Explore the simplicity of a steak and shrimp stir fry—succulent proteins, vibrant veggies, and rich flavors stir-fried to perfection. Quick, easy, and satisfying, elevate your dinner routine with this classic surf and turf dish.
Get your wok or skillet ready because we're making stir fry. Your family is going to love this steak and shrimp duo paired with bell pepper, snow peas, and broccoli.
Expect big bold flavors that are both sweet and savory. Serve this easy recipe with white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or rice noodles for a complete meal.
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You're Going to Love Shrimp and Steak Stir Fry Because:
Delicious Protein Duo: Who doesn't love a good land and combo with steak and shrimp? You can enjoy the best of both worlds with this great recipe. The steak and tender and packed with flavor from the marinade while the shrimp is succulent and cooks up quickly at the end making the best final touch to the meal.
Quick and Easy: The stir-fry cooking method ensures a quick and efficient preparation, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights. Plus, you can get creative by incorporating other various vegetables you might have on hand like bok choy or carrots. It's a one pan meal that makes for easy clean up when you're done.
Balanced Flavors: The savory umami from the beef, the sweet succulence of shrimp, and the blend of soy-based sauces contribute to a perfectly balanced flavor profile that is both savory and slightly sweet.
Nutrient-Rich Ingredients: Packed with a variety of vegetables, this stir fry is a nutrient-dense meal that provides essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins in a single dish.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Shrimp - I like to use large or jumbo shrimp because as the shrimp cooks it shrinks.
Flank steak or flat iron steak - These are the most common cuts of meat for stir fry. Both are pretty lean which means you don't want to cook it for too long or it becomes tough and hard to eat. The marinade helps with tenderizing the meat a bit before it's cooked. You can use pre-sliced stir fry beef but I have found that I have better results when I slice my own from one of these two cuts of meat.
Red onion - Any onion can be used but red onion is my personal favorite because it gives the stir fry a pop of color while adding the right flavor and sweetness.
Red bell pepper - I don't know of many stir fries that didn't have bell peppers. It adds sweetness and color which elevates the dish so much. You can substitute with the bell pepper of your choice. Use any color you have on hand.
Broccoli florets - I recommend fresh broccoli florets because they'll cook in the sauce. You can use frozen, I recommend steaming, chopping into bite sized pieces because the frozen broccoli can sometimes be too large. Then I suggest patting dry with paper towels before adding to the stir fry because you don't want to water down the sauce. Also add at the very end since it's already cooked.
Snow peas - Adds the perfect amount of crunch to the dish.
Marinade Sauce Ingredients
Soy sauce - Adds the perfect amount of umami. You can substitute with coconut aminos for a gluten free option.
Ginger - I used fresh ginger but ginger paste can be substituted. Don't miss out on how this one ingredient can elevate stir fry so much. A little bit goes a long way.
Garlic - I found that 3 cloves of fresh garlic is the perfect amount for this recipe.
Sugar - To balance the umami of the soy sauce, also adds a little sweetness.
Sesame oil - A little bit goes a long way, adds so much flavor to the beef marinade. You can use olive oil as a substitute.
To Deglaze
Beef broth - Used to deglaze the pan to allow the veggies cook longer. Any stock or broth can be used.
Soy sauce - Again, used to add extra salt and umami
Sugar - To offset the savory flavors of the beef broth and soy sauce.
Garnish
Sesame seeds - To finish with a touch of crunch and presentation.
How to Make Shrimp and Steak Stir Fry
Step 1. In a small bowl combine soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, and sesame oil. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined and the sugar is dissolved.
Step 2. Place the steak and marinade in a bag or a container with a lid. Massage the steak with the marinade and set aside. Let sit while you prep the remaining ingredients.
Step 3. Heat a large cast iron skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the steak and marinade. Stir and cook until the beef has browned but is still tender. About 3-5 minutes. Remove the steak and set aside but leave the marinade in the skillet.
Step 4. To the skillet, add red pepper, red onion, and broccoli florets. Cook on medium high heat for 5-7 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften. You’ll notice a few minutes into cooking, the liquid will start to dissolve and cook off. Don't worry, we’re going to add a sauce to help the vegetables cook longer without burning. See steps 5 and 6.
Step 5. While the vegetables are cooking, in a small bowl place beef broth, soy sauce, and sugar. Whisk until well combined and the sugar has dissolved.
Step 6. Add the beef broth mixture to the skillet to deglaze the pan around the 4-5 minute mark of cooking the vegetables.
Step 7. Once the vegetables have started to soften add the snow peas. These don’t need to cook for quite as long.
Step 8. When the vegetables are at the desired tenderness, add the shrimp to the skillet and cook until all shrimp are firm and pink.
Step 9. Add the steak back into the pan and stir well to combine. Top with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
Tips for The Best Results
Prep Ingredients in Advance: Prepare all vegetables and have ingredients measured and ready before starting to stir-fry. Because all the components cook rather quickly, you don't want to be prepping vegetables while your steak is cooking because you may risk over cooking. Having everything ready to go is going to make cooking a breeze.
Use High-Quality Ingredients: Opt for fresh, high-quality steak and shrimp to enhance the overall taste and texture of the dish. There's nothing worse than the taste of iodine overwhelming the stir fry from the shrimp. A great way to avoid this is buying fresh for the best flavor.
Preheat the Pan: Ensure the wok or skillet is properly preheated before adding the ingredients. A hot pan helps achieve the desirable sear on the steak and shrimp.
Don't Overcook the Proteins: Be cautious not to overcook the steak and shrimp. They continue cooking briefly even after being removed from the heat, so cook the steak just until it's no longer pink in the center. Cook the shrimp until firm and pink.
Must Try Variations
Teriyaki Glazed Surf and Turf: Infuse Japanese flavors by using a teriyaki glaze for the stir fry. The combination of sweet teriyaki sauce with steak and shrimp creates a delightful fusion. Make your own teriyaki glaze by combining soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic. If you enjoy a little extra heat try adding red pepper flakes or hot sauce of your choice like sriracha.
Thai Basil Steak and Shrimp Stir Fry: Infuse Thai flavors by adding fresh basil, fish sauce, and a dash of chili to the stir-fry sauce to create a vibrant and aromatic stir fry with a Southeast Asian twist.
Sesame Ginger Steak and Shrimp Stir Fry: Create an Asian-inspired dish by incorporating a sesame ginger sauce. The nutty sesame and zesty ginger add depth to the flavors.
Hoisin and Five-Spice Stir Fry: Utilize hoisin sauce and Chinese five-spice powder for an intriguing combination of sweet and savory flavors with a hint of warm spices.
Storing and Reheating Shrimp and Steak Stir Fry
Before storing steak and shrimp stir fry, allow leftovers to cool. Transfer to an airtight container then refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat, there are two popular ways this can be done.
The first way is using the stovetop again. Reheat the stir fry in a pan over medium heat, adding a splash of broth or water to prevent dryness. Stir occasionally until thoroughly heated, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
The second and probably the most popular way to reheat this stir fry is by using the microwave. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, then repeat until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few very important points to making sure the steak is tender. First, choose the right cut. I recommend using flank or flat iron. These are lean cuts that don't require a lot of cook time. You also want to make sure that you slice the meat in even slices to ensure even cook time. You don't want some pieces that are overcooked because you'll be left with tough steak.
Next, marinate the steak. The marinade is going to tenderize the steak and infuse it with flavor. You don't even need to marinate it for that long. This simple step will make a huge difference. Finally, don't overcook the steak. I like to remove from heat when they're still slightly pink in the middle. They're going to continue to cook when they're removed from the heat and they will continue cooking when added back at the very end.
Technically marinating the steak is not strictly necessary, however it does significantly enhance the flavor and tenderizes the meat. Worried about being short on time? Don't worry, in this recipe we recommend that you marinate the steak while you're prepping the other ingredients. Since the steak is sliced into thin slices, it doesn't take long.
The best dish for a steak and shrimp stir fry is a high-quality, large, and deep skillet or a wok. A large skillet with a wide surface area provides ample space for even cooking of steak and shrimp, while the depth allows for tossing and stirring without ingredients spilling over.
A wok, especially one made of materials like carbon steel, is well-suited for the high-heat, quick-cooking nature of stir-frying. The sloped sides of both skillets and woks make it easy to manipulate and turn ingredients, ensuring that they cook uniformly. Additionally, a skillet with non-stick properties or a well-seasoned traditional wok facilitates easy cleanup.
More Recipes You'll Love
Quick and Easy Shrimp and Steak Stir Fry
Equipment
- 2 small bowls
- 1 large cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 lb flank steak or flat iron steak sliced
- 1/2 red onion sliced
- 1 red pepper sliced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cups snow peas
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
To Deglaze
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
Garnish
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, and sesame oil. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined and the sugar is dissolved.1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Place the steak and marinade in a bag or a container with a lid. Stir to cover the steak with the sauce and set aside. Let marinate while you prep the remaining ingredients.1 lb flank steak or flat iron steak
- Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add the steak and marinade. Stir and cook until the beef has browned but is still tender. About 3-5 minutes. Remove the steak and set aside but leave the marinade in the skillet.
- To the skillet, add red pepper, red onion, and broccoli florets. Cook on medium high heat for 5-7 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften. You’ll notice a few minutes into cooking, the liquid will start to dissolve and cook off. We’re going to add a sauce to help the vegetables cook longer. See steps 5 and 6.1/2 red onion, 1 red pepper, 2 cups broccoli florets
- While the vegetables are cooking, in a small bowl place beef broth, soy sauce, and sugar. Whisk until well combined and the sugar has dissolved.1/4 cup beef broth, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- Add the beef broth mixture to the skillet to deglaze the pan around the 4-5 minute mark of cooking the vegetables.
- Once the vegetables have started to soften add the snow peas. These don’t need to cook for quite as long.1 cups snow peas
- When the vegetables are at the desired tenderness, add the shrimp to the skillet and cook until all shrimp are firm and pink.1 lb shrimp
- Add the steak back into the pan and stir well to combine. Top with sesame seeds and serve immediately.sesame seeds
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