The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe is bursting with teriyaki flavor. It’s a quick, easy, and healthy meal that the entire family will love.
It costs approximately $11.07 to make this meal. The recipe makes six servings, which is about $1.84 per serving.
Ground Beef and Broccoli
Chinese food is so yummy. Japanese food is yummy, too. Why not combine the two into one easy dish? That’s exactly what we did with this Ground Beef and Broccoli Teriyaki recipe.
We took the beef and broccoli from Chinese cuisine and teriyaki from Japanese and put them both together. We know your family will LOVE this beef and broccoli recipe. It is a flavorful and easy recipe for a quick weeknight dinner.
What You’ll Love About Ground Beef Broccoli
- Budget-Friendly: We use ground beef instead of steak to help keep the cost of this meal down.
- Easy to make: Frozen broccoli, pre-made Teriyaki sauce, and ground beef make this a quick and simple dish on busy nights.
- Flavor: The rich and savory taste of the ground beef and the sweet and tangy Teriyaki sauce is a match made in Heaven.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 ½ teaspoon olive oil – $0.02
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef – $5.37
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion – $0.78
- ½ teaspoon dried ground ginger – $0.06
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder – $0.02
- 12 oz frozen broccoli florets – $1.25
- ½ cup teriyaki sauce – $1.60
- 6 cups cooked rice – $1.20
- ½ head iceberg lettuce for lettuce wraps – $0.77
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in July 2023.
How To Make Ground Beef and Broccoli
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- To make this beef and broccoli dish begin by preheating the vegetable oil for one minute.
- Next, add the beef, onion, ginger, and garlic to the skillet. Brown the meat and then drain off the oil and grease before returning it to the skillet.
- Then stir the teriyaki sauce and broccoli into the beef mixture.
- Finally, bring the mixture to a low simmer and cook for another 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and the broccoli is cooked.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Vegetarian Twist: Replace ground beef with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Extra Veggies: Mix in additional vegetables such as sliced bell peppers, snap peas, or carrots to increase the nutritional value and add color to the dish.
- Low-Carb Option: Substitute the cooked rice with cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative.
- Spicy Kick: Add a teaspoon of sriracha or chili paste to the teriyaki sauce for a spicier version.
- Gluten-Free Alternative: Use gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos instead of regular teriyaki sauce to make the dish gluten-free.
- Lettuce Wraps: Instead of serving with rice, wrap the ground beef and broccoli mixture in lettuce leaves for a refreshing and carb-light option.
Serving and Storage Tips
Serve: You can keep this at room temperature for no longer than 90 minutes.
Store: Store the beef, rice, and lettuce separately. In doing so, leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for about three days.
Freeze: The meat mixture will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just note that the broccoli will be a little sad looking. A solution to this is to just freeze the meat mixture and then add the broccoli when you reheat the meat.
Recipe FAQs
Teriyaki sauce is your basic Asian sauce used for seasoning or as a marinade. It is made with soy sauce, sake, sugar, and ginger.
Teriyaki is believed to have originated in Japan, however, it is not typically found on Japanese menus. It is actually more of an American menu item. Teriyaki refers to a cooking style. Yaki means grilled. So when speaking of teriyaki in Japan, it is referring to the preparation of the food and not the meal itself as we in America expect it to be.
Color and odor are two key ways to tell when ground beef has gone bad. If the ground beef is gray or brown, that is the first sign that it is starting to go bad. If the ground beef smells weird or is slimy or sticky, that is another sign it is bad, and you should throw it away.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let your little one add the broccoli to the skillet. They can also garnish their food with sesame seeds and/or green onion.
Ages 4-5: With your supervision, let them add the ingredients to the skillet. Also, teach them how to fluff the rice once it’s done.
Ages 6-8: Teach them how to brown the ground beef in the skillet and let them mix in the remaining ingredients.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them then prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
We prefer to buy our ground beef in bulk and freeze it in portions to use for recipes such as this one as we need it. Using ground beef, which is a less expensive cut of meat, is another great way to trim off a few dollars on your grocery bill.
More $10 Meals
- 20-Minute Thai Peanut Noodles
- BBQ Chicken Braid
- Chana Masala
- Easy Navajo Tacos
- Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Italian Zucchini Boats
- Moo Shu Chicken
Ground Beef and Broccoli
Recipe Cost 11.07 Serving Cost 1.84Equipment
- large skillet
- chef's knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- ½ teaspoon dried ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅔ cup teriyaki sauce
- 12 ozs frozen broccoli florets
FOR SERVING:
- 6 cups cooked rice
- ½ head iceberg lettuce for lettuce wraps
GARNISHES (optional):
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
Instructions
MAKE FILLING:
- In a large skillet heat 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat for about 1 minute.
- Add beef, onion, ginger, and garlic to the skillet.
- Cook, breaking up the meat as you stir until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is tender (about 5-7 minutes).
- Drain off the oil and grease, and return meat to the skillet.
- Stir teriyaki sauce and frozen broccoli into the beef mixture.
- Bring to a low simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and the broccoli is cooked.
SERVE:
- Serve over rice or in lettuce cups.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions (both optional).
Dawn M says
I’m excited to try this recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
Nellie Tracy says
This recipe is so tasty! My family absolutely loves it!
Jess Jankowski says
So happy to hear that!!
Claudia Lamascolo says
This is an awesome idea, I always have ground beef in the freezer and broccoli but never steak cubes so this is perfect alternative!
Jess Jankowski says
Perfect!!!
Paula Montenegro says
I agree that Asian food is generally yummy! And so easy to make at home. This is a great example, such a tempting recipe. I love teriyaki but never used it with beef. Thanks for the inspiration! I will be making it soon.
Jess Jankowski says
You are so welcome! Let us know how it goes!
Natalie says
I absolutely love this recipe. It’s super easy to make and yet so flavorful and delicious. Perfect easy dinner for my family. I will make this soon. I bet my kids will love it too.
Jess Jankowski says
Cannot wait to hear how your kids like it!
Emmeline says
Such a good idea for a recipe! And even more – I love what you’re doing with your blog. The easy budget overview & the tips for getting your children involved – never saw it done quite this way before. Great idea & keep up the good work!
Jess Jankowski says
Oh thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate it…makes the hard work totally worth it!
Heidy L. McCallum says
This looks amazing and to think for a bit over 9.00 I can enjoy a great meal! I am totally excited to make this soon. I actually have most of the ingredients too.
Jess Jankowski says
That’s awesome! So it will actually be even less than $9 if you already have most of the ingredient! Woohoo!
JoKing says
I love beef and broccoli and this sounds so easy. I can’t wait to try it!
Jess Jankowski says
My kids request this almost weekly!