Ground Beef and Broccoli
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Posted: 04/27/25
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This Ground Beef and Broccoli stir fry is a quick, flavorful dinner perfect for busy nights! Juicy ground beef, crisp-tender broccoli, and a savory garlic sauce come together in less than 30 minutes. Serve it over rice for an easy, budget-friendly meal that’s better than takeout!
We love a good stir fry around here, and this one is so quick and easy and has so much flavor! This beef and broccoli recipe is a great option when you need something hearty and are short on time. Using ground beef means you don’t need to slice beef, cutting down on prep time. The rice cooks at the same time so it all comes together with perfect timing.
Homemade ground beef and broccoli is also a great way to save money by not ordering takeout when you can make it just as delicious – and more quickly – at home. We also love to make Orange Chicken when we are craving a homemade takeout style meal.
This dish is perfectly saucy and the tender broccoli really gives that fresh factor. At home, we like to switch up the rice for noodles once in a while, too! I know you are going to add this to your regular recipe rotation.
why you’ll love this recipe
- This meal is ready in only 20 minutes! Perfect for a busy weeknight.
- The broccoli is perfectly fork tender, not mushy, so it is much more enjoyable to eat.
- You can most likely already find all of the ingredients you need for this meal in your pantry. Making one less trip to the grocery store is a big win in my books!
ingredients for beef and broccoli
- Ground beef – An 80/20 ground beef is perfect for this meal.
- Olive oil – Feel free to use any other oil for frying.
- Broccoli – Fresh, crisp broccoli is the best, but if you use frozen that will work and you don’t have to thaw it before adding it to this beef stir fry.
- Sesame seeds – The perfect garnish to make this look like a restaurant quality meal.
- White rice – We love to serve beef and broccoli over basmati rice but use your favorite type!
Stir Fry Sauce
- Ground ginger – You can also use 4 Tablespoons of fresh grated ginger.
- Garlic – Fresh, minced garlic really adds depth of flavor.
- Hot water – Using hot water helps everything mix and dissolve quickly in the sauce.
- Soy sauce – I prefer to use low sodium. Whichever brand you already have at home will be perfect.
- Light brown sugar – Adds sweetness to this garlicky, gingery sauce.
- Corn starch – The perfect thickening agent.
- Black pepper – Balances the flavors.
- Sesame oil – Adds a hint of the sesame flavor you love in a stir fry.
can i use a different ground meat?
Yes, if you prefer, you can use another type of ground meat such as chicken, ground turkey or even ground pork.
can i use frozen broccoli?
Yes, you can use frozen broccoli if that’s what you have on hand! Fresh broccoli will stay more crisp, but you can totally toss some frozen broccoli into the pan instead.
There is no need to thaw frozen broccoli if that’s what you will be using for this dish. Add it to the skillet and cook until it is hot.
how to make ground beef and broccoli
- If you are having rice with this meal, prepare it according to the package instructions.
- In a small bowl, whisk all the stir fry sauce ingredients until sugar is dissolved, set aside.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add broccoli florets and sautée for 5-6 minutes, until the broccoli is bright green and crisp tender. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Increase the heat to medium-high. Brown ground beef and drain any excess grease out of the skillet.
- Add the sauce to the beef, reduce heat to low and simmer 3-4 minutes or until thickened.
- Add reserved broccoli and toss to combine.
- Serve over white rice and garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
how to serve beef and broccoli
Beef and broccoli is really a meal on its own when accompanied by a nice fluffy rice, cauliflower rice or stir fry noodle but it’s always great to have an extra veggie or two on the side. Maybe even add some extra veggies to this stir fry like asparagus, carrots or onions.
I’ve got a great round up of Kid Friendly Veggies all set for you to check out and to help make supper time run a little smoother.
pro tips
- You can use cauliflower rice as a carb conscious option or stir fry noodles, if you prefer.
- Be patient while you wait for the sauce to thicken!
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions to make this dish really beautiful.
- Use beef broth to cook your rice to really elevate the flavor of this meal.
how to store leftover beef and broccoli
Store leftover beef and broccoli in an airtight container, separate from the cooked rice, for up to 4 days.
how to reheat leftovers
Reheat leftover ground beef and broccoli on the stovetop with a lid or in the microwave. You can reheat the rice at the same time.
is beef and broccoli gluten free?
Yes, technically this is a gluten-free dish because we use corn starch to thicken the sauce rather than flour. Eating this on top of rice or cauliflower rice will keep it gluten free, too.
Just be sure to check the labels on all of your other ingredients to ensure they are gluten-friendly as well.
This family friendly meal is ready so quickly and the kids can even help prepare it. Cheaper and quicker than takeout, ground beef and broccoli is perfect for a busy weeknight.
more great ground beef recipes
- Beef Pot Pie is the perfect comfort food for a family dinner featuring a biscuit top and filled with savory beef, vegetables, and a creamy sauce.
- Tonight, supper calls for a hearty bowl of Chili Mac. It combines tender pasta with flavorful chili, beans, and melted cheese for a satisfying one-pot meal ready in 20 monutes..
- Crock Pot Hamburger Wild Rice Casserole is an easy and flavorful slow cooker dish with ground beef, wild rice, celery, mushrooms and a creamy sauce.
- Our Hamburger and Zucchini Skillet recipe is a quick and delicious one-pot meal featuring ground beef and fresh zucchini with rice, green pepper and tomato, perfect for busy weeknights
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Ground Beef and Broccoli
This easy Ground Beef and Broccoli stir-fry is a quick, flavorful dinner ready in just 20 minutes! A savory garlic sauce, tender beef, and crisp broccoli make it a family favorite. Perfect for busy nights!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 6 cups broccoli florets about 1 pound
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds optional for garnish
- prepared white rice for serving
Stir Fry Sauce
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup hot water
- 6 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 1 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
Instructions
- Prepare the rice according to instructions on the package.
- In a small bowl combine all the stir fry ingredients, whisk until sugar is dissolved, set aside.
- Add the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add broccoli florets and saute for 5-6 minutes, stirring or tossing several times until the broccoli is bright green and crisp tender. Remove broccoli from the pan and set aside.
- Increase the heat to medium-high. Add ground beef to the skillet and chop it up and brown the hamburger. Cook until there is no more pink in the hamburger and drain any excess grease out of the skillet.
- Add the sauce to the skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer 3-4 minutes or until thickened. Then add reserved broccoli and toss to combine.
- Serve over white rice and garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Tips
Store leftover beef and broccoli in an airtight container, separate from the cooked rice, for up to 4 days.
Reheat leftover ground beef and broccoli on the stovetop with a lid or in the microwave. You can reheat the rice at the same time.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 514kcal (26%), Carbohydrates: 23g (8%), Protein: 27g (54%), Fat: 36g (55%), Saturated Fat: 9g (56%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 18g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 77mg (26%), Sodium: 989mg (43%), Potassium: 881mg (25%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 11g (12%), Vitamin A: 852IU (17%), Vitamin C: 122mg (148%), Calcium: 111mg (11%), Iron: 4mg (22%)
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