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    Home » Recipe Index » Beef Dishes

    Beef and Broccoli over Rice (two servings)

    February 19, 2020 Updated April 9, 2024 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD Beef Dishes, Entrees, Recipe Index, Spring Recipes

    Jump to Recipe
    close up of beef and broccoli in a cast iron skillet
    beef and broccoli over rice on a plate with ingredients surrounding it
    beef and broccoli in a pan with text overlay

    Save money by making your very own beef and broccoli recipe for two. It's so good you won't miss your go-to restaurant beef & broccoli. Plus it takes 30 minutes, less time to make than to pick up or have it delivered.

    beef and broccoli over rice on a plate with ingredients surrounding it

    [This beef and broccoli recipe was originally posted in March 2017. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    PIN HERE to add to your recipe box.

    Table of contents

    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storage/Reheating Tips
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • Other beef recipes
    • Repurpose Beef and Broccoli
    • What to do with leftover ingredients

    Beef and broccoli is a delicious, bright dish on lots of restaurant menus. But it's also one that you can easily make at home. I love this dish, and can easily adapt it to use up ingredients I have on hand. Even swapping the broccoli for another protein.

    One you can make in just about as much time as it takes to order & grab it or have it delivered, plus it'll save you money.

    This recipe also makes two servings, it is fantastic for leftovers. So definitely make the whole recipe or share with someone else.

    Ingredients

    Scroll down to the beef and broccoli recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.

    ingredients for beef and broccoli on a table
    • Rice: Use precooked, frozen, uncooked, or quick cooking rice. Whatever you have.
    • Mild oil: A mild oil is important to not change the flavor of this beef and broccoli recipe
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Skirt Steak: Just choose a cut of beef that you can slice thinly and cook up quickly, while keeping it tender. You can use ground beef, TVP, or tofu in this recipe too.
    • Beef Stock: I usually use Better than Bouillon beef stock paste, and add it to water. It lasts longer and tastes great. It's a great trick when you're cooking for one.
    • Soy Sauce
    • Brown Sugar: A bit of brown sugar brings this recipe together and balances out the sharp, salty soy sauce. It's essential.
    • Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli will work in this recipe. You can swap it for another vegetable too.
    • Edamame: I really love adding edamame to this beef and broccoli recipe. It adds a nice texture, color, and a bit if extra protein. You can swap some of the beef for more edamame too, if you'd like.

    Instructions

    Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

    Prepare rice according to package directions. After getting the rice started, you will then thinly slice skirt steak, chopped onion, broccoli, and thaw frozen edamame if not prepared already.

    garlic and onions cooking in a cast iron skillet

    Place a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat, add neutral or vegetable oil. Once the pan is hot, cook onions and minced garlic over medium-low heat.

    It'll take about 5 minutes, and onions will be translucent and soft when they're ready.

    sliced beef and onions cooking in a cast iron skillet

    Once onions are softened and turning translucent, add sliced skirt steak to onions. Cook for about 3 minutes on the first side, then flip each slice to cook for 3 minutes on the other side. This will give you medium-rare beef slices.

    sauce for beef and broccoli in a bowl

    While beef is cooking, prepare your beef broccoli sauce by pouring beef stock and soy sauce into a small mixing bowl, then add dark brown sugar. Whisk until smooth.

    beef, broccoli, and edamame cooking in a cast iron skillet

    After the beef has started cooking, add sauce and veggies. Stir every few minutes and cook for about 7-10 minutes or until veggies are tender and sauce has thickened.

    Once sauce is almost as thick as you'd like it, take pan off the stove and dish up. The sauce goes from too think to too thick quickly, so remove right before you think it's thick enough.

    Serve your beef and broccoli over rice immediately.

    Storage/Reheating Tips

    Store leftover beef and broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. I'd recommend storing it separately than the rice, if you can. To reheat, microwave, covered until warmed. You can add a dash of water to make the sauce extra silky.

    Both the beef and broccoli and rice can be frozen, I'd just recommend freezing them separately, and in individual servings. This way you can reheat as much as you want to eat, instead of have to eat a few servings.

    This is an easy recipe to make extra servings for too.

    Substitutions/Tips

    • You can swap the skirt steak with hanger steak, flank steak, flat iron, or tri-tip steak in this broccoli beef recipe. Ask your butcher, or choose a thin cut of beef.
    • Buy pre-chopped/sliced ingredients to make this recipe faster. Also, quick cooking or frozen rice will save you time too.
    • Don't cook your broccoli and beef over medium or higher heat because it'll get too hot and the onions will burn.
    • Use Better than Bouillon beef flavor instead of beef stock. It's easier to use!
    • You can use light brown sugar instead of the dark kind if you have it.
    • Other great add-ins: sesame seeds, ginger, sesame oil, red pepper flakes.

    FAQ

    What is broccoli beef sauce made of?

    The sauce in this beef broccoli recipe has beef stock, soy sauce, and brown sugar in it. I like to use Better than Bouillon paste + water instead of stock. Other sauce have ginger, sesame oil, and cornstarch.

    Can you make beef and broccoli with ground beef?

    Definitely, you'll cook it similarly to this recipe. You can use other cuts too, since some take extra tenderizing, not all cuts will work for this quick cooking dish. You can use strip steak, hanger steak, flat iron, or tri-tip.

    How much protein is in beef and broccoli?

    If you're eating ¼ pound beef (or 4 ounces), which is what's in one serving of this recipe, you'll get almost 30g of protein from the skirt steak. You may get more or less protein depending on how big your serving of steak is.

    close up of beef and broccoli in a cast iron skillet

    Other beef recipes

    • Chili without Tomatoes
    • Flat Iron Steak Fajitas
    • Steak and Shrimp Fajitas
    • Individual Meatloaf
    • Brisket Grilled Cheese

    Repurpose Beef and Broccoli

    • If you want to make it super easy, just swap out the rice for ramen, rice noodles,
    • Make extra sauce & serve it over a bed of lettuce for an easy salad. I'd recommend adding rice or a grain to the salad so it's filling and exciting.
    • Add it back to rice & an egg to make an easy fried rice dish

    What to do with leftover ingredients

    When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.

    • Beef: you can swap ground beef for the leftover steak) Thai beef bowl with garlic & spinach, Easy stuffed squash with ground beef & rice, Easy Korean beef bulgogi. You can also add some beef to this vegetarian stroganoff
    • Broccoli: Broccoli Salad, Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower, Chicken & Broccoli, Shrimp Sheet Pan Dinner, add to Sheet Pan Winter Veggies, Microwave Frozen Broccoli, or Sheet Pan Broccoli
    • Onion: Spicy Pickled Onions

    Did you make this beef and broccoli? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

    sliced beef, broccoli over rice on plate

    Beef and Broccoli over Rice (for two)

    Save money by making your very own beef and broccoli recipe for two. It's so good you won't miss your go-to restaurant beef & broccoli. Plus it takes 30 minutes, less time to make than to pick up or have it delivered.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Chinese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Author: Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN

    Equipment

    • Large Skillet/Cast Iron Skillet
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • knife
    • cutting board
    • tongs

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup rice
    • 1 tablespoon mild oil I used grapeseed
    • ⅛ cup chopped onion
    • 1 clove garlic chopped
    • ½ pound skirt steak sliced thinly
    • ¼ cup beef stock or equivalent bouillon paste
    • ¼ cup soy sauce
    • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
    • 1 pound broccoli pre-chopped (fresh or frozen)
    • ⅓ cup frozen edamame beans removed from shells

    Instructions

    • Prepare ½ cup rice according to package directions. Then thinly slice ½ pound skirt steak, ⅛ cup chopped onion, 1 cup chopped broccoli, and thaw ⅓ cup frozen edamame if not prepared already.
    • Heat up a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat, then add 1 Tablespoon neutral oil. Once pan is hot, cook ⅛ cup chopped onions and 1 clove garlic, chopped over medium-low heat. It'll take about 5 minutes, and onions will be translucent and soft when they're ready.
    • Once onions are softened and turning translucent, add ½ pound sliced skirt steak. Cook for about 3 minutes on the first side, then flip each slice to cook for 3 minutes on the other side. This will give you medium-rare beef slices.
    • While beef is cooking, prepare sauce. Pour ¼ cup beef stock and ¼ cup soy sauce into a small mixing bowl, then add ½ teaspoon dark brown sugar. Whisk until incorporated.
    • After the beef has started cooking, add sauce and veggies. Stir every few minutes and cook for about 7-10 minutes or until veggies are tender and sauce has thickened.
    • Once sauce is almost as thick as you'd like it, take pan off the stove and dish up. The sauce goes from too think to too thick quickly, so remove right before you think it's thick enough.
    • Serve over rice.

    Notes

    • You can swap the skirt steak with hanger steak, flank steak, flat iron, or tri-tip steak. Ask your butcher, or choose a thin cut of beef.
    • Buy pre-chopped/sliced ingredients to make this recipe faster. Also, quick cooking or frozen rice will save you time too
    • Don't cook over medium or higher heat because it'll get too hot and the onions will burn.
    • Use Better than Bouillon beef flavor instead of beef stock. It's easier to use!
    • You can use light brown sugar instead of the dark kind if you have it.
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @NourishNutriCo or tag #NourishNutriCo!

    Want time saving tips to make recipes like this beef and broccoli delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Cooking for One Time Saving Tips.

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    More Beef Dishes

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    • acorn squash stuffed with ground beef, rice, asparagus
      The Best Stuffed Acorn Squash for One
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    • bite out of meatloaf with ketchup and salad
      Meatloaf for One

    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian who has been cooking for one for over 10 years. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heidy L. McCallum says

      February 20, 2020 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      Beef and broccoli happens to be one of my favorites and I really enjoyed this recipe. Everything turned out as it should have and I had no issues with the recipe which is awesome since in the past I have been disappointed in a few recipes on the net that was misleading. My family loved your recipe and asked that I make it again next week!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        February 20, 2020 at 1:02 pm

        great to hear

        Reply
    2. Angela says

      February 20, 2020 at 9:40 am

      5 stars
      My family loves Beef and Broccoli, we make it all the time. I like the idea of serving it over brown rice.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        February 20, 2020 at 1:01 pm

        awesome! it's so good over brown rice

        Reply
    3. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      February 20, 2020 at 9:34 am

      5 stars
      I was looking for a recipe like this, thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        February 20, 2020 at 1:01 pm

        yay!

        Reply
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