There’s something about mixing ground beef with broccoli that just feels right, and more and more folks are cookin it up all around the world. You can slap it together quick on a weeknight in a stir fry or bake it slow as a cheesy casserole and it still hits the spot. And cause it uses simple things you can get pretty creative and try new twists even if you dont cook much.
You might not think this combo is super healthy but it really is. Ground beef gives you lots of proteins, vitmains and iron, and broccoli brings fiber, vitamin C and K plus antioxidants that help your body. This mix not only tastes good but also makes a balanced meal you can feel good eatin.
In this article im gonna walk you thru some ground beef and broccoli recipes from easy stir fries to cheesy casseroles and even stuffed peppers. Youll pick up tips to make cooking less of a chore and learn ways to tweak the flavors so it fits what you like. Lets get going so you can get dinner on the table faster.
Essentials of Cooking with Ground Beef and Broccoli
When your making ground beef and broccoli right, the stuff you pick and how you cook it can make a big diference in taste and texture
1.1 Choosing Your Ingredients
First off pick the meat and broc. Using lean beef makes it less greasy but the fattier kind taste more rich. Thats up to what your diet or mood calls for.
Next choice is broc. Fresh broccoli florets look bright and have a nice crunch but frozen ones are easier to find all year. Just thaw and drain them good so the dish dont get soggy.
You also dont got to stick with broc, you can add peppers, snap peas or carsots for color and crunch.
1.2 Cooking Techniques
There’s a few ways to cook this mix so it taste awesome:
- Sauting: Cook both in a pan on high heat quick so they keep their flavor and texture.
- Stir-fryin: Use a wok if you got one, keeps broc bright and beef even.
- Baking: If your doin a casserole, baking helps the flavors blend and cheese melt nice.
1.3 Flavor Enhancers
Want more taste? Try sauces like soy sauce teriyaki or oyster sauce for that deep umami flavor. Then toss in minced garlic, fresh ginger and a pinch of chili flakes for a lil heat. Those little extras can take your dish from ok to wow.
Easy Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
This is super easy for a week nite dinner when you are hungry and dont have alot time. With few items, you got dinner good to go.
2.1 Ingredients
- Ground beef: 1 lb
- Broccoli florets: 2 cup
- Soy sauce: 3 Tbsp
- Garlic: 2 cloves
- Ginger: 1 tsp
- Olive oil: 1 Tbsp
- Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon (optional to make sauce more thick)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
2.2 Directions
- Prepare your stuff by chopping the garlic and ginger, cut broc in bite size pieces.
- Heat olive oil in a big pan or wok on medium-high heat.
- Add minced garlic and ginger, saut until you smell the aroma, about 30 secs.
- Throw in the ground beef and cook till it turn brown, break it up with spatula.
- Add the broccoli florets and pour in soy sauce, stir to mix all.
- Keep stir-fryin till broc is tender but still got crunch, about 5-7 mins.
- If you want thicker sauce, mix cornstarch with lil water then pour it in and stir till thick.
- Serve hot over rice or noodles for a full meal.
2.3 Cooking Advice
Dont overcook the broc or it gets soggy, keep it green and a lil crisp. Serve with rice noodles or just eat it as is. Sesame seed or green onions on top is a nice touch.
One-Pan Ground Beef and Broccoli Casserole Recipe
This casserole is like a big hug of comfort food cause its got ground beef broc and rice all baked with melty cheese. Perfect for busy nights when you dont wanna think too much.
3.1 Ingredients
- Ground beef: 1 lb
- Broccoli: 3 cup
- Rice (uncooked): 1 cup
- Beef broth: 2 cup
- Cheddar cheese: 1 cup
- Onion: 1 small, diced
- Worcestershire sauce: 2 tsp
- Olive oil: 1 Tbsp
- Salt and pepper to taste
3.2 Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Heat olive oil in a skillet on medium heat and saut diced onion till soft.
- Add ground beef, cook till its brown and no pink left.
- Stir in uncooked rice, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Bring it to a boil.
- Once it boil, add broc and take off the heat.
- Transfer everything to a baking dish and sprinkle cheese on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 mins, then remove foil and bake 10 more till cheese is bubbly.
3.3 Cooking Advice
You can prep this ahead and keep in fridge till baking time. For a lighter dish try brown rice and low-fat cheese. You could also swap beef for turkey or even make it vegetarian by using mushrooms or lentils.
Ground Beef and Broccoli Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Bright bell peppers get stuffed with a savory mix of ground beef, broc and rice. Its fun to eat and looks fancy but easy to make.
4.1 Ingredients
- Bell peppers: 4 large
- Ground beef: 1 lb
- Broccoli: 1 cup, finely chopped
- Tomato sauce: 1 cup
- Rice (cooked): 1 cup
- Italian seasoning: 1 tsp
- Cheese (optional): ½ cup shredded
4.2 Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut tops off the peppers and take out seeds and membranes.
- In a skillet cook ground beef on medium heat till brown, drain extra fat.
- Mix in chopped broc, cooked rice, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.
- Stuff mixture into peppers and set them in a baking dish.
- Top with cheese if you like and cover with foil.
- Bake 25-30 mins till peppers are tender.
4.3 Cooking Advice
If you want more flavor roast peppers for 10 mins before filling for a lil char. These freeze well so they are great for meal prep. You could also use quinoa instead of rice for a change.
Healthy Ground Beef and Broccoli Meal Prep Bowls
Meal prep bowls are perfect for busy days cause you make em ahead and just heat them. They got protein and fiber to keep you full.
5.1 Ingredients
- Ground beef: 1 lb
- Broccoli: 2 cup florets
- Quinoa: 1 cup (or brown rice)
- Sesame oil: 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce: 3 Tbsp
- Sliced green onions: for garnish
5.2 Directions
- Cook quinoa per package and set aside.
- Heat sesame oil in a skillet on medium heat, cook beef till brown.
- Add broc and soy sauce, cook till broc is tender but not mushy.
- Divide quinoa into containers, top with beef broc mix and green onions.
5.3 Cooking Advice
Keep in the fridge up to 4 days. When reheating add a splash of water or broth to keep it moist. You can switch up veggies or grains for variety.
Variations on Ground Beef and Broccoli Dishes
You can change this dish in so many fun ways. Check these out:
6.1 Asian-Inspired Variations
Use sauces like hoisin or teriyaki, toss in carrots or snow peas for more crunch.
6.2 Alternative Proteins
Swap beef for ground turkey or chicken. For veg, try tofu or tempeh, they soak up flavor good.
6.3 International Twists
Think outside the box: an Italian frittata or Mexican enchilada with the same mix. Each twist gives it a whole new vibe.
FAQs
7.1 What can I serve with ground beef and broccoli?
It goes great with rice noodles quinoa or even a fresh salad. Pick what you like.
7.2 How do I store leftover ground beef and broccoli?
Put it in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. You can also freeze portions for later.
7.3 Can I use frozen broccoli for these recipes?
Sure, frozen broc works fine. Just thaw and drain it first so the dish dont get watered down.
7.4 How do I make ground beef tender in recipes?
Dont overcook the beef. Cook on medium heat and break it up as it browns so it stay juicy.
7.5 What can I substitute for ground beef in these recipes?
Use any ground meat like turkey chicken or plant-based meat alternativs, your choice.
Conclusion
Ground beef and broccoli is a super versatil dish thats good for taste and health. Try the dif recipes and make it your own. Have fun experimenting and find your families new fave!
ground beef and broccoli recipes
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or wok
- 1 cooking spoon
- 1 measuring cups and spoons
- 1 knife and cutting board
- 1 bowl for mixing sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 cups broccoli florets About 360 g.
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup beef broth 120 ml.
- salt and pepper To taste.
- cooked white or brown rice For serving.
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir in the broccoli florets and cook for 3-4 minutes until they are bright green and tender.
- In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and beef broth until smooth.
- Pour the sauce over the beef and broccoli mixture, stirring to combine. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot over cooked rice.
