This is a simple, familiar dinner that comes together quickly and doesn’t ask much of you. It’s warm, filling, and works well for busy nights when you want real food on the table without a lot of steps.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I make this when I want something everyone recognizes and eats without complaint. Using ground beef keeps it affordable and quick, and the sauce is easy to mix with ingredients I usually have on hand. It’s the kind of dinner that comes together quickly and makes skipping takeout an easy choice.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Broccoli
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar or honey
- Cornstarch
- Sesame oil
- White pepper
- Rice
- Sesame seeds
Equipment Needed
- Large skillet
- Small bowl for sauce
- Spoon or spatula
- Knife and cutting board
Instructions
Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, drain excess grease if needed and set aside. ( I like to keep a Tbsp or 2 of grease for flavor)
In another pan steam the broccoli with 1/4 cup of water, cover for about 6 minutes or until tender.
In a small bowl, whisk together the ginger, garlic, hot water, soy sauce, brown sugar (or honey), cornstarch, sesame oil, and white pepper until smooth.
Add the steamed broccoli to the beef and onion. Pour the sauce over everything and stir to combine.
Cook over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly.
Serve warm over rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
Tips & Tricks
Ground beef keeps this quick and affordable, but sliced beef works too if you have it.
Add extra broccoli or another vegetable to stretch the meal further.
Adjust sweetness or saltiness by tweaking the sugar or soy sauce slightly.
Leftover rice makes this an even faster dinner.
Storage & Leftovers
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Can be frozen, though the broccoli will soften.
Reheating: Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
This is the kind of meal that makes skipping takeout easy. It comes together quickly, uses familiar ingredients, and does what a weeknight dinner needs to do.
Watch me make this recipe here:
Quick Beef and Broccoli Skillet
A simple beef and broccoli skillet made with ground beef, a savory ginger-garlic sauce, and steamed broccoli. Easy to make, budget-friendly, and well-suited to weeknight cooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: about 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
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1-1 1/2 pounds ground beef, browned
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1/2 onion, diced and sautéed
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1 pound broccoli, steamed
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For the sauce:
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1 teaspoon ground ginger
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2 garlic cloves, minced
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1/3 cup hot water
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1/3 cup soy sauce
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3 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
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1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
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1-2 tablespoons sesame oil
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Sprinkle of white pepper
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For serving:
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Cooked rice
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Sesame seeds, optional
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Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Once cooked, drain excess grease if needed and set aside. ( I like to keep a Tbsp or 2 of grease for flavor)
- In another pan steam the broccoli with 1/4 cup of water, cover for about 6 minutes or until tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ginger, garlic, hot water, soy sauce, brown sugar (or honey), cornstarch, sesame oil, and white pepper until smooth.
- Add the steamed broccoli to the beef and onion. Pour the sauce over everything and stir to combine.
- Cook over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly.
- Serve warm over rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
