Ground Beef and Broccoli
A cold cornstarch slurry turns this ground beef glossy in minutes. Nothing needs slicing against the grain, so the whole dinner stays in one pan.
cold cornstarch slurry
13 Beef and Broccoli Recipes, from Noodles to Fried Rice
Curated by Sophie ChenUpdated November 9, 2026
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Busy weeknights call for a dinner that comes together before the rice is done. This collection of 13 beef and broccoli recipes covers that need, along with a few slower versions for weekends. Ground beef and broccoli bowls, beef broccoli noodle recipes and teriyaki beef broccoli sit side by side here.
The dish itself is simpler than it looks. Broccoli has to stay green and snap, and the beef needs a hot pan with room to brown. Get those two right and the glossy sauce does most of the work.
Most of these finish in under 45 minutes. The exception is the slow-cooked teriyaki, which takes most of an afternoon but needs little attention.
What Is Beef and Broccoli?
Beef and broccoli is a Chinese-American stir-fry: thin strips of beef, bright florets and a soy sauce thickened with cornstarch. The sauce is what makes it work.
In a hot pan it turns glossy within a minute, and every piece of beef picks it up.
Most versions follow the same order: sear the meat fast, cook the broccoli until it's green with a bite, then combine. This collection swaps the carrier around that core, from ground beef and noodles to rice, ramen and teriyaki.
How to Choose a Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Start with the protein. Sliced sirloin gives the classic chew and sear, which suits lo mein and stir-fries. Ground beef browns fast and grabs sauce in every crumb, so it's the quickest route on a weeknight.
For time, look at the 25- to 30-minute recipes first. The slow cooker version needs about six hours, so save it for a day when you're home anyway.
If you need gluten-free, check the soy sauce label before you start.
Ground Beef and Broccoli Recipes for Fast Dinners
Ground beef browns fast and has more surface than sliced steak, so the glaze reaches more of the meat. Both recipes here finish in 25 minutes, which makes them the fastest route in the collection. One stays with a classic cornstarch glaze, and the other leans teriyaki.
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Teriyaki Beef Broccoli with Ground Beef
Ground beef browns faster than sliced steak, so this teriyaki version skips long marinades and goes straight to the pan.
ground beef teriyaki bowl
Beef Broccoli Noodle Recipes for Busy Nights
Noodles take sauce differently from rice, so the glaze has to cling to each strand rather than pool at the bottom. These three use lo mein, ramen and sticky-noodle styles. The lo mein version leans on sirloin for a firmer bite, while the ramen version starts from its own noodle base.
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Sticky Beef Broccoli Noodles
Sticky, glossy sauce is the point of these noodles, and sliced beef with broccoli keeps the plate balanced. Built for a busy weeknight dinner.
sticky noodle glaze -
Beef and Broccoli Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles bring their own chew to this bowl, so the sauce sits on a different base than the lo mein or stir-fry noodles.
ramen noodle base -
Beef Broccoli Lo Mein with Sirloin Steak
Sirloin and a cornstarch coat keep the beef tender in this lo mein, which uses a firmer noodle than the ramen version for a sirloin-led dinner.
sirloin lo mein
Beef and Broccoli Rice Bowls and Fried Rice
Rice soaks up glaze as it cooks, so a plain rice bowl tastes most like the classic sauce. The fried rice version folds the beef and broccoli through the grains for a more combined plate. Choose the bowl when you want the components kept separate on the plate.
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Healthy Beef Broccoli and Rice Bowl
Rice takes the place of noodles, so the glaze has to season every grain. A good pick when you want a bowl built around plain steamed rice.
rice bowl format -
Healthy Broccoli Beef Fried Rice with Sirloin
Slicing sirloin against the grain keeps the beef tender here, and the fried-rice format puts the vegetables and meat in one wok-style dish.
fried rice with broccoli
Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Recipes
Teriyaki sauce carries more sugar than a plain soy glaze, so it darkens fast in a hot pan. The skillet version needs steady heat and a watch on the sauce. The slow-cooked version uses beef chuck, which turns tender over about six hours instead of minutes.
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Beef Broccoli Teriyaki
Teriyaki glaze caramelizes quickly, so this skillet version needs steady heat and an eye on the pan. Expect a sweeter, darker coating than the classic soy-based beef and broccoli.
teriyaki glaze -
Teriyaki Beef Broccoli: Slow Cooker Method
Beef chuck breaks down over about six hours in the slow cooker, so the teriyaki glaze reduces around very tender meat.
slow cooker teriyaki
Spicy and Korean-Style Beef and Broccoli
Gochujang adds heat and a deep red color that plain soy sauce can't produce. Both recipes are built for a bold dinner, so they suit people who like spice on the plate. Ground meat in the Korean-style version gives the sauce more surface to grab, while the spicy version keeps the steak in larger pieces.
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Korean Beef Broccoli with Ground Beef
Ground meat gives the Korean-style sauce more surface to cling to, so each crumb gets coated. This is the version to batch-cook when you're prepping lunches.
Korean-style ground beef -
Gochujang Spicy Beef and Broccoli
Gochujang brings heat and a deeper red glaze than plain soy sauce would. Cornstarch on the steak keeps it juicy as the sauce heats up.
gochujang heat
Gluten-Free and Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli
These two sit furthest from the classic skillet. The gluten-free version is for anyone avoiding wheat, and it's worth checking every sauce ingredient for a gluten-free label first. The sheet-pan version roasts at high heat, so the beef and broccoli take on char instead of the usual steamed texture.
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Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Written for gluten-free cooking, this stir-fry is the pick for anyone avoiding wheat. Check that every sauce ingredient carries a gluten-free label before you start.
gluten-free stir-fry -
Sheet Pan Spicy Ginger Sesame Beef and Broccoli
Roasting at high heat puts char on the beef and broccoli, a different result from the usual steamed-meat skillet. Sesame and ginger carry the flavor.
sheet pan sesame ginger
Storage and Food Safety Tips for Beef and Broccoli
Ground beef should reach 160°F (71°C), a figure the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service gives for ground meat. Steak and other whole cuts reach a safe 145°F (63°C), as FoodSafety.gov lists.
Refrigerate leftovers and eat them within 3 to 4 days, reheating until they hit 165°F (74°C). Cooked food left out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C), is generally best discarded. Read more in USDA leftover safety guidance.
Quick Comparison
| # | Recipes | Best For | Time | Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground Beef and Broccoli | one-pan dinner with no slicing | 25 min | fast dinner |
| 2 | Teriyaki Beef Broccoli with Ground Beef | ground beef teriyaki bowls with no marinating | 25 min | fast dinner |
| 3 | Sticky Beef Broccoli Noodles | sticky noodles on a busy weeknight | 30 min | weeknight |
| 4 | Beef and Broccoli Ramen Noodles | ramen fans who want a beef bowl | 30 min | busy weeknight |
| 5 | Beef Broccoli Lo Mein with Sirloin Steak | sirloin lo mein for a dinner on the table | 38 min | dinner |
| 6 | Healthy Beef Broccoli and Rice Bowl | rice bowls with plain steamed rice | 30 min | fast dinner |
| 7 | Healthy Broccoli Beef Fried Rice with Sirloin | fried rice night with beef and broccoli | 43 min | weeknight |
| 8 | Beef Broccoli Teriyaki | teriyaki fans who want a skillet dinner | 25 min | busy weeknight |
| 9 | Teriyaki Beef Broccoli: Slow Cooker Method | hands-off slow cooker dinners | 6 hr 13 min | slow cooker |
| 10 | Korean Beef Broccoli with Ground Beef | meal prep bowls for the week | 25 min | meal prep |
| 11 | Gochujang Spicy Beef and Broccoli | heat lovers who want gochujang flavor | 35 min | bold dinner |
| 12 | Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry | households avoiding wheat | 35 min | gluten-free |
| 13 | Sheet Pan Spicy Ginger Sesame Beef and Broccoli | cooks who want charred edges | 43 min | dinner |
Frequently Asked Questions
What sides go well with beef and broccoli?
Plain steamed rice is the usual pick, since it soaks up the glaze. A simple cucumber salad or quick pickled vegetables add a sharp contrast to the sweet and salty sauce.
Can I make beef and broccoli ahead for lunches?
Yes, most versions reheat well. Refrigerate cooked leftovers for 3 to 4 days and reheat until they reach 165°F (74°C). Broccoli softens a little with each reheat, so pack modest portions.
Why is my beef tough in a stir-fry?
Thin slices cut against the grain and a short sear over high heat keep the meat tender. Overcooking or crowding the pan leaves the beef gray and dry instead of browned.
Can I use frozen broccoli in beef and broccoli?
Frozen florets work if you thaw and drain them first. Add them to the hot pan for a minute or two so they heat through without releasing too much water.
Can I swap ground beef for sirloin in these recipes?
Usually, though the texture changes. Ground beef browns faster and picks up sauce throughout, while sirloin keeps a firmer bite and needs a thin slice across the grain.
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