Ground Beef and Broccoli

Ground Beef and Broccoli - 1 Ground Beef and Broccoli - 2

By Lee Funke

1/5/2026

Beef and broccoli is my go-to takeout order and has been since I was a kid, so I’m always looking for new ways to make a better-than-takeout version in my own kitchen. Let me be the first to introduce you to this ground beef and broccoli recipe — it’s simple, flavorful and ready to serve in 30 minutes flat. I can’t wait for you to try it ❤️.

A bowl of white rice topped with ground beef, sliced carrots, broccoli, chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of sauce. Spoons and small bowls of green onions and sesame seeds nearby. - 3 Loading - 4 Loading - 5

what makes this recipe great ⤵️

  • Better than takeout: I’m serious! When you’re craving takeout, this is such a great alternative.
  • High protein: I’m talkin’ 35g of protein per serving.
  • Easy to make: This recipe comes together in 30 minutes (aka a perfect easy weeknight meal).

Ingredients You Need

  • For the beef: You’ll need ground beef, Japanese BBQ sauce, and a pinch of salt.
  • For the vegetables: Broccoli, obviously! You’ll also need yellow onion, carrots, garlic, ginger, beef broth, and soy sauce.
  • Rice: I’m a rice girlie, and love serving my ground beef and broccoli with classic white rice. Make Instant Pot rice while you cook the rest of this dish (you’ll thank me later!).
  • For garnish: I love topping this ground beef and broccoli with green onion and sesame seeds.
A hand pours sauce from a measuring cup into a cast iron skillet with broccoli and sliced carrots being stirred with a wooden spoon. - 6

How to Make Ground Beef and Broccoli

  1. Cook the beef: Break the meat up into small pieces and cook until almost browned in a large skillet. Add the sauce to the beef, toss, and cook until the beef is fully cooked. Transfer the cooked beef to a bowl and set aside.
  2. Sauté the veggies: In the same skillet, sauté the onion, broccoli, and carrots until the onions are translucent. Then, add the garlic and ginger paste and cook until fragrant. Finally, add the beef broth and soy sauce. Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Then, turn the heat to low and let it simmer until the sauce thickens and becomes flavorful.
  3. Heat the beef: Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet and add the beef back to the skillet to warm it back up.
  4. Serve and enjoy! Serve this amazing ground beef and broccoli on its own or over white rice . Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and top with sriracha if you like this a little spicy.

Storage

Store any leftover ground beef and broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

A bowl of white rice topped with ground beef, sliced carrots, broccoli, green onions, and sesame seeds, with chopsticks resting on the edge. - 7

More Beef and Broccoli Recipes

  • Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
  • Beef and Broccoli Casserole
  • Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

More Stir Fry Recipes

  • Chicken Stir Fry
  • Kung Pao Chicken
  • Pad Krapow
  • Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
  • Shrimp Stir Fry

Ingredients1x2x3x

Beef

  • ▢ 1.5 lb. ground beef
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ▢ ⅓ cup Japanese BBQ sauce , stir fry sauce, etc. (or more for extra saucy meat)

Vegetables

  • ▢ 1 tablespoon sesame oil*
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ▢ ½ large yellow onion , diced
  • ▢ 4 cups chopped fresh broccoli , cut into pieces
  • ▢ 2 large carrots , sliced into coins
  • ▢ 3 cloves garlic , thinly sliced or minced
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon ginger paste or 2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
  • ▢ ½ cup beef broth
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Other Ingredients

  • ▢ 4 green onions , diced
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet and season with salt. Break the meat up into small pieces and cook until almost browned. Add the sauce to the beef, toss, and cook until the beef is fully cooked. Transfer the cooked beef to a bowl and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the onion, broccoli, and carrots to the skillet and season with salt. Sauté for 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger paste and cook until fragrant. Finally, add the beef broth and soy sauce. Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens and becomes flavorful.
  • Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet and add the beef back to the skillet to warm.
  • Serve the beef and veggies on their own or over white rice. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and optional sriracha and kewpie.

Tips & Notes

  • Option to use avocado oil instead of sesame oil.
  • Feel free to use whatever type of vegetables you’d like.
  • If you would like this beef and broccoli dish to be spicy, add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha to the sauce in step 2 along with the beef broth and soy sauce.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Photography by: The Wooden Skillet

A bowl of white rice topped with ground beef, carrots, broccoli, sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of sauce. A spoon is placed in the bowl. - 8

Ground Beef and Broccoli Recipe

Ingredients

Beef

  • 1.5 lb. ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ⅓ cup Japanese BBQ sauce stir fry sauce, etc. (or more for extra saucy meat)

Vegetables

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil*
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ large yellow onion diced
  • 4 cups chopped fresh broccoli cut into pieces
  • 2 large carrots sliced into coins
  • 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced or minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste or 2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Other Ingredients

  • 4 green onions diced
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet and season with salt. Break the meat up into small pieces and cook until almost browned. Add the sauce to the beef, toss, and cook until the beef is fully cooked. Transfer the cooked beef to a bowl and set aside.
  • In the same skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the onion, broccoli, and carrots to the skillet and season with salt. Sauté for 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger paste and cook until fragrant. Finally, add the beef broth and soy sauce. Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens and becomes flavorful.
  • Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet and add the beef back to the skillet to warm.
  • Serve the beef and veggies on their own or over white rice. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and optional sriracha and kewpie.

Notes

  • Option to use avocado oil instead of sesame oil.
  • Feel free to use whatever type of vegetables you’d like.
  • If you would like this beef and broccoli dish to be spicy, add 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha to the sauce in step 2 along with the beef broth and soy sauce.

Nutrition