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Healthy Ground Beef and Broccoli Bowls - Easy, Flavorful, and Satisfying

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean or higher)
  • 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional garnish)
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 tablespoons water or low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1–2 teaspoons sriracha or chili-garlic sauce (optional, to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder
  • 2–3 cups cooked brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
  • Lime wedges (optional)

Method
 

  1. Cook your base: Prepare brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice according to package directions. Keep warm.
  2. Mix the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, water or broth, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, sriracha (if using), and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Heat the pan: Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, then the diced onion. Cook 2–3 minutes until it softens and turns translucent.
  4. Brown the beef: Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook 5–6 minutes until no longer pink. If there’s excess fat, drain it.
  5. Add aromatics: Stir in garlic and ginger. Cook 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn.
  6. Cook the broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet. If using fresh, splash in 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and steam 3–4 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender. If using frozen, add directly and cook until heated through.
  7. Sauce it up: Give the sauce a quick stir and pour it into the pan. Toss everything to coat. Simmer 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the beef and broccoli.
  8. Taste and adjust: Add a squeeze of lime, extra soy for salt, or more sriracha for heat. Remove from heat.
  9. Assemble the bowls: Spoon your base into bowls. Top with the beef and broccoli mixture. Finish with green onions and sesame seeds.
  10. Serve: Enjoy hot. These bowls are also great for meal prep—see tips below.