Sesame Beef, cheater style, is my go-to comfort meal. It delivers all the bold, garlicky flavor of takeout sesame beef but is made at home in one skillet (two if you count the rice) and comes together faster and with less mess.
This simplified version is a hit with everyone at my house — leftovers disappear fast. We serve it over steamed rice, spoon it straight from the container, or tuck it into lettuce wraps for a quick handheld dinner.
I’ll even admit to making it in my pajamas before settling in for a Netflix night — and feeling very clever about it. Sesame Beef has always been my standard Chinese takeout order: beef in a garlicky, slightly sweet sauce served over fluffy white rice with broccoli on the side. I usually ask for extra heat, but this cheater version has an easy-to-adjust spice level so you can make it mild or fiery to suit your tastes.
This “cheater” technique swaps sliced or battered beef for ground beef, which speeds up prep and cooking while still developing crispy, browned edges in a hot skillet. That seared texture gives it a restaurant-style bite without deep frying.
Get a hallelujah? How about an amen?
What kind of beef should I use for sesame beef?
This recipe uses ground beef. I prefer 90–95% lean so there’s little or no draining required, which saves time and cleanup. If you like more beefy flavor and don’t mind draining, 80% (ground chuck) works well — just drain excess fat before making the sauce.
One tip for getting those crispy edges: add the crumbled beef to a preheated skillet, then press it with a flexible spatula into a single large patty that reaches the pan edges. Let it sear on high, untouched, for 3 minutes before breaking it up. That initial sear creates browned, slightly crispy pieces that mimic the texture of wok-fried or shallow-fried restaurant beef.
What ingredients do I need for the sesame beef sauce?
Good news: the sauce uses pantry-friendly ingredients you can find at most grocery stores. You’ll need brown sugar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, cornstarch, sesame seeds, and a chili paste such as chili garlic sauce or Sriracha for heat. If you can get ground beef, the rest is usually available locally or via online ordering.
How do I make the sauce for sesame beef?
The sauce is super simple. Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a measuring cup and pour them over the browned beef in the skillet. A small cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce quickly, giving you a glossy, clingy coating for the meat.
What pan should I use to make sesame beef?
Use a 10- or 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet for even heating. Stainless steel, cast iron, or hybrid pans that tolerate high heat work best. Avoid nonstick pans for the initial high-heat sear, since teflon-coated pans aren’t recommended at high temperatures.
What can I serve with sesame beef?
We usually serve it over hot white rice, but it’s also great on cauliflower rice, mashed potatoes, salads, or wrapped in lettuce leaves. A simple vegetable side like spicy Asian broccoli pairs perfectly — roasted or stir-fried green beans also work well. For a sweet finish, a light fruit or coconut-based dessert complements the savory, garlicky main.
Sesame Beef
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Drizzle the sunflower or refined coconut oil into a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet with high sides over medium heat. Add the ground beef, sprinkle with kosher salt, and press the meat into a single patty that reaches the edges of the pan. Let it cook for 3 minutes without stirring.
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After 3 minutes, break up the beef with a wooden spoon until it’s opaque and browned. Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the chili garlic paste and brown sugar and cook 30 seconds. Whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, and 1 1/4 cups of broth, then pour over the beef and bring to a simmer.
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Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup broth with the cornstarch until smooth. Stir the slurry into the simmering beef and sauce, stirring vigorously to combine. Return to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and let the sauce bubble and thicken for about 3 minutes, adding extra broth 1 tablespoon at a time if it gets too thick.
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Remove from heat and stir in toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve hot over rice, warm in lettuce leaves, or chilled atop salads.
Sesame Beef
Rebecca Lindamood
5 mins
20 mins
25 mins
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sunflower or refined coconut oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger or ginger paste
- 1-2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce (or Sriracha to taste)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or beef broth separated
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 8 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
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Drizzle the oil into a stainless steel pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, sprinkle the salt, and press the beef into a patty that reaches the edges of the pan. Let it cook undisturbed for 3 minutes.
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Break up the beef until browned. Stir in garlic and ginger, raise heat to medium-high, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chili garlic paste and brown sugar and cook 30 seconds. Whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, and 1 1/4 cups broth, then pour over the beef and bring to a simmer.
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Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup broth with cornstarch until smooth and stir into the simmering sauce. Return to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and let thicken about 3 minutes, adding broth 1 tablespoon at a time if needed.
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Remove from heat, stir in sesame seeds and green onions, and serve.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 26 g
Protein: 21 g
Fat: 32 g
Sodium: 1025 mg
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate values using the exact ingredients you use if precise nutrition data is needed.
