When life gets totally hectic and you realize it’s 6 PM and you haven’t even *thought* about dinner, this is the recipe I always turn to. Seriously, it’s my absolute secret weapon for looking like I planned ahead. We’re talking about **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies**, and the name doesn’t lie—it’s so simple it feels like cheating!
What I love most is that it hits every mark: tender, flavorful beef, a glossy savory sauce that clings perfectly, and crisp, bright vegetables all on one plate. It’s protein-packed and feels like a complete, healthy meal without needing a huge ingredient list or hours of simmering. I probably make this once a week during busy seasons.
You get that amazing sear on the sirloin, and while it simmers its little heart out in that quick sauce, you just toss the veggies in the steamer basket. It genuinely comes together in under 40 minutes total. If you’re looking for a weeknight hero that tastes way better than its prep time suggests, you’ve found it. Trust me on this one; it’s going to become your go-to, too!
Gathering Ingredients for Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
The beauty of this recipe, **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies**, is that the ingredient list is short and sweet. You don’t need a specialty grocery run! However, the quality of a few key players really makes a difference in the final flavor, so pay attention to these details.
Because this cooks so fast, we need ingredients that cooperate quickly. We’re not slow-roasting anything here, so make sure your beef is cut correctly and your sauce slurry is mixed well before the skillet even gets hot. Here’s what you need to pull together for success:
The Beef and Flavor Base
For the beef, grab about one and one quarter pounds of sirloin steak. Make sure you cut that yourself into nice, even one-inch cubes. That size is perfect for getting a good sear without drying out! We’re using avocado oil—just one tablespoon—because it has a high smoke point, which is exactly what we need for that quick, hot browning step. Don’t forget three cloves of garlic, minced finely, and just half a teaspoon of black pepper to wake everything up.
Crafting the Simple Sauce Mixture
This is where the magic happens quickly! You need one third cup of beef broth, which we’ll thicken up. Grab one tablespoon of cornstarch—that’s our secret weapon for a glossy sauce, so make sure it’s smooth later. Then, for that perfect balance of savory-sweet, we add one tablespoon of low-sodium soy sauce and just one teaspoon of honey. Whisk this all together until there are absolutely no lumps left. Seriously, whisk it until it looks like silk!
Selecting Crisp Steamed Vegetables
We want texture! I love the classic combo here. You’ll need two cups of broccoli florets—make sure they are bite-sized. Then, one cup of carrots, and these should be sliced so they cook at the same rate as the broccoli. Finally, one cup of green beans, and trim the ends off those before you start cooking. They all steam together beautifully, so minimal prep is needed!
Essential Equipment for Your Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
You don’t need a fancy kitchen setup for this one, which is why I love it so much! For making these **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies**, you only need three main tools that I bet you already have sitting around. First, you absolutely need a large skillet. We’re searing the beef in a single layer, so make sure it’s big enough that the meat isn’t crowding each other!
Next, grab a sturdy whisk for mixing up that quick sauce—no lumps allowed! Finally, since we’re steaming the vegetables concurrently, a steamer basket that fits snugly inside one of your saucepans is essential. It keeps everything moving fast and ensures that beautiful crisp-tender texture we’re aiming for.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
Okay, now for the fun part! Getting this **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies** on the table in under 40 minutes relies entirely on timing, but honestly, it’s easy once you see how the steps overlap. We’re multitasking like pros here!
Preparing the Simple Sauce Base
First things first, we need that sauce ready to go so we aren’t scrambling later. Take your beef broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, and honey, and pour them into a small bowl. Now, grab that whisk—and I mean *really* whisk it! You need to make sure that cornstarch is completely dissolved. If you see any white clumps, keep going! Once it looks totally smooth, set that bowl right next to the stove. This slurry needs to be ready for its close-up when the beef is browned.
Searing and Flavoring the Beef Tips
Time to heat things up! Put your large skillet over medium-high heat and add the avocado oil. You want the oil shimmering a bit before the beef goes in—that means you’re ready for a proper sear. Add your one-inch sirloin cubes, but listen to me: put them in a single layer. Don’t crowd the pan, or they’ll steam instead of brown! Let them cook for a good 6 to 7 minutes, turning them occasionally until they have a nice, deep brown crust on most sides. This browning is flavor, so don’t rush it!
Once they look beautifully seared, toss in your minced garlic and black pepper. Give that a quick stir for about 30 seconds. You’ll smell that garlic bloom right away—be careful not to burn it, or everything tastes bitter!
Finishing the Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies Sauce
This is where the sauce comes together. Pour that smooth broth mixture right over the browned beef and garlic. Stir everything gently to make sure all those wonderful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan—that’s called fond, and it’s pure flavor! Reduce the heat down to medium and let it simmer gently for about 4 to 5 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally. You are looking for the sauce to thicken up nicely and coat the back of a spoon. The recipe aims for the beef to reach 145°F internally, which is a safe medium-rare to medium, so use a thermometer if you have one! Once it hits that temp, take the skillet OFF the heat immediately and let the beef rest for 3 minutes while we finish the veggies.
Steaming the Vegetables Perfectly
While the beef was simmering, you should have had a saucepan with an inch or so of water boiling away with your steamer basket sitting on top. Now is the time to add your broccoli, carrots, and green beans into that basket. Cover it up tightly. You only need 5 to 6 minutes to steam them until they are what I call “crisp tender”—they should still have a little snap when you bite into them, not be floppy mush! This happens right around the time your beef is done resting.
Plating Your Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
Once the veggies are done, transfer them right onto your serving plates. Spoon those gorgeous, glossy beef tips and all that rich sauce right next to them. That’s it! You’ve got a balanced, delicious dinner ready in less time than it takes to decide what movie to watch.
Tips for Success Making Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
When you’re aiming for speed with a recipe like **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies**, a couple of little tricks can save you from a weeknight flop. My biggest piece of advice revolves around the browning step. You absolutely must resist the urge to dump all the beef in at once! If you overcrowd the pan, the temperature drops, and the meat releases its juices, leading to boiled beef instead of beautifully seared tips. Cook it in batches if you have to—it’s worth the extra minute!
For the vegetables, texture is key to making this meal feel gourmet. Remember, we want them crisp tender. If you’re using carrots, slice them thinly because they take the longest to cook. Pull the steamer basket off the heat right when you see the broccoli turn bright green. Over-steamed veggies ruin the whole experience of this quick, healthy dish. Follow these two points, and your **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies** will come out perfectly every single time!
Variations on Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
This recipe is so flexible, which is why I love using it when I’m feeling a bit bored with the usual flavors! If you want to switch up the seasoning profile of your **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies**, you have tons of great options. Instead of relying just on soy sauce, try swapping in a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce for a deeper, tangier flavor profile.
For aromatics, don’t be afraid to add a pinch of dried thyme or even some smoked paprika along with your black pepper. It gives the beef such a warm, earthy background. When it comes to the vegetables, feel free to swap out the green beans for sliced mushrooms or maybe even some crisp snow peas. Just make sure whatever you add steams in that 5 to 6 minute window, or you’ll end up with mushy sides!
Storing and Reheating Your Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
Even though this **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies** meal disappears fast at my house, sometimes we end up with leftovers, and that’s totally fine! The good news is this reheat beautifully, but you have to be smart about it so the beef doesn’t get tough and the veggies don’t turn sad.
The key is keeping the sauce and the vegetables separate if you can, but if you’re storing it all together, make sure you use an airtight container. We want to keep the flavor locked in tight. Don’t leave them sitting out on the counter for more than two hours, ever. Food safety first, always! If you want to see more quick dinner ideas, check out my Pinterest page.
Storage Guidelines Table
Here’s a quick guide for keeping your leftovers safe and tasty in the fridge:
| Item | Storage Duration (Refrigerator) |
|---|---|
| Beef Tips with Sauce | 3 to 4 days |
| Steamed Vegetables | 3 days |
When you reheat the beef, use a small saucepan on low heat or microwave it in short bursts. If you reheat the veggies separately, just a quick steam or a few seconds in the microwave keeps them crisp. Trying to reheat everything together often leads to mushy vegetables, and we worked hard for that crisp-tender texture! For more recipe inspiration, you can also find me on Medium.
Frequently Asked Questions About Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
I get so many questions whenever I post pictures of this meal online because people can’t believe how fast it comes together! Here are the most common things folks ask when planning their own **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies** night.
Can I use a different cut of beef for Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies?
That’s a great question! Sirloin is amazing because it’s tender enough to cook quickly, but if you have a chuck roast sitting there, you can absolutely use it. If you choose chuck, you’ll need to trim off any big pieces of fat and cut it into slightly smaller cubes, maybe three-quarters of an inch. Since chuck is tougher, you might want to simmer it for an extra 3 to 4 minutes in that broth mixture to make sure it’s fork-tender before you stop cooking. Just watch that internal temperature! If you are looking for other beef recipes, check out this beef stir fry.
How do I prevent the sauce from becoming too thin?
This is the biggest fear, right? A watery sauce is just sad! The key is that cornstarch slurry we mix in at the beginning. Make sure you whisk it until it’s absolutely smooth before it ever touches the heat. When you pour it in, you need to bring the heat up to a steady simmer—not a rolling boil—and keep stirring for those full 4 to 5 minutes. The cornstarch needs that time to activate and thicken everything up properly. If you pull it off the heat too soon, yes, it will be thin!
What other vegetables work well with Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies?
Oh, you can get so creative here! I stick to the broccoli, carrots, and beans because they hold up well to steaming, but if you want to mix it up, go for it. Sliced zucchini works great, but only steam it for about 3 minutes because it gets soft fast. Bell peppers, cut into chunks, are fantastic for adding color. Even asparagus tips tossed in during the last minute of steaming are delicious. Just remember to cut firmer veggies (like carrots) smaller than softer ones (like zucchini) so everything finishes cooking at the same time!
Estimated Nutritional Snapshot for Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
I always tell people this is one of my favorite healthy meals because it’s packed with protein and comes together so fast. Keep in mind that these numbers are just estimates since the exact sodium content depends on your broth and soy sauce choices. But this gives you a great idea of what you’re eating when you whip up a batch of **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies**!
Nutritional Data Table
Here is a general guide based on the serving size of one plate:
| Nutrient | Estimate Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 360 |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Protein | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
Share Your Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies Experience
I really hope this recipe saves your skin on a busy night like it saves mine so often! I’d absolutely love to hear how your **Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies** turned out. Did you try any of those veggie swaps I mentioned? If you are looking for other quick dinner ideas, check out this sesame chicken recipe.
Don’t be shy—jump down into the comments below! Let me know how long it took you to make it and if your family loved this quick, easy dinner. A rating helps other busy cooks find their new favorite weeknight meal, too!
Print
5 Amazing Simple Beef Tips with Steamed Veggies
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Simple beef tips with steamed veggies offer an easy, protein-rich dinner featuring tender beef and crisp vegetables ready in under 40 minutes. This meal requires minimal preparation.
Ingredients
- 1 and one quarter pounds sirloin steak cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 half teaspoon black pepper
- 1 third cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup green beans trimmed
Instructions
- Whisk beef broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, and honey until smooth. Set the mixture aside.
- Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add beef in a single layer. Cook 6 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until well browned.
- Add garlic and black pepper. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the prepared broth mixture and stir to coat the beef.
- Reduce heat to medium. Simmer 4 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and the beef reaches 145°F. Rest the beef for 3 minutes.
- While the beef simmers, add broccoli, carrots, and green beans to a steamer basket over boiling water.
- Cover and steam vegetables 5 to 6 minutes until crisp tender.
- Serve beef tips with sauce alongside the steamed vegetables.
Notes
- Ensure the beef reaches an internal temperature of 145°F for safe consumption.
- Steam vegetables until they remain crisp tender for the best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet and Steaming
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: Unknown
- Sodium: Unknown
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: Unknown
- Unsaturated Fat: Unknown
- Trans Fat: Unknown
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: Unknown
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: Unknown

