQs:
- What is the best beef for stir-fry?
- Use lean cuts like flank steak, sirloin, or skirt steak. They cook fast and are tender, cut into thin slices.
- Can I use a different variety of onion?
- Use red onion for a slightly sweeter flavor or yellow for a more classic flavor. Just be sure to slice them thin so they cook evenly.
- Can I add other vegetables to the stir-fry?
- Yes! You could add bell peppers, snow peas, and mushrooms to this stir-fry. I recommend adding them after the onions have caramelized for the best texture.
- How can I make this dish gluten-free?
- Just swap out the soy sauce for a gluten-free version or tamari.
- How can I make it spicier?
- To make it spicier, add some chili flakes or chopped fresh chilies when you cook it.

Stir-fry Beef with onion
Ingredients
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb (450g) flank steak or beef sirloin, thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
DRESSING
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
Instructions
- Slice the beef and onions.
- Make the sauce with soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar.
- Stir-fry the beef and remove it.
- Caramelize the onions, then add garlic and ginger.
- Combine beef and sauce in the pan.
- Stir and serve hot.
Notes
- For a deeper flavor, consider marinating the beef for 30 minutes in soy sauce and ginger before cooking.
- Pair it with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.