Saucy Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry makes a fast and healthy weeknight dinner that's done in less than 30 minutes!
Ginger and garlic boost the sauce, which coats both the ground beef and broccoli for flavor in every bite.
Serve with rice or roasted sweet potatoes to make this a meal!
TLDR: Top Tips
BE PREPARED: The cook time here is FAST - less than 15 minutes! So be sure to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go, including whatever you plan to serve this Beef & Broccoli recipe with (rice, sweet potatoes, etc.).
LEAN GROUND BEEF: I recommend extra lean ground beef for this recipe - that way, the bowl isn't swimming in excess fat.
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Ingredients of Note
GROUND BEEF: Choose extra-lean ground beef for a higher-protein meal. That said, whatever ground beef you can get your hands on will work just fine here!
BAKING SODA: A little baking soda mixed with the ground beef tenderizes the meat by raising the pH level. You can skip this if you're in a rush, but the texture difference is noticeable!
BROCCOLI: Of course you need broccoli! Don't throw out the stems - chop them up along with florets and add to the skillet. The stems have just as much broccoli flavor! Waste not, want not.
BEEF BROTH: The better-quality broth you buy, the more beefy flavor it will have. I like Kettle & Fire Beef Broth for this recipe!
TAMARI/SOY SAUCE: Adds more umami flavor to the sauce. We use tamari mainly, and that's the gluten free option here. Alternatively, you can use coconut aminos, although that has a sweeter flavor.
GARLIC & GINGER: Loads of fresh garlic and ginger make this ground beef and broccoli recipe super flavorful! For this recipe, I prefer grated fresh ginger over minced ginger. If you are a big ginger fan, feel free to increase the amount.
Instructions
This recipe comes together very quickly, so be sure you have all your ingredients ready to go before you begin!
- Combine meat & baking soda - Mix the ground beef, baking soda, salt, and a little oil in a bowl until the meat starts sticking to the sides of the bowl.
- Mix sauce - Combine the broth, tamari/soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, vinegar, arrowroot powder, garlic, and ginger together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Partially cook broccoli - Heat half of the oil in a large skillet. Add the broccoli and cook for about 5 minutes, until crisp-tender. Transfer to a bowl.
- Brown ground beef - Heat the remaining oil and add the beef, breaking it up with a spatula as it browns.
- Add broccoli and sauce - Once meat is browned, add the broccoli back to the skillet along with the sauce. Stir to coat everything and cook until the sauce has reduced and thickened somewhat.
- Serve and eat! - Serve over rice or sweet potatoes and garnish with sesame seeds and/or scallions.
Why add baking soda to meat
Why add baking soda to the ground beef? As mentioned above, the baking soda slightly raises the pH level of the meat, making the meat more tender - especially useful for extra lean ground beef!
It's a natural chemical reaction, using science to make cooking better! That said, I'm not a scientific cook, so for a more thorough explanation, check out The Kitchn's article.
Variations and Substitutions
Looking to switch things up? Here are a few common substitutions to make!
Swap for a leaner meat - If you'd prefer to use ground chicken or turkey here, have at it!
Use a different veggie - If you don't have enough broccoli or want to swap it out entirely, a couple great substitutions include bok choy or snap peas.
Sugar alternatives - Brown sugar not your thing? Swap it out for equal amounts coconut sugar for a paleo version.
Otherwise, if you like molasses, try 1 tablespoon molasses. You'll definitely taste the difference, but if you like molasses it's quite tasty!
FAQs
Either stir in another teaspoon of brown sugar OR add up to a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to help cut the saltiness!
Yes! You'll have to cook the broccoli a little longer when adding to the skillet, and it may take a little longer for the sauce to reduce because of the extra liquid, but frozen broccoli works great in a pinch.
While broccoli is the traditional vegetable to use, feel free to switch it up by using cabbage, snap peas, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, bok choy, or any combination of those!
Serving suggestions
Typically, you'd serve ground beef and broccoli with rice - certainly a great choice, and how I served it for some of the photos!
However, if you'd prefer your beef and broccoli with no rice, a couple options include:
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Cauliflower rice
Or, of course, you can enjoy this straight out of the skillet!
More easy weeknight recipes
We're big fans weeknight dinner bowls! A few more bowl-style meals we love:
- Ground Beef Teriyaki Bowls with Bok Choy
- Ancho Skirt Steak Bowls with Poblano Corn Salsa
- Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe
- Plantain & Olive Beef Bowls
Did you try this recipe? I'd love to hear what you think! Comment below or tag me on Instagram.
Print📖 Recipe
Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Saucy Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry makes a fast and healthy weeknight dinner that's done in less than 30 minutes!
For the best results, mix baking soda into the meat as described in the first step. If you're in a rush, you can skip that step and season the ground beef with salt while you cook it.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (optional, see Notes)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ⅓ cup beef broth
- 6 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 ½ tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (2 teaspoons)
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh grated ginger
- 6 cups small fresh broccoli florets
- 2 cups hot cooked white rice OR roasted cubed sweet potatoes
- Sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, or sliced scallions for serving
Instructions
- [Optional] Add the ground beef, baking soda, salt, and ½ tablespoon olive oil in a medium bowl. Stir with a fork until combined and the meat starts to stick to the sides of the bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar, arrowroot powder, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add broccoli florets. Partially cover the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is tender-crisp and vibrant in color. Scoop the broccoli into a bowl and set aside.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking large chunks up with a wooden spoon as you go, for about 3 minutes until mostly browned. Stir in broth mixture and cook for about 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, until the sauce starts to thicken. Turn off the heat and add the broccoli back to the skillet, stirring to coat the broccoli in the sauce.
- Serve the beef and broccoli over rice or sweet potatoes. Garnish with sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, and/or scallions, to taste.
Notes
Adding a little baking soda tenderizes the ground beef by raising the pH level slightly. It makes a big texture difference, and you'll never taste the baking soda!
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