Better Than Takeout Beef and Broccoli

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This beef and broccoli stir-fry is a classic restaurant dish that is surprisingly easy to re-create at home. With tender strips of beef, crisp broccoli, and a flavorful sauce; it all comes together in just minutes.

stir fry steak and broccoli in black bowl

Want to know a secret? I have a weakness for Chinese take-out. Some nights nothing hits the spot quite like those takeout favorites, right?

I’ve been ordering beef and broccoli for years and was pretty confident I could make my own version that would be every bit as good or better than my favorite takeout joint.

I’ve made several different versions of this beef and broccoli stir-fry over the past few years and combined a few I liked to make this version. The meal was an instant hit with my whole family and has become our favorite easy dinners over the past 10+ years.

broccoli beef in black bowl

With the zing of fresh ginger and plenty of garlic, the stir-fry sauce pairs so well with tender strips of beef and crisp broccoli. The broccoli is cooked until tender, without becoming even a little bit mushy.

Next time you get a craving for Chinese food, skip the take-out order and make this instead. It’s just as quick as ordering delivery and tastes even better.

Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Both flank and sirloin steak work equally well in this beef and broccoli stir-fry. Sliced into ultra-thin strips, the beef winds up amazingly tender and full of flavor from the sauce.

I’ve found some stir-fry recipes everything ends up getting overcooked and mushy from the sauce. That is NOT the case here! The broccoli stayed slightly crisp with a nice bite while the meat has a browned exterior and juicy inside.

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Skillet Italian Sausage and Peppers Penne [+ Video]

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Skillet Italian Sausage and Peppers Penne [+ Video]

a photo of cooked penne pasta in a skillet mixed with sauteed peppers and onions and sausage.

This skillet Italian sausage and peppers with whole-wheat penne is the perfect home cooked meal and it’s all in one pot which makes clean up a breeze!

This dish is a family favorite for us! And it’s weird to say that because I have picky eaters (they are SO much better than they used to be), and usually peppers and onions aren’t on the “yes list” for picky eaters, but in this recipe, they just work! The flavor is bold, and everyone loves sausage and pasta!

When I need to get dinner on the table quickly, this is one of my go-to recipes. All you need is one pan and 30 minutes!

What Do I Need to Make Sausage and Peppers Penne?

Most of the ingredients in this dish are pantry staples, so all you will need at the grocery store are some sausage links, a couple of peppers and an onion. Here is a list of what you will need:

  • Whole-wheat Penne Pasta – you can find this right by all the other pasta at the grocery store
  • Italian Sausage – I generally go with mild uncooked sausage, but you could use spicy sausage or a sweet sausage depending on what you are craving
  • Green Pepper – remove the stem and seeds and slice into thin slices
  • Red Pepper – remove the stem and seeds and slice into thin slices, red peppers are a little sweeter than green peppers so they add another dimension of flavor
  • Yellow Onion – use a sharp knife to slice the onion in the thin slices
  • Red Wine (cooking wine) – we don’t drink alcohol so we cook with cooking wine, but feel free to use whichever you prefer
  • Tomato Paste – a 6oz can, any brand works, just choose your favorite
  • Tomato Sauce – an 8oz can, any brand works, just choose your favorite
  • Water – thins out the sauce a little
  • Italian Seasoning – a dried seasoning blend that you can buy at the grocery store that usually includes dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried thyme and dried marjoram
  • Sugar – enhances the flavors
  • Salt – adds flavor
  • Parmesan Cheese – great for a garnish to add an extra punch of flavor

The measurements for every ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. The detailed instructions for how to make this recipe are also in the recipe card.

Reasons You Will Love This Italian Sausage Recipe

Here are a few reasons that you are going to love this recipe:

  1. Easy: The ingredients are simple and easy to find. The recipe is made in one pot so cleanup is easy. The only techniques you need to know are slicing, sauteing and simmering. Nothing fancy here!
  2. Quick: I live for dinner recipes that come together in less than a half hour!
  3. Flavor: By sauteing the sausage in the pan first, it flavors the whole dish. The peppers and onions get flavored by the sausage and add their own flavors and then the tomato pasta and sauce with the Italian seasoning and red wine add all the flavor you need.
  4. Well rounded: This dish includes veggies, protein and carbs all in one pa

The Little Things Newsletter #377 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

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Welcome to the weekend, my friends! My mom has been here in Ohio with us for the past week and it’s been fun hearing the kids chatting with her most evenings as I head for bed. (Yes, my mom is way more of a night owl than I am. Me? I’m likely to be tucked into bed by 9pm most nights.) 

As I write this, I have a peach coffeecake in the oven for brunch tomorrow morning with friends and the smell is AMAZING. Is anyone else in absolute peach heaven right now? (Kroger has had them on sale for $.99 lb for a couple of weeks now and I’ve been buying big bags of them as often as possible!) I have at least two dozen peaches ripening on a tray in the kitchen at the moment and I’m looking forward to playing with them next week.

ON THE BLOGS this week: Broccoli cheddar pasta salad with tiny broccoli florets, diced red pepper, red onion, and cheddar cheese in every bite is a perfect combination of flavors and textures. I LOVE the crunch in this salad.

This saucy ground beef stir fry with crisp bell peppers and broccoli is an easy weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. My kids very happily clean their plates when this is on the table.

The cheesy broccoli quesadilla combines everything you love about the classic cheddar broccoli combination and toasts it into gooey awesomeness between a couple of buttery crisp tortillas.

With the satisfying crunch of carrots, the juicy burst of apples, and the delightful chewiness of raisins, this carrot apple salad is an old-fashioned favorite that is both refreshing and wholesome. It’s time for this vintage recipe to have its comeback.

Fresh sweet peaches are tossed together with sugar and spices, then baked in between layers of brown sugar and oats to form a chewy sweet crust for this Peach Crunch. If you’re anything like my family, peach season means that many of your favorite desserts are about to be made. This peach crunch recipe has been a favorite since long before this blog was a thing.

You need just three ingredients to make this homemade peach sauce. The deliciousness begins with ripe, juicy, peaches. When the peaches grow fragrant and soften, that’s the signal that it is time to start making our favorite peach recipes.

The quintessential summer flavor combination of peaches and cream has been transformed into cold and creamy scoops of peaches and cream ice cream and it is everything I imagined it would be. I found myself repeatedly going back to the freezer for “just on

How to Overcome a Weight Loss Plateau

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Breaking Through Plateaus: Conquer Your Weight Loss Journey

Are you facing a frustrating weight loss plateau? We’ve all been there, but don’t worry we are here to help you overcome this roadblock and keep your fitness journey going strong. Let’s dive into some tips and tricks that will empower you to smash through that plateau and achieve your goals!

Shattering the Plateau: Tips and Tricks

When progress slows down, it’s time to shake things up and try new strategies. Start by reassessing your fitness routine and making small adjustments. Check out the video library in our MOVE app to switch up the exercises, increase the intensity, or change up the duration of your workouts. This will challenge your body in fresh ways and reignite your progress.

Another powerful technique is to revamp your nutrition. Consider tweaking your macronutrient ratios or incorporating more nutrient-dense foods. Small changes can have a big impact on breaking through that stubborn plateau.

Katie’s Routine: Secrets to Success

Our incredible founder, Katie Dunlop, has routines that she swears by. Her dedication and commitment has led to remarkable results, she lost 45 lbs through inputting small changes into her routine and taking specific things out of her routine that weren’t helping on her fitness journey.

Break Free and Achieve Your Goals

It’s time to break free from that weight loss plateau and reclaim your progress! Remember, you are stronger than any obstacle that comes your way. Embrace the power of consistency, adjust your routine, and nourish your body. Your goals are within reach, and we believe you can achieve them.

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Friday Faves 8.11

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Praying for the people of Maui this week, for their safety, and recovery from the devastating fires. It’s such a beautiful and special place, and it’s been absolutely heartbreaking to see photos of the damage. If you’re looking for ways to help, check out this link. 

Hi hi! Happy Friday! How are you? I hope you’e enjoying the week! It’s been a bit of a blur over here since the kids went back to school. The morning wakeups have been rough lol, but they’re happy to be back with their teachers and friends.

Before school started, we had a couple of fun last-minute adventures.

The girls and I went to pick veggies at Apple Annie’s with some friends. They had an awesome selection of peppers, melons, eggplant, squashes, green beans, corn, and okra.

We got a huge stash of veggies for the week, along with a giant watermelon and cantaloupe, some honey and salsa from the shop, and lots of apple butter. After veggie picking, we had Mexican food at La Unica in Wilcox. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area! They serve breakfast all day and have amazing horchata.

After lunch, we took the girls to see “The Thing” since they were all intrigued by multiple billboards. The venue has gotten an upgrade since I was a kid.

We also had an afternoon bowling with my mom and nani! We’ve gone roller skating and bowling lately; turns out we thoroughly enjoy vintage activities that require rented footwear that many others have worn since at least the 1960s.

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