Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

This Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe is quick, easy, and full of flavor. It only takes one pan and can be ready in 20 minutes. For a simple but filling dinner, serve over rice or noodles.

This easy ground beef and broccoli stir fry is great for when you don’t want to do a lot of work in the kitchen but don’t want to order takeout either. It takes about 20 minutes to make and only makes one pan dirty. I think we can all agree that this is a big win.

We’re going to have a date with tasty ground beef, bright, tender-crisp broccoli, and a tasty mix of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and a little bit of toasted sesame oil for that extra touch. This combination makes a quick and easy dinner that is full of protein and everyone can enjoy.

Ingredients

• ◯ 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ◯ 3-4 cups broccoli florets see note
• ◯ 1 pound lean ground beef or ground sirloin
• ◯ 2-3 cloves garlic minced
• ◯ 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ◯ 1/4 cup brown sugar
• ◯ 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• ◯ 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• ◯ 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ◯ 8-10 cranks freshly-ground black pepper
• ◯ sesame seeds optional garnish

Instructions

1. Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add broccoli and cook, tossing frequently, for 3-4 minutes, until it is vibrantly green with a tender-crisp texture. Remove to a plate and set aside.1 Tablespoon olive oil, 3-4 cups broccoli florets
2. Add ground beef and garlic to the skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes, until mostly browned, breaking it up into small pieces as you go. Drain or use a paper towel to soak up excess fat.1 pound lean ground beef, 2-3 cloves garlic
   
3. While the beef browns, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, ginger, red and black pepper in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. Whisk until smooth.1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 8-10 cranks freshly-ground black pepper
4. As soon as the beef is browned, pour in the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes more, just until the sauce thickens slightly. Return broccoli to the pan and toss to coat. Season with salt to taste, and serve right away over rice or noodles. Garnish with sesame seeds, as desired.

Tips and Notes

Here are some tips and notes on the things you’ll need to buy. You can find the full amounts on the recipe card below that is easy to print.

• Broccoli. I use a small head of broccoli or a bag of pre-washed florets that weighs 10 to 12 ounces. It’s fine if it’s a little more or less. Cut into small, even florets so they cook quickly and evenly.
• A pound of ground sirloin or lean ground beef. ButcherBox is still my favorite place to get food.
• Soy sauce with little salt and either light or dark brown sugar. The base of the sauce.
• Toasted sesame oil. A lot of flavor in a small space!
• Freshly minced garlic.
• Ground ginger. Using just 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger adds a lot of flavor to the sauce with truly minimal effort. Absolutely substitute 1-2 teaspoons of minced or grated fresh ginger if you have it on hand.
• Olive oil. Vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil, etc. all make fine swaps.
• Red and black pepper.
• Rice or noodles, if desired, to serve.
• Sesame seeds and green onion, optional but lovely garnishes.

Variations and Add-Ins

• Use ground chicken or turkey in place of ground beef; if using one of these leaner meats, add a small extra drizzle of cooking oil to the skillet after removing the broccoli and before adding the meat.
• Add or substitute snow peas, mushrooms, zucchini, shredded carrots, or bell peppers for the broccoli. Any vegetable that can cook very quickly.
• Add heat with a drizzle of Sriracha or your other favorite hot sauce, either mixed into the sauce or drizzled on bowls for individual tastes.

Serving Suggestions

Once cooked, scoop this ground beef and broccoli over rice — white, brown, cauliflower, you name it — or any type of noodle you like. Thick, nubby udon noodles are delicious, as are thin rice noodles. Heck, even standard egg noodles can do the trick if that’s what your family likes.

Sesame seeds and thinly-sliced green onions make a lovely garnish and pop of color.

Storage and Reheating

Ground beef and broccoli keeps and reheats very well, partly because the combination of beef and that delectable sauce minimizes the tendency of leftovers to dry out.

Storage: Extra servings last for three to four days. Put it in the fridge in any container that won’t let air in. (These are our favorite boxes for meal prep!)

To reheat, put it in the microwave or a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a very small splash of broth or water to loosen the mixture and minimize sticking, but only if really needed. You don’t want to dilute the sauce too much.

Tools You May Need

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Saute Tool
• Angled Liquid Measuring Cup
• Mini Whisk

Super quick, super easy, and packed full of flavor, this Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe uses just one pan and can be on your table in 20 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles for a simple yet satisfying dinner.