Ground Beef and Broccoli
A quick and flavorful 30-minute meal featuring tender broccoli, savory ground beef, and a rich, slightly sweet stir-fry sauce. Serve it over rice for a satisfying dinner the whole family will love!
Servings: 4
Calories: 488kcal
Ingredients
For the Stir-Fry:
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil or vegetable/olive oil
- 3 cups broccoli florets washed and patted dry
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- Salt and white pepper to taste
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1 cup beef broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
For Serving:
- 3 cups cooked rice any kind
Instructions
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a small container, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water. Stir well and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon honey (adjust later if needed), garlic, ground ginger, and sesame oil. Set aside.
Cook the Broccoli:
- Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat.
- Add the broccoli and toss to coat.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes until slightly softened. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Cook the Beef:
- Season the ground beef with salt and white pepper.
- In the same skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the beef with the diced onions until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the sliced bell peppers and cook for 1 minute.
Add the Sauce:
- Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Shake the cornstarch mixture, then slowly stir it into the sauce. Let it bubble gently until thickened to the desired consistency.
Combine and Serve:
- Reduce heat to low, return the broccoli to the pan, and stir to combine.
- Serve hot over cooked rice. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, or chopped peanuts, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Meat Variations: Swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
Vegetable Additions: Try julienned carrots, water chestnuts, celery, or kale.
Toppings: Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, chowmein noodles, or sliced almonds.
Lower Sodium Option: Use low-sodium soy sauce and/or reduced-sodium broth.
Frozen Broccoli: Can be used—just thaw, pat dry, and proceed as directed.
How to Make Perfect Rice:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil (add 2 chicken bouillon cubes for extra flavor).
Add 1 cup of long-grain white rice, then let the liquid return to a boil.
Cover tightly and reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.