Beef stir fry is a weeknight dinner staple in many households. It’s quick, easy, and versatile – you can customize it endlessly with different meats, veggies, sauces and serving styles
But sometimes you may end up with extra leftover beef from your stir fry. Instead of tossing it or eating it plain, get creative and give that beef a delicious second life!
Here are 15 great ways to transform leftover beef stir fry meat into brand new dishes:
1. Breakfast Burrito
Scrambled eggs cheese potatoes and veggies wrapped up with leftover beef in a warm tortilla makes an easy protein-packed breakfast burrito. The beef adds great flavor and heartiness.
2. Beef Fried Rice
Toss cold cooked rice with sesame oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and veggies. Then stir in bites of leftover beef. It adds a nice savory depth to quick veggie fried rice.
3. Pile on Nachos
Leftover beef stir fry is delicious piled on top of tortilla chips and melted cheese. Add beans, salsa, avocado and all your other favorite nacho toppings.
4. Taco Salad
Transform your taco salad by crumbling leftover beef on top of crisp lettuce, cheese, beans, corn chips and taco fixings. The extra protein makes it even more filling.
5.Toss with Pasta
Mix bites of beef stir fry meat into hot pasta with tomato sauce, pesto or a lemony olive oil sauce The beef amps up the flavor and heartiness.
6. Loaded Omelets
Eggs plus leftover beef slices, veggies and cheese makes an easy yet satisfying omelet. You can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
7. Pile on Pizza
Leftover beef works great as a pizza topping. Sprinkle it on along with veggies, cheese and sauce for extra flavor.
8. Add to Soups or Chilis
Slice or dice up the extra beef and add it to soups like ramen, tomato soup or chili. It adds nice texture and savoriness.
9. Transform into Hash
Sauté diced potatoes with onions, peppers, seasonings and leftover beef. Top with a fried egg for a hearty beef hash.
10. Toss with Roasted Veggies
Roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots and more, then toss with leftover beef slices. The caramelized veggies pair deliciously.
11. Layer into Lettuce Wraps
For a lighter lunch, tuck beef strips into cool lettuce leaves with rice, hoisin sauce and fresh veggies. Satisfying but not heavy.
12. Build a Rice Bowl
Spoon warm rice into a bowl and top with leftover beef, edamame, spinach, avocado and teriyaki sauce. A balanced meal in minutes.
13. Stuff Quesadillas
Fill tortillas with leftover beef, cheese, peppers and onions. Grill the quesadillas until nicely browned and melty.
14. Make Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Fill rice paper wrappers with beef strips, fresh herbs, vermicelli noodles and dipping sauce. Light and refreshing!
15. Pile Onto Sandwiches
Load up bread, rolls or baguettes with leftover beef, mushrooms, peppers, cheese and mustard. Tasty for lunch or dinner.
As you can see, beef stir fry leftovers can be easily reinvented into quick, delicious meals. With just a little creativity, you’ll never waste those extra beef bits again. They add hearty protein and bold flavor to breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and more.
So next time you make beef stir fry, cook up a big batch knowing you’ll have plenty of options for repurposing those leftovers! Having ready-to-go beef on hand makes whipping up fast, tasty meals throughout the week a breeze.
How to Make Steak Stir Fry
With a homemade sauce, tender beef, noodles and all kinds of veggies, this really is the easiest beef stir fry recipe ever! Here’s how to make it:
- First, combine the marinade/sauce ingredients and set aside. You will use half of it as a marinade for the beef and save the other half to use as the sauce for later. Let the beef marinate for anywhere from 5 minutes to 4+ hours. The longer you marinate it the more flavorful it will be.
- Next, cook the noodles according to the package instructions to al dente and stir fry the beef.
- Remove the beef from the skillet and stir fry the veggies. Once the veggies are cooked, toss everything together in the skillet along with the sauce. I like to top it all off with some sesame seeds and a little sriracha or red pepper flakes for a kick.
The only difference between the sauce and the marinade for this recipe is a little bit of cornstarch. The cornstarch just makes the sauce a little thicker and helps to coat the noodles. The sauce for this beef stir fry is a more savory sauce, which I like with beef dishes. If you want it to be sweeter and have a more teriyaki flavor, just add a little pineapple juice and/or a little more brown sugar. For a thicker sauce, add a couple tablespoons cornstarch. You can always thin it out with more water.
There are SO MANY different vegetables that you can use in stir fry dishes. Here are some of our favorites:
- Asparagus
- Baby Corn
- Bamboo Shoots
- Green onions
- Bean Sprouts
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Cabbagee
- Carrots
- Celery
- Mushrooms
- Onions (Red, Yellow, or White)
- Snow Peas
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Water Chestnuts
- Zucchini
For the best beef stir-fry, we used sirloin steak. It is a nice, tender cut of meat that marinates and sautés well in a stir fry. It’s a very versatile cut of steak that you almost can’t go wrong with. The downside to sirloin steak is that it can easily get overcooked. For optimal results, stir fry until JUST cooked through. Other cuts of steak that work well for stir fry includes flank steak, skirt steak, and rump steak.
I like to slice my steak SUPER thin. Seriously, like paper thin (like at the Mongolian BBQ restaurants). The thinner, the better. An easy tip for slicing steak is to freeze the steak for 10-15 minutes before slicing, then slice it with a sharp knife. I also like to cut it on a 30 to 45-degree angle against the muscle fibers instead of slicing it straight down so I can get it even thinner. You will find that the flavor is better, and it is easier for kids to eat. It also absorbs the marinade better.
Store leftover stir fry in an airtight container or resealable storage bag in the fridge. You can microwave leftovers, but it will taste best reheated in a wok or skillet.
Beef And Onion Stir Fry ｜Tender And Juicy Beef
FAQ
What meal can I make with ground beef?
- Salisbury Ground Beef. …
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. …
- Ground Beef Hummus Bowls. …
- One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas. …
- One-Pot Taco Pasta. …
- Easy Beef Krapow. …
- Baked Ground Beef Tacos. …
- Easy Taco Casserole.
What cut of beef for beef stir fry?
What Cut of Beef Is Best For Beef Stir-Fry? Flank steaks are the most popular choice for making a stir-fry. However, you can also use sirloin steak, skirt steak, Denver steak, or even beef chuck. Beef chuck steak is the most economical choice, but it does require some extra trimming.
What can I make with beef strips?
- Korean Beef with Cucumber. Save this recipe and keep it for later. …
- Sweet Beef Burgers. Save this recipe and keep it for later. …
- Beef strips. Save this recipe and keep it for later. …
- Beef stew with broccoli. …
- Meatballs with veggies and steamed rice. …
- Mixed salad. …
- Dry fry beef. …
- Beef with French beans.
What is usually served with stir-fry?
“A quick and easy dish to prepare, this chicken stir-fry is packed with veggies,” says recipe creator Katie Sechrist. “Try adding bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, snap peas, or any of your favorite vegetables. Serve it with white rice, brown rice, or noodles.”
What is a good beef stir fry?
Hoisin sauce adds a touch of sweetness to this beef stir-fry, bringing bold flavors to your plate. With minimal prep, it’s a quick pick for a flavorful and fast meal. Ginger Ground Beef Stir Fry. Photo credit: Call Me PMc. Ginger ground beef stir-fry mixes tender beef, vibrant peppers, and garlic for a balanced meal.
What makes a great stir fry?
A great stir fry is all in the sauce (which is why our Beef and Broccoli is so popular)! The ingredients for this beef stir fry sauce will surprise you and you probably already have them in the refrigerator. The combination is sweet, savory and smoky. It caramelizes on the beef for a tantalizing Asian BBQ flavor.
Is it recommended to use a wok for beef stir-fry?
If possible, you should use a wok to make beef stir-fry. Woks are large and have sloping sides that let you cook the entire stir-fry in one pan, so you can easily stir and flip the food without fear of it flying out. They also are designed to cook foods quicker than skillets and with less oil.
How do you make a beef stir fry?
To make this quick and easy stir fry, you will need to heat oil in a large wok, and stir the beef until browned. Then, add your bell peppers, carrots, green onions, broccoli, and garlic into the wok and stir fry. All you have to do then, is season with soy sauce and sesame seeds.
Can you stir fry beef sirloin?
If you prefer beef sirloin in your stir fry, then you’ll love this simple recipe. To make this quick and easy stir fry, you will need to heat oil in a large wok, and stir the beef until browned. Then, add your bell peppers, carrots, green onions, broccoli, and garlic into the wok and stir fry.
What is ground beef stir fry?
Ground Beef Stir Fry. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen. This ground beef stir-fry combines fresh vegetables with a garlic ginger sauce in one pan. It’s a faster and healthier alternative to takeout, perfect for weeknight meals.