Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef and Broccoli

If you’re anything like me, weeknight dinners need to check a few key boxes: quick, easy, minimal dishes, and—most importantly—delicious enough that no one’s sneaking their plate to the dog under the table. This Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef and Broccoli hits all those marks and then some.

This recipe is one of those last-minute dinner wins you can whip up with just a few pantry staples and whatever veggies you have on hand. It’s sweet, savory, a little garlicky, and packed with tender broccoli that soaks up every drop of that sticky sauce. Bonus: it all comes together in one pan and is on the table in under 30 minutes.

I actually stumbled upon this combo one evening when my fridge was looking a little sad, and I only had ground beef, some frozen broccoli, and a serious craving for takeout-style flavors. A little soy sauce, a drizzle of honey, and suddenly, it turned into something my family now requests almost weekly. Trust me, once you try it, it’ll probably earn a spot in your regular dinner rotation too.

This dish is also great for meal prep (hello, leftovers that actually taste good!), and it’s easy to customize depending on what you have in the kitchen. Ground turkey? Totally works. No rice vinegar? Sub in white vinegar or even a squeeze of lemon. We’ll get into all those tips in Part 2, but let’s get into the magic of how to make it first.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 pound ground beef

• 2 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil (or any neutral oil)

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• ¼ cup honey

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• ¼ cup water

• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Sesame seeds or chopped green onions for garnish

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Cook the Ground Beef

Grab a large skillet and set it over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook it until it’s nicely browned, breaking it up with your spoon or spatula as it cooks. You want small, crumbled pieces for the sauce to cling to later. Once browned, drain off any excess grease (especially if you’re using a higher-fat beef), and season it with just a pinch of salt and pepper. Don’t go heavy-handed here—remember, the soy sauce is salty too.

Step 2: Prepare the Broccoli

While the beef is browning, get your broccoli ready. If you’re using fresh florets, you can quickly steam or blanch them until they’re bright green and just tender. You still want them to have a bit of a crunch—they’ll soften a little more when you toss them back into the skillet later.

If frozen broccoli is all you’ve got, no worries! Just thaw it and drain off any excess water. Give it a quick pat with paper towels if it seems a bit soggy; you don’t want to water down the sauce.

Step 3: Add Garlic to the Skillet

Once your beef is cooked, push it to one side of the skillet to make space for the garlic. Add in your sesame oil (or whatever oil you’re using) and the minced garlic. Let that cook for about 30 seconds to a minute—just until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn. Then mix it all together with the beef so that garlicky goodness gets distributed throughout.

The Sauce, Assembly, and Customization Tips

Now that we’ve got our beef browned, broccoli tender, and garlic working its magic, it’s time to pull it all together with the real star of the show—that sweet, sticky, garlicky sauce that makes this dish seriously addictive.

This sauce is the kind you’ll want to drizzle over your rice, lick off the spoon, and maybe even double next time (just saying). And the best part? It takes less than a minute to whisk up.

MAKE THE SAUCE & BRING IT ALL TOGETHER

Step 4: Whisk Together the Sauce Ingredients

Grab a small bowl and whisk together the following:

• ¼ cup honey

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• ¼ cup water

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional but recommended)

If you like a little heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a small dash of sriracha at this point, too. That combo of sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy is what really gives the sauce its takeout-inspired flavor.

Make sure everything is well combined, with no clumps of cornstarch remaining—this is what will help your sauce thicken up into that glossy coating we’re going for.

Step 5: Pour the Sauce into the Skillet

Once your sauce is mixed, pour it right into the skillet with the beef and garlic. Stir everything together to make sure the beef is fully coated.

Keep the heat on medium and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll start to see the sauce thicken up and cling to the beef. This is when things start smelling amazing. That cornstarch does all the heavy lifting here—no need to reduce it for ages or fuss with extra pots.

Step 6: Add the Broccoli Back In

Now, bring the broccoli into the mix. Add it to the skillet and toss everything together so the florets get a good coating of that sauce too.

Let it cook for another minute or two just to warm everything through. The broccoli should be tender-crisp—not mushy—and the beef should be perfectly sauced.

HOW TO SERVE IT

This dish is super versatile when it comes to serving. Here are a few of my favorite ways to plate it up:

• Over rice: Jasmine or basmati are perfect. Brown rice works too.

• With noodles: Lo mein, ramen, or rice noodles turn this into a noodle bowl dream.

• Low-carb option: Cauliflower rice or sautéed zucchini noodles make a lighter version.

• Meal prep: Portion into containers with rice for grab-and-go lunches that heat up beautifully.

Top it all off with a sprinkle of sesame seeds or chopped green onions for that little extra something. It’s not required, but it adds a nice pop of flavor and color.

RECIPE VARIATIONS & EASY SWAPS

This recipe is incredibly forgiving, and you can tweak it to suit your taste or whatever you’ve got in the pantry. Here are a few ideas:

• Swap the protein: Ground turkey or ground chicken both work well and make the dish a little leaner.

• Add more veggies: Bell peppers, snap peas, or carrots are great additions. Just sauté or steam them along with the broccoli.

• Make it spicy: Add chili garlic sauce, red pepper flakes, or even a splash of hot sauce for a kick.

• Use fresh ginger if you can: It adds a subtle warmth and freshness that really elevates the flavor. But if you don’t have it, it’s fine to leave it out or sub in a tiny pinch of ground ginger.

This is the kind of dinner that’s just simple, flexible, and fast. Whether you’re cooking for picky eaters or someone who loves bold flavors, this checks every box.