How to Cook Delicious Beef Stir Fry in the Oven

Stir fry is a classic Chinese dish that typically involves quick cooking over high heat on the stovetop But did you know you can also make tasty beef stir fry right in your oven? Oven stir frying is an easy hands-off cooking method that still delivers the great flavor of traditional stir fry,

In this guide I’ll explain how to cook beef stir fry in the oven by using a few simple tricks. With the right ingredients temperature, and technique, you can enjoy restaurant-quality beef stir fry without ever turning on your stovetop burner. Let’s get wokking!

Benefits of Cooking Beef Stir Fry in the Oven

Here are some of the main benefits of using your oven instead of the stovetop to cook beef stir fry:

• Convenient: Oven stir frying is incredibly hands-off. Just toss everything in a baking dish and let your oven do the work.

• Even cooking: The oven surrounds the food with gentle, even heat on all sides, preventing burning or undercooking.

• Flavor melding: Cooking low and slow in the oven allows the beef and sauce to melt together into tasty deliciousness.

• Easy cleanup: With just one baking dish to wash instead of multiple pans, cleanup is simpler. No need to scrub burnt bits off your wok either.

• Flexible serving: Oven-cooked stir fry stays warm and tasty for a period of time after cooking, so you can serve on your schedule.

With a few tweaks to ingredients and technique, you can absolutely achieve tasty stir fried beef using your trusty oven. Give it a try!

Step-by-Step Guide to Cook Beef Stir Fry in the Oven

Follow these simple steps for oven-baked beef stir fry just like you’d get from a takeout joint.

1. Choose the Right Beef Cut

Picking the right beef is key for flavor and texture. Flank, sirloin, or skirt steak are all great choices for stir fry. Cut beef across the grain into thin 1⁄4 inch strips for quick cooking.

2. Prep the Vegetables

Classic stir fry veggies like onions, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, etc. work well. Cut into similar sized small pieces for even cooking. Blanch harder veggies like broccoli or carrots first.

3. Toss Beef and Veggies in Sauce

In a bowl, mix beef strips and vegetables with your desired stir fry sauce. Oyster sauce, hoisin, teriyaki, etc. all taste great.

4. Spread Mixture in a Baking Dish

Transfer the sauced beef and veggie mix to a baking dish in an even layer. Make sure all pieces are coated with sauce.

5. Bake at a High Temperature

Bake in a 450°F oven for 10-15 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until beef is cooked through and veggies reach desired tenderness.

6. Finish with Fresh Garnishes

Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, etc. Serve beef stir fry over rice. Enjoy!

Oven Temperature for Cooking Beef Stir Fry

• 450°F – Best for achieving a quick, intense stir fry. Cooks in 10-15 minutes.

• 400°F – Slightly gentler heat that still cooks relatively fast in 15-20 minutes.

• 375°F – For a slower roasted effect while still browning. Cooking time around 20-25 minutes.

In general, stick to a high temperature between 375-450°F to ensure browned, caramelized results. Just adjust time based on temp and thickness of ingredients.

Tricks for the Best Oven Beef Stir Fry

Here are some useful tips and tricks to ensure your oven-cooked beef stir fry comes out perfect:

• Cut beef and veggies thinly and uniformly in size for quick, even cooking.

• Partially cooking denser vegetables like carrots first helps them finish at same time as other ingredients.

• Toss everything with a tablespoon or two of cornstarch for extra thickness and sheen.

• Use a nonstick baking dish and line with foil or parchment for easy cleaning.

• Stir ingredients once halfway through baking to promote even exposure to heat.

• Add fresh aromatics like ginger or garlic at the end to preserve their flavor.

• Let oven stir fry rest for 5 minutes before serving. The sauce and flavors will thicken slightly.

How to Adapt Any Beef Stir Fry Recipe for the Oven

Many classic beef stir fry recipes can be easily adapted for oven cooking using these tips:

• Reduce any cooking oil called for by half when baking. There’s less evaporation in the oven.

• Skip velveting the beef in oil and cornstarch before cooking. Just toss all with sauce before baking.

• Reduce sauce ingredients like soy sauce or oyster sauce slightly to account for less evaporation.

• Bake at 400-450°F for 10-20 minutes based on amount of food, checking frequently until done.

• Consider partial cooking for dense vegetables first before mixing and baking everything together.

With a few simple tweaks, you can oven-bake most any stir fry recipe successfully!

Easy Oven Baked Beef Stir Fry Recipe

This simple stir fry recipe cooks up fast and tasty in the oven:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb flank steak, sliced thinly
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Minced garlic and ginger to taste

Instructions:

1. Toss beef strips and vegetables with soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
2. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking dish and spread in an even layer.
3. Bake at 450°F for 12-15 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
4. Remove from oven, garnish with scallions, and serve immediately over rice. Enjoy!

The high heat of the oven gives you that coveted wok char while keeping things easy and hands-off. This oven-cooked beef stir fry truly rivals the stovetop version!

FAQs About Cooking Beef Stir Fry in the Oven

Here are answers to some common questions about oven-baked beef stir fry:

Can you get the same flavor as stovetop stir frying?

Yes, by using high oven heat and tossing everything in sauce, you can mimic that concentrated stir fry flavor. Just reduce sauce quantities slightly.

How do you get the beef browned without a wok?

Cut beef into very thin strips and cook at 450°F to promote browning and caramelization in the oven.

What’s the best beef cut for oven stir fry?

Flank, sirloin, or skirt steak are ideal cuts for their thin, uniform shape. Cut across the grain into 1⁄4 inch strips.

Do you need oil when oven stir frying?

Use just 1-2 tsp oil or broth for a little moisture. The oven doesn’t cause ingredients to dry out as much as the stovetop.

How long does oven beef stir fry take to cook?

At 450°F, expect around 10-15 minutes. Adjust time based on amount of food and oven temp. Check frequently to avoid overcooking.

For Easy, Delicious Beef Stir Fry, Look to Your Oven

With its gentle, even heat, the oven is secretly an ideal environment for creating flavorful beef stir fry dishes. Just remember to use thin beef strips, high heat, and reduce any sauce or oil ingredients slightly. In no time, you can whip up restaurant-worthy beef stir fry without heating up your kitchen. Ditch the wok and give oven stir-frying a chance tonight!