Description
This quick and flavorful 15-Minute Ground Beef & Broccoli recipe combines lean ground beef with tender broccoli florets in a savory sauce made from beef broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, and spices. Perfect for a busy weeknight, it’s easy to make and serves well over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 12 ounces broccoli florets frozen
- Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Aromatics
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced or grated ginger OR 1 teaspoon ground ginger
Thickener & Finishing
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cool water
- 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the beef: Set a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart and stirring as it cooks until no longer pink.
- Prepare the sauce: While the beef cooks, in a bowl or large measuring cup, combine beef broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- Cook aromatics: Push cooked beef to the edges of the pan. Add minced garlic and ginger to the center and stir for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Drain excess grease from the pan.
- Add sauce and broccoli: Pour the prepared sauce and broccoli florets into the pan. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until broccoli reaches desired tenderness based on the package instructions.
- Thicken sauce: In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch into cool water until dissolved. Slowly pour this slurry into the pan while stirring the beef and broccoli. Bring to a boil and cook 1-2 minutes more, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
- Finish and serve: Stir in toasted sesame oil if using. Serve hot over cooked rice or noodles.
Notes
- Fresh broccoli can replace frozen; cut florets into bite-sized pieces.
- Other vegetables like snow peas, shredded carrots, baby corn, or bell peppers may be used; adjust cooking time as needed and add extra broth if sauce reduces too much.
- Jarred or frozen minced ginger can substitute fresh ginger; ground ginger is less flavorful but acceptable.
- Using low-sodium beef broth and soy sauce prevents the dish from becoming too salty.
- Natural oyster sauce without added MSG is preferred and found easily in regular grocery stores.
- The recipe can be made without oyster sauce, though flavor depth may reduce. Substitute options include increasing soy sauce to 3 ½ tablespoons with 1 ½ tablespoons honey and optionally Worcestershire sauce, or 3 ½ tablespoons soy sauce with 1 ½ tablespoons hoisin sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
