Ground Beef and Broccoli

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.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Chinese American

Keyword Beef and Broccoli, Beef and Rice Bowls, Beef Stir Fry, Ground Beef and Broccoli

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 410kcal

Author Cara Harbstreet

Ingredients

4 cups broccoli florets
1 cup yellow or white onion, sliced about 1/2 onion
1 tbsp cooking oil vegetable, peanut, or similar
1 lb lean ground beef such as 85/15
1 1/2 cups low sodium beef broth
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
3 cloves garlic minced, about 1 tbsp
2 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp cold water
toasted sesame seeds for garnish
cooked white rice

Instructions

Cook the white rice according to package instructions or personal preference.
Trim the broccoli florets from the main stalk, aiming for similar sized pieces. Slice the onion and mince the garlic and ginger if not using prepared options.
Stir all sauce ingredients together in a measuring cup (beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes). Whisk until combined. Stir the cornstarch into the cold water to form a slurry and set aside.
Once ready to cook, heat a large skillet over high heat. Once heated, add the cooking oil. Add the broccoli and onions and sauté, stirring frequently, until the broccoli is tender-crisp and the onions are browned, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer into a prep bowl and set aside.
In the same pan, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Cook until no pink remains, about 4 to 5 minutes. Option to drain the ground beef before adding the prepared sauce ingredients and stir to deglaze the bottom of the skillet. Add the cornstarch slurry and stir to combine. Simmer 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is thickened to a gravy consistency.
Fold in the broccoli and onions, stirring until all ingredients are coated in the sauce. Serve over white rice and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and additional red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Note that draining the browned ground beef may reduce the overall volume of sauce or give it a thinner texture. I skip this step as I prefer a thicker, richer sauce. If you drain the beef, be sure to return it to the skillet before adding the sauce to ensure the beef is as flavorful as possible.

Store leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally to ensure even reheating.

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