Easy Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

This Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe is a quick weeknight meal that will impress the whole family! Fresh broccoli and browned ground beef are wrapped in a smooth, savory sauce and served with rice. 

In my house, we are huge fans of a good stir-fry recipe. To me, it’s the ultimate hack to a complete meal on a busy night. It’s my favorite way to make sure we all get a high-quality protein and plenty of nourishing veggies without overthinking it. And we keep coming back to this Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe with white rice over and over again!

Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef and Broccoli Recipe

• Beef and broccoli is a familiar favorite your entire family is sure to love! And if you do the cooking, you’ll appreciate that it’s such a simple recipe to prepare.
• Save yourself some time and effort with dishes, since this ground beef and broccoli dish can be made in one skillet. 
• It only takes a short time to stir fry the veggies and brown the ground beef. So when I say it’s a less-than-30-minute meal, I truly mean that!

As a dietitian, I hear a lot of my clients say they feel intimidated by stir fry recipes like this one. And I get it, because if you didn’t grow up making or eating these types of meals it can feel like you aren’t sure where to start.

But I’ll walk you through the simple process step-by-step. Trust me, if you’ve ever browned ground beef for another recipe, you are already ahead of the curve!

Ground Beef and Broccoli Ingredients

• Lean ground beef
• Broccoli
• Onion
• Low sodium beef broth
• Low sodium soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Garlic
• Ginger paste
• Red pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds
• Cooked rice. You can serve it with white rice or brown rice, but we always stick with my favorite white rice made in the rice cooker. If you’re in a hurry, minute rice or microwavable pouches will help you get dinner on the table with even less time and effort.

To cook this ground beef and broccoli recipe, you’ll need a cutting board and sharpened knife, a few prep bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and a large skillet such as a stainless or nonstick option. 

Swaps and Substitutions

This is a flexible and forgiving recipe. If you need to make some swaps, try these options:

• Low sodium chicken or vegetable broth if you don’t have beef broth
• Tamari or coconut aminos if you don’t have soy sauce or need a gluten-free option
• Extra veggies like bell peppers, cauliflower, mushrooms, or carrots in addition to the broccoli and onions

You can use more or less broth depending on how you like your sauce. If you want it thicker, use less. If you like a looser or thinner sauce that soaks into the rice, add another splash.

How to Make Ground Beef and Broccoli

You’re about to see just how quick this quick weeknight dinner truly is! Let’s start with some veggie prep:

1. Wash and dry the head of broccoli. Use a sharp knife to remove the florets from the main stalk, leaving some of the stems attached. Try to do your best to ensure they’re similar in size, which will help with even cooking. Add the pieces of broccoli to a prep bowl.
2. Slice the onion into thin strips. Rough them up a little to separate them, then add them to the bowl with the broccoli. 
3. Peel and mince the garlic and ginger into a very fine dice. Or, if you prefer to use the pre-minced garlic and ginger paste (instead of fresh garlic and ginger) they can also be great options. 

Next, move onto preparing the sauce. Mix the cornstarch with cold water in a small glass, creating a slurry. Set this aside, then measure the beef broth. Add the sauce ingredients (soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes) to the beef broth and whisk it together.

This stir fry cooks quickly so take a moment to prep your cooking space and make sure everything is within reach. You’re ready to cook!

Ground Beef and Broccoli Cooking Instructions

When you’re ready to begin, start heating your skillet over high heat. This is key, as you want to create seared edges without overcooking. Follow these simple steps for a delicious ground beef and broccoli stir fry. 

1. Add a small amount of oil and swirl it to coat the bottom of the pan. Then, add the broccoli and onions. It should really sizzle when it hits the hot pan! 
2. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon or heat-proof spatula. After 4-5 minutes, the broccoli should be tender-crisp and the onions should be fragrant and starting to brown. Transfer them back to their prep bowl. 
3. Add the ground beef to the same hot skillet. Notice that you don’t need any extra cooking oil. To me, the excess fat in the beef is a great way to maximize flavor while minimizing extra steps and ingredients. Brown the ground beef for 4-5 minutes over medium-high heat, breaking it apart into small pieces as it cooks.
4. Once the ground beef is fully browned with no pink remaining, add the sauce ingredients. Deglaze the bottom of the pan with the wooden spoon or spatula, grabbing up any stuck-on bits for extra flavor.
5. Reduce the heat to medium heat before adding the cornstarch slurry. Stir to combine everything, and within a couple of minutes or less the sauce should thicken into a gravy-like consistency. At this point, add back the stir-fried broccoli and onions and fold together until everything is coated in the sauce. 

Street Smart Nutrition Tip: If you prefer to drain the browned ground beef, do so prior to adding the sauce ingredients. Once you add the beef back into your skillet, continue with Step 4 as written above.

All that’s left to do at this point is serve it up! 

What to Serve with Ground Beef and Broccoli

I highly recommend pairing this ground beef and broccoli recipe with white rice. It’s a classic for a reason! The starchy rice will soak up the velvety beef and broccoli sauce, which will cling to each grain and coat them in great flavor. I use an electric rice cooker, which takes about 30 minutes.

If using a stovetop cooking method or other variety of rice, make sure to account for an adjusted cooking time, which may be longer or shorter. 

When you’re ready to serve, simply add a scoop of cooked white rice to a bowl or plate. Spoon the ground beef and broccoli over the top and add some toasted sesame seeds or extra red pepper flakes if you want to. And this is totally optional, but you can add some sliced green onions or a drizzle of sesame oil for a little extra flavor as well.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips

Transfer any leftovers from this ground beef and broccoli recipe into an airtight container and refrigerate.

You can store it for up to 4-5 days and reheat in short bursts in the microwave the next time you’re ready to eat it again. I find it easier to store with some cooked rice on the bottom and reheat everything together. The sauce will make sure the rice is tender, not hard or chewy. 

Ground beef and broccoli is a reliable recipe for meal prep. It always tastes great after reheating. But if you plan to cook a big batch for the week, I recommend undercooking the broccoli just a bit. That way it doesn’t get overly soggy or mushy.

Ground Beef and Broccoli FAQs

What is beef and broccoli sauce made of?

The sauce for beef and broccoli typically uses soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, beef broth, and cornstarch (a thickener). Some versions also include oyster sauce or sesame oil.

Is ground beef healthy?

Beef delivers 10 essential nutrients. The list includes protein, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins such as vitamin B6, B12, niacin, and riboflavin. You’ll also get some phosphorus, iron, and choline. All of that nutrition is in every 3-ounce cooked serving of beef. 

These crucial nutrients perform a variety of functions in our body. But to me, the nutrition of any recipe is more than just the sum of its parts. The rich flavor of beef adds to the satisfaction and enjoyment of meals. Plus, familiar options like lean ground beef can open the doors to try new flavor combinations or cooking techniques to pair with other nutritious foods like vegetables or grains.

How many times a week should you eat ground beef?

This depends on your taste preferences, budget, and unique nutritional needs. Here are some things to consider when planning your meals for the week:

• Beef contains saturated fat and cholesterol. When possible, choose leaner options to stay within the current Dietary Guidelines recommendation of 10% total daily calories or less from saturated fat.
• Ground beef is usually less expensive per pound compared to whole cuts of beef or other proteins like seafood or lamb. However, it’s usually more expensive than pork or chicken.
• Consider the rest of your diet, too. Aim for variety and balance, including plant-based protein options or other sources of protein besides just beef.

How to make ground beef tender?

Sometimes ground beef feels tough or chewy after cooking. To avoid this, follow these tips:

• Remember that a higher fat content is usually more tender. A 92/8 mix will be less tender than 85/15 or 80/20.
• Don’t overcook your ground beef. Cook until it’s browned with no pink remaining, but don’t scorch it in your skillet or dry it out.
• Likewise, don’t overwork your ground beef as it cooks. Avoid the temptation to break it into very small pieces, which are prone to losing moisture and drying out. If you’re making patties for burgers or meatballs, handle it as little as possible.

I hope you and your family love this easy weeknight meal as much as we do! It’s a great option for busy weeknights and meal prep alike, so give it a try and see what you think. 

Thanks for stopping by the Street Smart Nutrition blog. And as always, cheers to more fearlessly nourishing meals!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Grass Run Farms when it was originally published in October 2023. It has since been updated to improve the overall quality of the information and/or images. I was compensated for my time and all opinions are my own. And as always, thanks for supporting the partners who support Street Smart Nutrition!