This Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with a sticky garlic ginger sauce is a nourishing dinner that's ready in just 25 minutes.
Stir fry is the original 20 minute dinner idea and they have that title for a reason. Pick a protein, veggie, rice and throw it in a pan for the easiest meal!
The thing is, it has to taste good too. This recipes transforms simple ingredients like ground beef and frozen broccoli into a hearty AND tasty meal. Cooked in a sticky garlic ginger sauce and served on rice, it's one of those classic meals that becomes a weekly staple.
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Meal prep friendly. This ground beef and broccoli stir fry reheats beautifully. If anything, it tastes even better the next day- the best for meal prep.
- Budget friendly. I wanted to make an easy meal with affordable and accessible ingredients that everyone has. Buy some ground beef on sale and frozen broccoli to save even more money!
- Balanced. Ground beef is an excellent source of protein, and paired with veggies for fibre and white rice? That's a balanced and satiating meal.
Ingredients
Ground beef. High in protein, iron and B vitamins. Look for an extra lean option if it is available to minimize saturated fat intake.
Broccoli. For a budget friendly and convenient option, we use frozen broccoli in this recipe. Look for steamed frozen broccoli florets- I always buy in bulk from Costco.
Soy sauce. To decrease the overall sodium content of the meal, I recommend using reduced sodium soy sauce.
Honey. This adds a hint of natural sweetness to break up the saltiness. Paired with the garlic, ginger and soy sauce, it balances the flavour profile.
Sesame oil. For a rich toasted flavour and tons of umami. Sesame oil is also full of healthy fats and vitamin E!
Cornstarch. This helps thicken the sauce so it evenly coats the ground beef and broccoli.
Ginger. FRESH ginger is essential to adding a burst of flavour and freshness to this sauce. Ginger is also packed with antioxidants and great for digestion.
Garlic. I highly recommend using fresh garlic if it is available to you, however jarred or pre minced garlic will work.
Sriracha. For a hint of spice. If you're not a fan of heat, feel free to leave it out.
Rice. Any rice of choice will work. Basmati, white rice, wild rice, brown rice, long grain- the choice is yours.
Instructions
Cook rice according to package instructions.
Defrost your broccoli using a steamer basket or in the microwave. Once defrosted, use a knife to chop the broccoli into small florets.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add ground beef to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper. Break up the ground beef using the bottom of a wooden spatula. Cook, stirring frequently until beef is no longer pink in colour (about 4 minutes). Line a plate with a paper towel, drain excess grease and add beef to the paper towel to absorb any remaining grease.
While your beef is cooking, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and sriracha.
To the same pan, reduce the heat to low and add your sauce. Once the sauce begins to bubble, whisk and add the cornstarch. It is important to continue whisking while you add cornstarch to stop clumps from forming.
Add cooked ground beef back into the pan along with the defrosted steamed broccoli. Stir to combine and allow to cook for about 5 minutes to heat the broccoli.
Serve over the rice and top with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: Soy sauce and cornstarch are not gluten-free. I recommend using arrowroot starch (instead of cornstarch) and tamari sauce or coconut aminos (instead of soy sauce).
To make dairy-free: This recipe is naturally dairy-free.
To make vegan: You can swap the ground beef for crumbled tofu or a plant-based veggie ground alternative. Use maple syrup instead of honey.
To make nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut-free, however it does contain sesame.
This stir fry is already balanced on its own, but here's how I pack in more nutrition:
- For extra veggies and colour, try adding 2 cups of broccoli slaw or coleslaw (similar to my egg roll in a bowl) or thinly sliced red peppers or grated zucchini or carrots
- For extra fibre, try mixing the ground beef with brown lentils. This doesn't alter the texture or taste so it's a great flexitarian option.
- Don't eat red meat? Ground turkey or chicken work in this recipe too.
Equipment
Storage
Ground beef and broccoli stir fry is an easy meal prep option. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container. I have not tested freezing this one but if you try, please let me know how it turns out!
Top Tip
This recipe is fairly straightforward, but the hardest part is ensuring the sauce does not clump. The best way to do this is continually whisking the sauce while slowly adding your cornstarch over low heat. The less you whisk, the more likely it is that clumps will form
I HIGHLY recommend chopping your broccoli into smaller florets. I find frozen broccoli florets are usually quite large and less enjoyable to eat! Chopping them into smaller florets after defrosting is a great way to help add to the aesthetic appeal of this dish. We eat with our eyes too, and you'll be surprised how easier it is to down a ton of veggies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes of course! I love the convenience (and price) of frozen broccoli, however fresh broccoli will work great. Just steam it first prior to adding it to the recipe.
No! Any ground meat of choice will work. Try ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
This is completely up to you! I personally find the reduced sodium version doesn’t taste too different and it helps decrease the sodium content of the meal. However if you prefer traditional soy sauce, you are 100% able to use it.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Easy meals make healthy eating possible!
- Weeknight Tofu Satay Stir Fry
- Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole
- Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken
- Vegetarian Fried Rice (Without Soy Sauce)
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this ground beef and broccoli stir fry, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry rice
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 400 g frozen steamed broccoli about 7 cups
- ½ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For topping:
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package instructions.
- Defrost your broccoli using a steamer basket or in the microwave. Once defrosted, use a knife to chop the broccoli into small florets.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add ground beef to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper. Break up the ground beef using the bottom of a wooden spatula. Cook, stirring frequently until beef is no longer pink in colour (about 4 minutes). Line a plate with a paper towel, drain excess grease and add beef to the paper towel to absorb any remaining grease.
- While your beef is cooking, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and sriracha.
- To the same pan, reduce the heat to low and add your sauce. Once the sauce begins to bubble, whisk and add the cornstarch (it is important to continue whisking while you add cornstarch to stop clumps from forming).
- Add cooked ground beef back into the pan along with the defrosted steamed broccoli.Stir to combine and allow to cook for about 5 minutes to heat the broccoli.
- Serve over the rice and top with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
Whitney says
My go-to meal! I sub rice for quinoa and it’s just as good! Easy, affordable and super delicious
Nicole says
Delicious, simple, and easy to customize with different veggies like zucchini and peppers!