Ground Beef & Broccoli

Ground Beef and Broccoli is one of the BEST ground beef recipes...a healthy, flavorful, quick, and easy skillet dinner that comes together in 15 minutes in just one pan!

Ground Beef and Broccoli, ground beef recipe with text overlay.

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If you're a fan of quick and easy ground beef recipes, you'll also love 30-Minute Skillet Lasagna, Easy Swedish Meatballs, Instant Pot Egg Roll in Bowl, and Ground Beef Stroganoff!

At least once a week, dinner around here starts with a pound of ground beef. These dinners are quick, they're easy, and everyone in my family love them. As a result, I have a variety of ground beef recipes in my repertoire, but I'm always on a quest to come up with new ones. Enter today's quick and easy Ground Beef and Broccoli!

My One-Pan Asian Ground Beef and Rice Skillet is on regular rotation at our house, and Easy Fried Rice is always a hit. But last week, I was craving something similar...yet different. Luckily, inspiration hit when I decided to call upon the flavors of a beloved Chinese restaurant classic for a new, shortcut, healthy ground beef recipe.

Beef and Broccoli has been one of my favorites since childhood and still I love it today. The hubby and kids enjoy it as well. However, since I don't always have flank steak or some other stir fry-friendly cut of beef on hand -- but I always have ground beef -- I decided to modify the traditional recipe into this simple, lightning-quick, one-pan Ground Beef and Broccoli.

Served over a bed or rice on a gray plate.

How to Make It

I'm not exaggerating when I say this recipe took me about 15 minutes to make from start to finish, y'all. Here are the easy steps:

  1. Throw your ground beef into a skillet.
  2. Mix together the sauce while the beef is browning.
  3. Add said sauce -- plus a package of frozen broccoli -- to the beef.
  4. Let it bubble for a few more minutes and then thicken with a cornstarch slurry.

Voilà! All the flavor of Chinese take-out...except healthier!

And dare I say tastier *and* faster than delivery? 😉

One-Pan Ground Beef and Broccoli

Sauce Ingredients

In addition to the ground beef and the broccoli (that recipe title is such a spoiler, eh?), there are some important Asian-influenced ingredients that make this recipe so delicious.

In fact, the sauce in this recipe is so good that I've witnessed family members literally licking their plates clean...and I may have been guilty of doing so a time or two myself.

I also find that the amount of sauce in this recipe is perfect to allow for seepage down into a bed of rice.

So what goes into it?

  • Low-sodium beef broth and low-sodium soy sauce. If you don't use LOW-SODIUM beef broth and soy sauce, you dish may turn out too salty.
  • Oyster sauce. I like to use a natural oyster sauce with no MSG added. I'm typically able to find it at my regular grocery store.
  • Honey.
  • Rice vinegar.
  • Garlic powder.
  • Red pepper flakes.

A funny side note about this sauce is that I actually based it on a recipe I originally developed for my cookbook. That Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli I was attempting way back when tasted great, but I couldn't get the texture of the beef to my liking using the crock pot.

So I ended up scrapping the recipe. But -- hoarder that I am -- I fortunately still had the sauce ingredients and proportions hanging out in the deep, dark recesses of my computer files. 😉

Ingredient Substitutions

My family loves this ground beef recipe so much -- and I make it so often -- that I always keep the ingredients on hand.

However, if you want to make it and find that you're lacking an ingredient or two, you can find some information on making substitutions below, under the heading "Helpful Tips, Tricks, & Equipment" (just above the recipe card). All of your questions about substituting the oyster sauce are there! 😉

Close-up of a serving on a plate.

Variations

This dinner is also nicely balanced with protein and vegetables.

That being said, even though Ground Beef and Broccoli is usually made with, well, beef and broccoli, it would be easy to change up the veggies in this dish. A few yummy options:

  • Snow peas.
  • Carrots.
  • Baby corn.
  • Bell peppers.

Let your imagination run wild and free!

Or if you want even more veggies, you can always serve a simple green salad drizzled with flavor-packed Asian dressing on the side. 😉

Close-up of ingredients of this healthy ground beef recipe.

So are you a fellow beef and broccoli aficionado? Or a fan of healthy ground beef recipes?

A lover of speedy skillet suppers?

A hater of washing dishes?

All of the above?

If so, this Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe definitely deserves a spot on your must-make list.

After all, it relies on ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge/freezer/pantry, and it's a nice change of pace from spaghetti or meatloaf or Sloppy Joes when you've got ground beef to use up.

One family-pleasing dinner, coming right up! 😉

Aerial view of one of the best ground beef recipes, served over rice.

Helpful Tips, Tricks, & Equipment

  • You may use fresh broccoli instead of frozen. Or you may substitute other veggies for some/all of the broccoli. Snow peas, shredded or thinly-sliced carrots, baby corn, or bell peppers would all be delicious. Keep in mind that firmer veggies may require a few extra minutes of simmering to become tender. You can always add a little extra broth if too much sauce is evaporating due to additional cooking time.
  • If you don't have fresh ginger on hand, 1 teaspoon ground ginger may be substituted for the 1 tablespoon fresh. However, the ginger flavor in the final dish won't be as strong.
  • Many people ask if this recipe can be made without oyster sauce. The answer is yes, although the final dish may be missing some of its depth of flavor. Some commenters have said the recipe turns out fine leaving out the oyster sauce altogether. Otherwise, possible substitutes for the oyster sauce are as follows. You will want to taste and adjust these ingredients if something still seems to be missing.
    • Increase the total soy sauce in the recipe to 3 ½ tablespoons and increase the total honey to 1 ½ tablespoons. Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce, if you like.
    • Increase the total soy sauce in the recipe to 3 ½ tablespoons and add 1 ½ tablespoons hoisin sauce, if you have it.
  •  At 5 ½ quarts, the stainless steel saute pan pictured in this post is deep enough to cook the beef without splattering grease everywhere. It's also big enough to fit plenty of extra veggies, should you feel so inclined. 😉
Healthy Ground Beef and Broccoli in a skillet.

More One-Pan Ground Beef Recipes

Ground Beef and Broccoli on plate with rice.

Ground Beef and Broccoli

Ground Beef and Broccoli is one of the BEST ground beef recipes...a healthy, flavorful, quick, and easy skillet dinner that comes together in 15 minutes in just one pan!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Calories: 191kcal
Print Pin Rate

Video

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh minced/grated ginger, OR 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cool water
  • ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil, optional
  • Cooked rice or noodles, for serving

Instructions

  • Set a large skillet, saute pan, or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks.
  • While the beef is cooking, combine the beef broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in a bowl or large measuring cup; set aside.
  • After the beef is cooked, push it to the edges of the pan, add the garlic and ginger in the center, and stir for a minute or two until fragrant. Drain the grease from the pan. Add the sauce and the broccoli to the pan; stir to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook for several minutes (using the cooking time on the package of frozen broccoli as a guide) and stir occasionally until the broccoli is cooked to your desired tenderness.
  • In a small bowl, use a fork to whisk the cornstarch into the water until dissolved. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the pan while stirring the beef and broccoli. Bring to a boil and cook for a minute or two, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. Stir in the sesame oil, if using, and serve hot over rice or noodles.

Equipment Needed

Notes

  • You may use fresh broccoli instead of frozen, or you may substitute other veggies for some/all of the broccoli, such as snow peas, shredded or thinly-sliced carrots, baby corn, or bell peppers. Keep in mind that firmer veggies may require a few extra minutes of simmering to become tender. You can always add a little extra broth if too much sauce is evaporating due to additional cooking time.
  • If you don't have fresh ginger on hand, 1 teaspoon ground ginger may be substituted for the 1 tablespoon fresh, though the ginger flavor in the final dish won't be as strong.
  • If you don't use LOW-SODIUM beef broth and soy sauce, you dish may turn out too salty.
  • I like to use natural oyster sauce with no added MSG, which I can typically find it at my regular grocery store.
  • Many people ask if this recipe can be made without oyster sauce. The answer is yes, although the final dish may be missing some of its depth of flavor. Some commenters have said the recipe turns out fine leaving out the oyster sauce altogether. Otherwise, possible substitutes for the oyster sauce are as follows. You will want to taste and adjust these ingredients if something still seems to be missing.
    • Increase the total soy sauce in the recipe to 3 ½ tablespoons and increase the total honey to 1 ½ tablespoons. Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce, if you like.
    • Increase the total soy sauce in the recipe to 3 ½ tablespoons and add 1 ½ tablespoons hoisin sauce, if you have it.

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 605mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 378IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Made this recipe? I'd love to see on IG!Mention @FiveHeartHome or tag #FiveHeartHome!

Post originally published on October 12, 2017.

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4.89 from 148 votes (52 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




114 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Super quick easy and delicious recipe! I added about a tablespoon of toasted sesame oil and doubled the corn starch and water since it was still a bit runny. This will definitely go into the monthly rotation.

  2. 5 stars
    I have made so many different beef & broccoli recipes over the years, but this one is the best so far! I will definitely be making this again. I used tamari to make it gluten free and did a 1:1 swap with brown sugar for the honey since I didn’t have any honey. Turned out great!

    1. 5 stars
      I always keep a bag of frozen broccoli in the freezer for this recipe. We raise grass fed beef, and I always have good hamburger on hand. Love this recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    I just made this and it is soooo awesome! this is exactly what I've been looking for..a new, delicious way to cook ground beef. It was easy to make too. Thanks so much for this recipe!

  4. 5 stars
    Super tasty. my husband and I both loved it ! I used fish sauce instead of oyster sauce because I didn't have oyster sauce. I used arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch to be gluten-free! absolutely delicious

  5. 5 stars
    Great recipe! It was not too sweet as other recipes that use brown sugar. This will definitely be a keeper!

  6. 5 stars
    Love this recipe. I often add in mushrooms, red peppers and/or cherry tomatoes (whatever I have in the fridge) I also omit the oyster sauce bc it has gluten. I substitute with fish oil.

  7. 5 stars
    Great recipe! I used low sodium beef broth and regular soy sauce and it tastes great! It will be a family norm around our house ❤️❤️

    1. 5 stars
      Great recipe. I added more pepper flakes because we like hot, a cup and a half of fresh pineapple, and more sesame oil, but everything else was as written. Really yummy and easy to put together.

  8. 5 stars
    Love love this recipe! I make it all the time and add fresh spinach, apple cider vinegar, and parmesean cheese. Easy and quick for weekday. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!