Ground Beef and Broccoli
This quick and flavorful Ground Beef and Broccoli stir-fry comes together in just 30 minutes and features tender broccoli, savory beef, and a rich, slightly sweet sauce. Served over rice, it's a comforting and satisfying meal the whole family will enjoy.
Servings: 4
Calories: 488kcal
Ingredients
For the Stir-Fry:
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil or vegetable or 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
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 –2 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
For Serving:
- 3 cups cooked rice any kind
Instructions
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water; set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon honey (add more later if desired), garlic, ground ginger, and sesame oil. Set aside.
Cook the Broccoli:
- Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add broccoli and toss to coat.
- Cook for 4–5 minutes, until slightly tender. Remove broccoli from the pan and set aside.
Cook the Beef:
- In the same skillet over medium-high heat, season ground beef with salt and white pepper.
- Cook beef with diced onion, breaking it up as it browns. Once fully cooked, drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the sliced red bell pepper and cook for 1 minute.
Add the Sauce:
- Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Shake or stir the cornstarch mixture and slowly add it to the skillet. Stir well and let it simmer until the sauce thickens.
Combine and Serve:
- Reduce heat to low and return the broccoli to the skillet. Stir to coat everything in the sauce.
- Serve hot over cooked rice. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, or chopped peanuts if desired.
- Notes
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Add extra veggies like julienned carrots, water chestnuts, celery, or kale.
- Great garnishes include green onions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, chow mein noodles, or sliced almonds.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce and broth for a lower sodium version.
- Frozen broccoli can be used—just thaw and pat dry before cooking.
How to Make Perfect Rice:
- Bring 2 cups water (with 2 bouillon cubes for flavor, optional) to a boil.
- Add 1 cup long-grain white rice, bring to a boil again.
- Cover tightly and reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat, let stand (covered) for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.