This Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry is a quick and delicious one-pan meal made with lean ground beef, crisp-tender broccoli florets, and sautéed onions and garlic. Then I toss everything in a mouthwatering homemade honey garlic sauce. This is a perfect balance of savory and sweet with a touch of heat and served over rice or noodles for a satisfying and wholesome dish.
What make this Ground Beef Broccoli Stir-Fry better than Chinese Take-Out?
This Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry is a fast, flavorful, and satisfying dish that brings the bold, savory-sweet flavors of Asian takeout right to your kitchen. I made this with lean ground beef and fresh broccoli florets, then I simmer the stir-fry in a rich honey garlic sauce that’s perfectly balanced with salty, sweet, and tangy.
You want to start the dish by browning lean ground beef in olive oil until it’s nicely caramelized, then add in your diced onions for depth and fresh garlic for a bold aromatic base. Next, the crisp broccoli florets are then added for texture and nutrition, keeping them slightly crunchy to contrast with the tender beef.
The star of the dish is the homemade sauce, a blend of soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and freshly grated ginger. This sticky, flavorful glaze coats every bite, enhancing the natural sweetness of the broccoli and the savory richness of the beef.
Ground Beef Broccoli Stir-Fry
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch+ 2 tablespoons Water
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Follow these steps to create a delicious honey garlic beef and broccoli dish.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes (if you're using them).
- In a separate small cup, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Set both the sauce and the slurry aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until it softens.
- Next, add the ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spatula until it's browned and fully cooked. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until it's fragrant.
- Add the broccoli florets to the skillet with the beef. Stir everything well to combine.
- Pour ¼ cup of water into the pan, cover it with a lid, and let the broccoli steam for 3-4 minutes until it's tender but still crisp.
- Give the prepared honey garlic sauce a quick stir, then pour it over the beef and broccoli. Stir everything together and let it simmer for 2 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Add the cornstarch slurry, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let it sit for a minute to allow the sauce to settle. Serve your honey garlic beef and broccoli over steamed rice, quinoa, or noodles.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for extra flavor.
Marcia Kimmel says
Thanks so much for your recipe. We made it for dinner, invited my son and daughter-in-law who loved it and the fact that it's a quick meal that they will now add to their rotation.
Jay (Spinelli) says
Awesome. Sounds like it was a hit!