I made a honey garlic ground beef and broccoli stir-fry in just 25 minutes with a surprising sweet-savory glaze that gives ground beef recipes with broccoli a fresh one-pan twist.

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I started making this ground beef and broccoli stir because weeknights are chaos. It’s a quick, healthy and surprisingly bold one pan meal that comes together in about 25 minutes.

I love how the ground beef and broccoli keep it simple yet satisfying, and every bite has that sweet salty pop that makes you wanna go back for more. If you look for Ground Beef Recipes With Broccoli this one always stands out, and it’s one of those Easy Healthy Beef Dinner Recipes that still feels a bit special.

Give it a try when you need something fast and real.

Ingredients

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Ground beef: Main protein, adds richness, iron and B vitamins, but higher in saturated fat.
Broccoli: Fiber rich, vitamin C and K, its crunchy freshness and bright green color.
Garlic: Strong flavor, contains antioxidants, boosts savory umami, very low calories.
Honey: Natural sweetener, adds sticky glaze and depth, mostly simple sugars.
Soy sauce: Salty, gives umami, adds brown color, contains sodium so use sparingly.
Sesame oil: Toasted aroma, adds nutty flavor, used sparingly for fragrance and depth.
Cornstarch: Thickens sauce quickly, makes glossy coating, adds few calories.
Rice vinegar: Light acidity brightens flavors, balances honey sweet and soy salt.

Ingredient Quantities

1 lb (450 g) ground beef

4 cups broccoli florets (about 12 oz / 340 g)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (optional)

2 tablespoons honey

1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon vegetable or neutral oil

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/3 cup (80 ml) water or low sodium beef broth

2 green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or black pepper, to taste

Salt, to taste

1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

How to Make this

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1. Prep everything first: mince the garlic, grate the ginger, slice the green onions, measure out the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, cornstarch and 1/3 cup water or broth so you dont have to run around later.

2. Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger and red pepper flakes in a small bowl, set aside.

3. In a separate small cup mix the cornstarch with the 1/3 cup water or beef broth until totally smooth, set that slurry aside.

4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add the ground beef, season with a little salt and pepper, break it up and cook until mostly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Add the minced garlic to the beef in the last minute of cooking and stir it in, then if theres a ton of fat drain most of it but leave a bit for flavor.

6. Push the beef to one side of the pan, add the broccoli florets (you can add a splash of water), cover or stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender.

7. Pour the honey-soy sauce mixture over the beef and broccoli, stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.

8. Give the cornstarch slurry another quick stir and pour it into the pan, stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.

9. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed, then remove from heat and stir in the sliced green onions and the 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.

10. Serve right away over rice or noodles, and if you want add a little extra sesame oil on top for more flavor.

Equipment Needed

1. Large skillet (12 in or similar) — for browning beef and stir frying broccoli
2. Chef’s knife and cutting board — mince garlic, slice green onions, trim broccoli
3. Microplane or fine grater — for that fresh grated ginger
4. 2 small bowls or ramekins — one for the honey-soy sauce, one for the cornstarch slurry
5. Measuring cups and spoons — measure honey, soy, rice vinegar, cornstarch and 1/3 cup liquid
6. Small whisk or fork — to whisk the sauce and to smooth out the slurry
7. Spatula or wooden spoon — to break up the beef and stir everything together
8. Tongs or slotted spoon and a paper towel or small strainer — to handle the broccoli and drain excess fat if needed

FAQ

Q: Can I swap the ground beef for something else? A: Yes, you can use ground turkey or chicken but theyre leaner so add a little oil or a splash of beef broth for more flavor. For a vegetarian version try crumbled firm tofu or chopped mushrooms, cook till browned so they soak up the sauce.

Q: My broccoli gets soggy, how do I keep it crisp? A: Cook broccoli on high heat and dont overcrowd the pan, stir fry quickly 3 to 5 minutes so it stays bright and crisp. You can blanch it for 1 minute in boiling water then shock in ice water before stir frying to save time.

Q: The sauce wont thicken, what am I doing wrong? A: Make a cornstarch slurry first by mixing the cornstarch with the water or broth until smooth, then pour it into the hot pan and simmer a minute or two till it thickens. If you add cornstarch straight to the pan youll get lumps.

Q: Its too salty or too sweet, how do I fix the flavor? A: If too salty add a splash more rice vinegar or a little water/broth to dilute, or toss in extra veggies. If too sweet add more soy sauce or a squeeze of lemon or lime. Use low sodium soy to avoid salt issues from the start.

Q: Can I make this ahead or freeze it? A: You can make it ahead and store in the fridge 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of water so it doesnt dry out. Freezing is ok but broccoli gets mushy, so if you plan to freeze, store the cooked beef and sauce separate from fresh or blanched broccoli.

Q: How do I get that browned, savory flavor in the beef? A: Dont crowd the pan and use medium high heat, let the beef sit a bit before stirring so it can brown. Scrape up the browned bits with your spoon, they add big flavor to the sauce.

Quick & Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef And Broccoli Stir Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Ground beef: Ground turkey (leaner, cooks quicker so add 1 tsp oil), ground pork (richer flavor), ground chicken (mild), firm tofu or crumbled tempeh (vegetarian swap, press tofu first)
Soy sauce: Tamari (gluten free), coconut aminos (lower sodium and a bit sweeter), Bragg liquid aminos, reduced-sodium soy sauce (swap 1:1)
Honey: Maple syrup (similar sweetness, a bit thinner), agave nectar (milder), brown sugar dissolved in 1 tbsp hot water (caramel notes), date syrup (deeper flavor)
Cornstarch: Arrowroot powder (1:1, makes a clear glossy sauce), tapioca starch (1:1, good for freezing), all-purpose flour (use about 2x the cornstarch amount and cook a little longer), potato starch (use slightly less than 1:1)

Pro Tips

– Do all your chopping and whisk the sauce and the cornstarch slurry before you turn on the heat so you dont have to run around while things are cooking, otherwise stuff burns or gets mushy. Also taste the sauce first, soy sauce varies a lot so you might want less salt or more honey.

– Get the beef really browned on high heat for flavor, dont steam it. Break it up small, drain most of the fat but leave a little for flavor, and only add the garlic at the last minute so it doesnt go bitter.

– For bright, crisp-tender broccoli cut the florets to about the same size. If you want extra vivid green, blanch for a minute and shock in ice water, or if you skip that, add a splash of water and cover the pan so it steams quickly, but dont overcook.

– Make the cornstarch slurry with cold liquid and stir it right before pouring it in, then keep the pan simmering and stir constantly till glossy. If the sauce gets too thick, thin it with a tablespoon or two of hot broth or water, and add sesame oil only at the end for the best aroma.

Quick & Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef And Broccoli Stir Recipe

Recipe by James Level

0.0 from 0 votes

I made a honey garlic ground beef and broccoli stir-fry in just 25 minutes with a surprising sweet-savory glaze that gives ground beef recipes with broccoli a fresh one-pan twist.

Servings

servings

Calories

433

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large skillet (12 in or similar) — for browning beef and stir frying broccoli
2. Chef’s knife and cutting board — mince garlic, slice green onions, trim broccoli
3. Microplane or fine grater — for that fresh grated ginger
4. 2 small bowls or ramekins — one for the honey-soy sauce, one for the cornstarch slurry
5. Measuring cups and spoons — measure honey, soy, rice vinegar, cornstarch and 1/3 cup liquid
6. Small whisk or fork — to whisk the sauce and to smooth out the slurry
7. Spatula or wooden spoon — to break up the beef and stir everything together
8. Tongs or slotted spoon and a paper towel or small strainer — to handle the broccoli and drain excess fat if needed

Ingredients

1 lb (450 g) ground beef
4 cups broccoli florets (about 12 oz / 340 g)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (optional)
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon vegetable or neutral oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup (80 ml) water or low sodium beef broth
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Directions

Prep everything first: mince the garlic, grate the ginger, slice the green onions, measure out the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, cornstarch and 1/3 cup water or broth so you dont have to run around later.
Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger and red pepper flakes in a small bowl, set aside.
In a separate small cup mix the cornstarch with the 1/3 cup water or beef broth until totally smooth, set that slurry aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add the 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add the ground beef, season with a little salt and pepper, break it up and cook until mostly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Add the minced garlic to the beef in the last minute of cooking and stir it in, then if theres a ton of fat drain most of it but leave a bit for flavor.
Push the beef to one side of the pan, add the broccoli florets (you can add a splash of water), cover or stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender.
Pour the honey-soy sauce mixture over the beef and broccoli, stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
Give the cornstarch slurry another quick stir and pour it into the pan, stir constantly for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed, then remove from heat and stir in the sliced green onions and the 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds.
Serve right away over rice or noodles, and if you want add a little extra sesame oil on top for more flavor.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 267g
Total number of serves: 4
Calories: 433kcal
Fat: 30g
Saturated Fat: 9.5g
Trans Fat: 0.4g
Polyunsaturated: 1.5g
Monounsaturated: 11.3g
Cholesterol: 75mg
Sodium: 937mg
Potassium: 640mg
Carbohydrates: 19.5g
Fiber: 2.2g
Sugar: 11.3g
Protein: 22g
Vitamin A: 530IU
Vitamin C: 75.6mg
Calcium: 43.8mg
Iron: 3.5mg

Quick & Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef And Broccoli Stir Recipe

Ingredients

Ingredient Quantities

How to Make this

Equipment Needed

FAQ

Quick & Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef And Broccoli Stir Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Pro Tips