Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
on Feb 15, 2019, Updated May 17, 2024
Chinese broccoli with garlic sauce recipe. Make takeout at home in your kitchen with this easy to make recipe which includes a homemade garlic stir fry sauce!
Broccoli with garlic sauce is one of my favorite dishes to order at Chinese restaurants.
We have a local sit down Chinese place that my favorite thing to order is just a big old plate of broccoli marinated in that finger licking good garlic stir fry sauce.
Every time I go there, I always order the same thing.
Garlic sauce is my very favorite thing about takeout, and I decided to recreate that same amazing lick-the-plate-clean taste in my own kitchen!
My dad used to order Chinese every single Sunday when I was growing up, and we always got some form of garlic sauce in our meal.
Everyone loved it, and my favorite was the tofu and broccoli with garlic sauce.
If you have ever tried my stir fry sauce recipe, you know that it has changed my life!
It is only 3 ingredients, and transforms boring stir fry into holy wow this is amazing stir fry!
I write all about how it’s the perfect sauce in my post about How do You Thicken Stir Fry Sauce?
I’m using that same incredible stir fry sauce to make this chinese broccoli not only crazy good, but crazy easy to make!
Ingredients to make broccoli with garlic sauce
- fresh minced garlic
- sesame oil
- raw broccoli florets
- stir fry sauce
- white rice, to serve
That’s it!
So simple and it took me less than a half hour to make!
My kitchen smelled heavenly.
I’m already so excited to make this recipe again!
I can see this easily becoming our own Sunday tradition in my little family!
This recipe is very similar to my broccoli tofu stir fry recipe, but minus the tofu.
I wanted to create a stand alone recipe for anyone who loves broccoli in garlic sauce as a side dish or a main dish!
To make it a full meal, you could add your favorite protein of choice!
Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables to put in stir fry.
How to make broccoli with garlic sauce
First, mince up your garlic with a knife or garlic mincer and measure out 1/3 of a cup.
You need lots of garlic because we are making garlic sauce, so it is the star!
Tip for buying fresh garlic
I used probably around 2 heads of garlic.
I recommend buying the pre packaged bags where the garlic is already peeled.
These save so much time, and I always buy my garlic this way now.
Note: I am talking about the already peeled garlic that comes in bags, not the pre minced jar stuff.
We definitely want fresh for this recipe!
How to make the best sticky rice
While you are getting everything chopped up, get your rice cooking.
I highly recommend investing in a rice cooker, because the flavor and texture is perfect every time.
If you do not have a rice cooker, just cook your rice on the stove.
Make sure you do not salt the rice, as the sauce from the broccoli has more than enough salt in it to flavor the rice.
Next, chop up your broccoli into florets.
You can use between 8 and 9 cups for this recipe.
Next, shake together a batch of 3 ingredient stir fry sauce and set aside.
Cooking your broccoli
Grab a big skillet or jumbo cooker and add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and heat to medium.
Add the garlic and cook for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring often, until it begins to brown.
Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Add the broccoli and stir fry sauce and cook an additional 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often, until broccoli is desired texture.
This recipes uses my favorite stir fry sauce!
Just 3 ingredients and so simple to make.
I use it in every stir fry recipe I cook.
I personally like my broccoli with a little crunch, so right around 10 minutes was the perfect cook time for me.
Tips for cooking the broccoli
When cooking broccoli, stir often to ensure it is cooking evenly.
Since broccoli florets are large, they need to be stirred often so all sides cook well.
Next tip: make sure that you do not cook the broccoli too long!
No one likes mushy broccoli.
Texture is important here.
I’ve found the best broccoli I have eaten still has some crunch to it.
It just tastes so much fresher this way!
I have had totally soft broccoli from takeout before and just couldn’t eat it.
The texture is so important!
Once your broccoli with garlic sauce is done, serve it over white rice (or brown rice!) for the ultimate combo.
OMG! I never have to buy this as takeout again! So good! I didn’t have enough sesame oil left, so I was only able to make 1/4 of the stir fry sauce and used avocado oil to fry the garlic and it’s still delicious! THANK YOU!!!!! – Stephanie
Hungry for more? Try these delicious stir fry recipes!
- Stir Fry Vegetables
- Orange Tofu made with Orange Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Broccoli Tofu Ramen Noodles
- Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodles
- Cabbage Stir Fry
- Tofu Stir Fry Noodles
- Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
- Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry
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Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!
Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup minced fresh garlic
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 8 – 9 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 batch of homemade stir fry sauce
- unsalted white rice, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and heat to medium
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring often, until garlic begins to brown
- Add the broccoli florets and stir fry sauce to the skillet and cook an additional 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often, until broccoli is desired texture (I prefer mine with a little crunch, so right around 10 minutes was perfect)
- Serve over unsalted white rice (see notes below)
Easy to make, very nice flavor, fast to.make, easy clean up, YUMMY.
Will make regularly
Excellent, tasty & healthy. Only cooked garlic 2 min to avoid overcooking it. Also added 1/4 cup water & covered pan for 6 min to get broccoli cooked.
I’d like to add fresh grated ginger to this recipe. Any issues with this addition?
Nope! I love adding ginger to my stir fry recipes.
I loved this recipe!! But roommates complained that garlic was too much (Smell). I used brown rice as I am type 2 diabetic. Even squirted a little honey at the end. Yum..yum!! Made it several times and so easy!!
How do I make it less salty?
Make sure you do not salt your rice that you serve it with! otherwise it is too salty. This recipe is intended to be served over unsalted rice or stir fry noodles 🙂
I think the underlying flavor was good but it turned out so salty I couldn’t finish my broccoli. I did use low sodium soy sauce too. Need a way to dilute the sauce without making it runny.
Did you use unsalted rice as specified in the instructions? If you eat this without a base it will be far too salty.
It was pretty tasty but not much sauce… did I do something wrong?
I made this for the first time tonight. It was super tasty! I did throw in a sprinkle of dried chili peppers at the end and served over Chinese noodles. My husband commented favorably so it will be pinned to the “He said yes!” board. Thans so much for sharing!
so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
This recipe gets 5 stars for ease of execution, but it was way too salty for our taste. I am going to try it again with coconut aminos to get better balance of salt and sweet.
be sure that your rice or noodles/whatever you serve it over is NOT salted. This may have been why yours is too salty. See recipe comments section in the recipe card 🙂