20 minute Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Got 20 minutes, a pound of ground beef, and some broccoli on hand? You are so lucky: You have the core of this easy Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry recipe all ready to go, the next time you need a quick weeknight dinner idea.

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So, what do you do if you are craving stir fry for lunch — but, the only meat you have thawed in the fridge is a pound of ground beef? How about… 20 minute Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry.

Why yes, beef & broccoli is more commonly made with steak. But, look how lovely it turned out with ground beef (and how much more affordable!). Don’t be afraid to experiment and mix things up a little.

Using ground beef also helps keep the meat juicier; you have to be really careful not to overcook thinner strips of beef in a stir fry. Then, just a touch of cornstarch helps the garlicky sauce coat the tender beef and crisp-tender broccoli to perfection.

I kept things simple here with just the beef, broccoli, and sauce, but you could of course add in other veggies if desired. If you’re incorporating any veggies that take longer to cook through, though, you might want to stir fry those up in a separate pan before combining with the beef.

20 minute Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Ingredients

For the beef & veggies

1 lb ground beef
12 oz broccoli crowns, chopped into small pieces

For the sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
2 tsp corn starch
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, depending on taste

For serving

Cooked rice
2 green onions, chopped (optional)
Sesame seeds (optional)

Directions

Start the rice cooking so that it’s ready for serving, if you don’t have pre-cooked rice handy. (Cooking rice will add a few minutes to the meal; the beef and broccoli part itself, however, takes just 20 minutes.)

Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just cooked through, breaking it into bite-sized pieces as you go, but not crumbling. Drain the fat and return the beef to the pan.

While the beef is cooking, combine the sauce ingredients and chop your broccoli. Stir the broccoli and sauce into the skillet with the browned ground beef.

Continue to stir fry the beef and veggies over medium-high heat for about five minutes until broccoli is crisp-tender and sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally.

Serve your beef & broccoli stir fry over cooked rice, topped with optional chopped green onion and/or sesame seeds.

Note: I used 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper in the sauce and didn’t find it particularly spicy, but reduce if you are sensitive to heat.

Such an easy way to do broccoli & beef

20 minutes is all you need to get this easy ground beef & broccoli stir fry on the table — and, using ground beef helps keep the dish affordable.

This one was a definite hit with Middle School Guy, who enjoyed broccoli & beef for both lunch and dinner today. Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life… Or, at least, the simple recipes. I hope that you enjoy this savory stir fry (with just a touch of sweetness) as much as he does.

20 minute Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry, printable recipe

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20 minute Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Got 20 minutes, a pound of ground beef, and some broccoli on hand? You are so lucky: You have the core of this easy Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry recipe all ready to go, the next time you need a quick weeknight dinner idea.

Course dinner

Cuisine Stir Fry

Keyword 20 minute meals, broccoli, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef, stir fry

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Rachel Singer

Ingredients

For the beef & veggies

• 1 lb ground beef
• 12 oz broccoli crowns chopped into small pieces

For the sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp minced garlic about 4 cloves
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper depending on taste

For serving

• Cooked rice
• 2 green onions chopped (optional)
• Sesame seeds optional

Instructions

• Start the rice cooking so that it’s ready for serving, if you don’t have pre-cooked rice handy. (Cooking rice will add a few minutes to the meal; the beef and broccoli part itself, however, takes just 20 minutes.)
• Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just cooked through, breaking it into bite-sized pieces as you go, but not crumbling. Drain the fat and return the beef to the pan.
• While the beef is cooking, combine the sauce ingredients and chop your broccoli. Stir the broccoli and sauce into the skillet with the browned ground beef.
• Continue to stir fry the beef and veggies over medium-high heat for about five minutes until broccoli is crisp-tender and sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Serve your beef & broccoli stir fry over cooked rice, topped with optional chopped green onion and/or sesame seeds.

Notes

I used 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper in the sauce and didn’t find it particularly spicy, but reduce if you are sensitive to heat.

Recipes in the real world

Be sure not to miss the free weekly ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!

Be sure not to miss the free weekly ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!