Easy Beef Teriyaki
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This easy Beef Teriyaki features tender and juicy steak bites simmered in a sweet and savory sauce with sautéed onions. Serve it hot over rice or noodles for a delicious dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Teriyaki Beef Recipe
We love teriyaki dishes, but sometimes picking up takeout just isn’t an option. That’s when this easy Beef Teriyaki recipe comes to the rescue. It’s got all those flavors we crave with tender steak bites and sauteed onions simmered in homemade sweet-savory sauce.
Just spoon it over steamed rice or your favorite noodles, maybe toss in a few veggies, and you’re set. In 30 minutes, you’ve got a delicious meal without ever leaving home.
If you’re a fan of easy, Asian-inspired recipes, don’t miss my Honey Garlic Chicken and Chinese Chicken-on-a-Stick recipes, too!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy dinner: It’s a quick, one-pan meal, which means fewer dishes to wash after dinner.
- Delicious flavor: Better than takeout, the sweet and savory teriyaki sauce gives the beef amazing flavor.
- Customizable: You can easily add veggies, switch up the sides, or adjust the sauce to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- Sirloin steak, cut into cubes
- Soy sauce, regular or low sodium
- Brown sugar, light or dark
- Fresh ginger, grated
- Onion, chopped
- Green onion, for garnish (optional)
How To Make Teriyaki Beef
Step 1. Slice the steak into bite-sized cubes and chop the onion. Grate the fresh ginger and set it aside.
Step 2. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, and grated ginger. Mix well until the sugar dissolves.
Step 3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the steak cubes for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they develop that flavorful brown crust. Remove the beef and set aside.
Step 4. Add the chopped onions to the skillet and cook them for 2-3 minutes until they soften and turn translucent.
Step 5. Add the sauce ingredients and stir until combined.
Step 6. Add your beef back to the skillet and stir to combine with the onions.
Step 7. Simmer for another 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together.
Step 8. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot over rice, noodles, or your favorite vegetables.
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze the cooked beef and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in a skillet until warmed through.
Top Tips
- Before cooking, pat the steak dry with a paper towel. This helps it brown better and keeps it from steaming in the pan.
- Make sure the skillet is hot before adding the steak. This ensures you get a quick sear on the outside with juicy meat inside.
- When searing the beef bites, be sure not to overcrowd the pan. It will cause them to steam instead of searing.
- Freshly grated ginger gives your homemade teriyaki sauce a warm, zesty kick. If you can’t find fresh, you can use 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, but the flavor won’t be as vibrant.
Variations and Add-ins
- Veggies: Make a teriyaki beef stir fry by adding sliced bell peppers, broccoli, snow peas, baby corn, bok choy, or thinly sliced carrots. It’ll also give it some extra crunch and color.
- Fruits: For a touch of sweetness, try pineapple chunks, mango slices, or even a splash of orange juice.
- Toppings: Change it up with toppings like sesame seeds, crushed peanuts and fresh chopped cilantro. A sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes will add a little heat.
- Steak options: It’s delicious as is but you can use other cuts of beef as well. Some options are thinly sliced flank steak, skirt steak, ribeye for extra tenderness, or top round for a budget-friendly option.
- Sweeteners: Instead of brown sugar, you can try alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. Each one will slightly alter the flavor, but they all work well in the recipe.
- Other seasonings: Feel free to add a little garlic powder, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a tablespoon or two of rice vinegar or mirin for tanginess. You might also add a hint of sesame oil for a toasted flavor.
FAQS
The sauce will thicken on its own as it simmers. If it’s still not thick enough for you, you can make a cornstarch slurry and slowly add it to the pan before adding the cubed steak.
Sure! You can substitute chicken, shrimp, or even tofu for the beef. Just adjust the cooking time as needed, because shrimp and tofu cook faster than beef.
Yes, this can be made ahead of time. Cook the beef and the sauce, then store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, simply reheat it in a skillet until warmed through.
This recipe is mild and perfect for a family dinner. If you like a bit of heat, you can add red pepper flakes, sriracha, or chili paste to the sauce for a spicier kick.
This dish is delicious just as it is spooned over white rice or noodles. You can also serve it with a side of stir-fried or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
More Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes
- Sheet Pan Chicken And Veggies
- Homemade Shake & Bake Pork Chops
- Philly Cheesesteak Pasta
- Chicken Alfredo Bake
- Shrimp Stuffed Peppers
- Pesto Zucchini Noodles
- Cilanto Lime Shrimp Tacos
- Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Beef Teriyaki
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- 1 lb sirloin steak cut into cubes
- 1 small onion chopped
- green onion for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, and grated ginger. Mix well until the sugar dissolves.1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the steak cubes for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they develop that flavorful brown crust. Remove the beef and set aside.1 lb sirloin steak
- Add the chopped onions to the skillet and cook them for 2-3 minutes until they soften and turn translucent.1 small onion
- Add the soy sauce mixture and stir until combined.
- Add your beef back to the skillet and stir to combine with the onions.
- Simmer for another 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot over rice, noodles, or your favorite vegetables.green onion
Notes
- Before cooking, pat the steak dry with a paper towel. This helps it brown better and keeps it from steaming in the pan.
- Make sure the skillet is hot before adding the steak. This ensures you get a quick sear on the outside with juicy meat inside.
- When searing the beef bites, be sure not to overcrowd the pan. It will cause them to steam instead of searing.
Nutrition
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