Irresistible Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

Sizzling Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry Recipe for Dinner

Sizzling beef takes a delightful twist with this crispy honey-garlic beef stir-fry that promises an explosion of flavors in every bite.

Golden-brown meat glistens with a sweet and savory sauce that dances between tangy and rich.

The combination of tender beef and caramelized garlic creates a restaurant-worthy meal right in your kitchen.

Weeknight dinners just got a serious upgrade with this quick and mouthwatering recipe.

Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of crunch and juiciness that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.

Hungry diners can whip up this impressive dish in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect solution for busy evenings.

Get ready to transform your dinner routine with this irresistible stir-fry that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 495 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients to Gather for Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry

For Protein:
  • Beef Flank or Skirt Steak: Choose well-marbled cut for rich flavor and tender texture, ensuring even slicing against the grain for maximum tenderness.
  • Cornstarch: Creates crispy coating that locks in beef's juiciness and helps sauce adhere perfectly during stir-frying.
For Aromatics and Vegetables:
  • Garlic: Provides intense, pungent base flavor that complements beef's richness, select fresh firm cloves without green sprouts.
  • Scallions: Adds fresh, mild onion-like brightness and vibrant green color as final garnish, choose crisp stalks with bright green tops.
  • Green Beans: Brings crunchy texture and earthy freshness to balance meat's intensity, pick bright green pods without blemishes.
For Sauce and Seasoning:
  • Honey, Soy Sauce, Shaoxing Wine: Creates complex sweet-savory glaze with deep umami undertones, balancing stir-fry's bold flavors.
  • Vegetable Oil: Ensures high-heat cooking for perfect beef searing and crispy vegetable texture.
  • Water: Helps create smooth sauce consistency and prevents burning during cooking.
  • Kosher Salt: Enhances overall seasoning and balances sauce's sweetness.
  • White Rice: Neutral base that absorbs delicious sauce and completes the meal.

Tools & Utensils for Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry

  • Large Frying Pan: Essential for creating crispy beef and stir-frying vegetables with high heat.
  • Whisk: Perfect for blending honey, wine, soy sauce, and water into a smooth sauce.
  • Cutting Board: Needed for slicing steak, green beans, and scallions with precision.
  • Sharp Knife: Crucial for cutting steak into thin strips and chopping ingredients cleanly.
  • Mixing Bowl: Great for tossing beef with soy sauce and coating with cornstarch.
  • Tongs: Helpful for flipping and moving beef while frying, ensuring even crispiness.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Important for accurately portioning sauce ingredients and cornstarch.

Cooking Instructions for Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry

  • Beef Preparation

Slice steak into thin, bite-sized strips across the grain. Marinate briefly in savory sauce for enhanced flavor.

  • Sauce Creation

Blend sweet honey with aromatic liquid ingredients, creating a glossy coating that will cling perfectly to the meat.

  • Crispy Meat Magic

Dust beef pieces with light powdery coating and sizzle in hot oil until edges turn golden and crunchy.

  • Veggie Companion

Quickly toss green beans and fragrant garlic in the same pan, allowing them to absorb delicious remnant flavors.

  • Final Fusion

Return crispy beef to pan, pour prepared sauce over everything, and let ingredients dance together for a few moments until beautifully glazed.

  • Elegant Finish

Sprinkle bright green scallion tops for a fresh burst of color and subtle onion essence. Serve alongside fluffy white rice for a complete meal that promises excitement in every bite.

Tips for Customizing Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry

  • Steak Selection Magic: Choose tender cuts like sirloin or flank steak for the most mouthwatering, tender results in your stir-fry.
  • Cornstarch Crispiness Secret: Pat beef completely dry before coating with cornstarch to ensure maximum crunchiness and perfect golden-brown exterior.
  • Veggie Swap Adventure: Replace green beans with broccoli, snap peas, or bell peppers for a colorful and nutritious twist that keeps the dish exciting.
  • Spice Level Boost: Add red pepper flakes or a splash of sriracha to the sauce for those who love a little extra heat and kick in their meal.
  • Meal Prep Friendly: This stir-fry can be prepped ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to two days, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or quick lunch options.

Presentation Ideas for Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry

  • Cozy Comfort Plate: Serve this sizzling stir-fry over fluffy white rice for a classic, satisfying meal that soaks up all those delicious honey-garlic sauce flavors.
  • Asian-Inspired Feast: Pair with quick pickled cucumber slices and a small side of kimchi to add tangy freshness and balance the rich beef's savory profile.
  • Quick Family Dinner: Create a complete meal by adding steamed edamame or a simple Asian-style cabbage slaw on the side for extra vegetables and crunch.
  • Protein Power Bowl: Transform leftovers into a next-day lunch by tossing the beef and green beans over quinoa or brown rice for a hearty, protein-packed bowl.

Planning and Saving Crispy Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry

  • Batch Cooking Brilliance: Prepare double the stir-fry recipe and portion out meals for quick weeknight dinners that reheat beautifully in just 3-4 minutes.
  • Refrigerator Freshness Strategy: Store leftover beef stir-fry in airtight containers and consume within 3-4 days, keeping the crispy texture by avoiding microwave reheating and using a skillet instead.
  • Smart Ingredient Prep: Slice beef and chop vegetables in advance, storing separately in sealed containers to streamline cooking process and save time during busy weekdays.
  • Freezer-Friendly Hack: Freeze uncooked marinated beef strips and pre-chopped vegetables in zip-lock bags for up to one month, allowing spontaneous meal preparation with minimal effort.
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Irresistible Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

Irresistible Honey-Garlic Beef Stir-Fry Recipe


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4.9 from 23 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Crispy honey-garlic beef stir-fry combines savory and sweet flavors from Asian cuisine. Juicy beef strips with a glossy sauce promise a quick, delicious meal that satisfies cravings and impresses dinner companions.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (454 g) beef flank or skirt steak
  • 12 oz (340 g) green beans
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) vegetable or canola oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) honey
  • ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce or tamari
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 medium scallions
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • Cooked white rice

Instructions

  1. Prep Protein: Slice beef against the grain into uniform bite-sized strips, marinating with soy sauce to amplify tenderness and depth of flavor.
  2. Preparation: Trim green beans, mince garlic, and separate scallion whites and greens for strategic layering and garnishing throughout cooking process.
  3. Sauce Development: Craft a harmonious liquid blend by whisking honey, rice wine, soy sauce, and water until ingredients integrate seamlessly into a cohesive sauce.
  4. Protein Transformation: Dust beef pieces with cornstarch, then sear in hot oil until achieving a golden, crispy exterior that locks in rich flavors and creates textural complexity.
  5. Vegetable Engagement: Quickly sauté green beans and garlic in the same skillet, allowing vegetables to develop slight char while maintaining crisp integrity.
  6. Flavor Fusion: Reintroduce crispy beef to the pan, cascading prepared sauce over ingredients and gently tossing to ensure complete flavor distribution and temperature equilibrium.
  7. Final Flourish: Scatter freshly chopped scallion greens across the dish, adding a vibrant aromatic dimension and visual appeal before serving alongside steamed white rice to absorb the luxurious sauce.

Notes

  • Slice Against the Grain: Cut beef perpendicular to muscle fibers for maximum tenderness, ensuring each strip is uniformly thin to guarantee even cooking and prevent tough texture.
  • Cornstarch Coating Trick: Lightly dust beef with cornstarch to create a delicate, crispy exterior that locks in moisture and helps sauce adhere perfectly during final tossing.
  • Sauce Balancing Technique: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to create a harmonious blend, ensuring honey, soy sauce, and rice wine integrate smoothly for rich, consistent flavor profile.
  • High-Heat Sautéing Secret: Use a scorching hot skillet to achieve golden-brown beef and slightly charred green beans, preserving vegetables’ crisp texture while developing deep, caramelized notes.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner
  • Method: Frying
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 495
  • Sugar: 20 g
  • Sodium: 400 mg
  • Fat: 28 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 42 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 26 g
  • Cholesterol: 80 mg
Emily Roberts

Emily Roberts

Content Creator & Kitchen Tips Specialist

Expertise

Dietary Planning​, Public Health Nutrition, Nutritional Education​, Content Development​

Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Degree: Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences
  • Focus: Research on dietary patterns and their impact on chronic diseases.​

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

  • Credential: Expertise in translating nutrition science into practical advice. ​

Emily Roberts is our content specialist and registered dietitian at HealthyChoices.org. With her Master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois and her Registered Dietitian Nutritionist certification, Emily uses her deep nutrition knowledge to write helpful, easy-to-understand guides about healthy eating. 

Her warm, practical advice empowers readers to confidently make healthier choices, turning everyday meals into simple moments of wellness and joy.

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