This Asian-inspired Ground Beef and Broccoli is a fresh and easy to make version of the popular take-out dish. A flavor-packed stir fry sauce is combined with ground beef and broccoli for a wholesome, delicious meal in minutes.
Our Ground Pork Stir Fry with Zucchini is another recipe that utlizes ground meat for a quick, budget-friendly stir fry meal.
When we’re craving Asian flavors this Ground Beef and Broccoli really hits the spot. The fact that it cooks in one pan in less than 30 minutes is a fabulous bonus. Fast and flavorful is the name of the game!
When I know I can pull together a meal like this quickly and with so little effort, it’s a game changer. It’s fine every now and then to reach for the phone and order take-out, but making your own stir fries at home is less costly and allows you to control the ingredients.
In this recipe, ground beef and broccoli are infused with great umami flavor from sauce ingredients that really pack a punch. The kind of flavor that leaves you feeling satisfied and looking forward to reheating leftovers for lunch the next day.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: Use 93% lean ground beef for a lean and meaty result.
- Broccoli: Cut your broccoli down to manageable bite-size florets so they will cook quickly and evenly.
- Onion: Coarsley chopped sweet yellow onion.
- Oil: A small amount of sesame oil imparts great flavor to the ground beef and onion as they cook.
- Stir fry sauce: The flavorful sauce consists of reduced sodium soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin rice wine, honey, minced garlic, ginger paste (or fresh minced ginger), and cornstarch.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt and freshly black pepper.
- Garnish: Toasted sesame seeds and green onions, sliced on the bias.
How to Make Ground Beef and Broccoli
- Partially cook the broccoli. Add the broccoli to a large skillet with water about halfway up the sides. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for a couple of minutes, or just until barely fork tender. Immediately drain rinse the broccoli with cold water until cool to the touch to stop the cooking process.
- Make the stir fry sauce. In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients until well combined.
- Cook the ground beef and onion. Wipe the skillet dry and use it to cook the ground beef and onion in a small amount of sesame oil. Cook, stirring occasionally to break up the beef, leaving some chunky texture to the meat (don’t smash it until it’s finely ground). Drain off any excess grease and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Finish. Add the partially cooked broccoli and the stir fry sauce and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and well incorporated. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion before serving.
Tips for the Best Ground Beef and Broccoli
Don’t Overcook the Broccoli: It’s easy to overcook broccoli if you cover it with boiling water. Instead, spread the broccoli out in a skillet and add just enough water to come about halfway up the sides. Once boiling, reduce the heat and cover the skillet. The steam from the water is all the broccoli needs to get slightly tender. Immediately drain and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and lock in the bright green color.
Cooking the Ground Beef: It’s natural to smash ground beef to a fine texture while it cooks but resist the urge! Instead, use your spoon to break it up, leaving some chunky texture, so that those little pieces of cooked ground beef will absorb some of the sauce for better flavor.
Let it Rest: After cooking, remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest for several minutes to allow the stir fry sauce to thicken even more. Give it a toss to coat the ingredients before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- Rice: Serve over fluffy cooked white rice or Brown Rice Pilaf for a classic and filling meal.
- Quinoa or Cauliflower Rice: Opt for a healthier alternative by serving the stir-fry over cooked quinoa, quickly cooked frozen cauliflower rice, or Cauliflower Rice Pilaf.
- Sriracha: Offer sriracha on the side for an extra kick of flavor and spice.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate: Transfer any leftover stir fry and rice (if making) to separate airtight containers or resealable bags and refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Leftover Ground Beef and Broccoli will stay fresh and tasty for 3 to 4 days if stored properly, making it great for meal prep. It’s vital to use or freeze leftover cooked rice within 3 to 4 days for food safety concerns.
Reheating Leftovers: You can reheat portions in the microwave, covered with a damp towel to help retain the moisture. Add a splash of water to the rice for additional moisture. You can also reheat portions of the stir fry in a nonstick skillet over low heat, stirring continuously to prevent sticking.
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Ground Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 head or 2 crowns broccoli, about 1 pound, cut into small florets
- ½ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon mirin rice wine
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste, or fresh minced ginger
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 pound 93% lean ground beef
- 1 cup coarsely chopped sweet yellow onion, not diced
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, sliced on the bias
- Cooked white or brown rice, optional for serving
Instructions
- Place the broccoli in a 12-inch skillet and add enough water to come halfway up the sides (not covered). Bring to a boil over HIGH heat, then reduce to LOW, cover and simmer for 2 minutes, or just until barely fork tender. Immediately drain in a colander, then rinse with cold water until cool to the touch to stop the cooking process. Drain well and set aside. Wipe the skillet dry and set aside to use later.
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, honey, garlic, ginger paste, and cornstarch until well combined. Set aside.
- Heat 1 teaspoon sesame oil in the 12-inch skillet over MEDIUM heat and add the ground beef and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally to break up the beef, leaving some chunky texture to the meat (don’t smash it until it’s finely ground). Continue until it is completely cooked through and the onion is beginning to soften. Drain off any excess grease, return the skillet to the heat, and season the mixture with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the partially cooked broccoli and the stir fry sauce and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and well incorporated. Remove from the heat and let it rest for several minutes before serving.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion and serve with rice.
Notes
Reheating Leftovers: You can reheat portions in the microwave, covered with a damp towel to help retain the moisture. Add a splash of water to the rice for additional moisture. You can also reheat portions of the stir fry in a nonstick skillet over low heat, stirring continuously to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home. All information provided regarding nutrition on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Content related to nutrition is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before beginning any diet program, modifying your diet, or making changes to the diet of a child in your care, including following the nutrition information available on the website, you should seek advice from a licensed professional.