This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Enjoy a savory and filling option with this Healthy Beef and Broccoli recipe. Complete with a homemade sauce, you can’t go wrong!
A healthier beef and broccoli recipe
When I think of classic ingredients, beef and broccoli never fails to make it onto the list. It’s a dinner staple as much for its healthy balance of meat and veggies as it is for its great flavor! And today, we’re creating a version that’s equally as tasty as those you’re used to.
But to make it even better, we’re using a homemade sauce that helps this recipe slide even further toward healthy!
Ingredients in healthy beef and broccoli
For the beef and broccoli portion of the recipe, we’ll be using onions and various flavorings to add a great taste to the dish. Then, we’ll create a sauce made with only four ingredients.
Beef and broccoli
- Broccoli: First up is 12 oz of broccoli. You can use fresh or frozen โ whatever is easier!
- Water: 1/3 cup of water will be used to steam the broccoli to a nice, crunchy texture.
- Avocado oil: Next, 2 tbsp of avocado oil will be used to cook the onions. This is a great oil to use as it’s a healthier option than vegetable or canola oil.
- Onion: Use half of a small onion, and dice it into small pieces. I recommend yellow or white.
- Ginger: Add some flavor to the dish by grating 2 tbsp of fresh ginger.
- Garlic: Next, mince 5 cloves of garlic. If using garlic powder, you will need 1 1/4 tsp.
- Steak: As for the beef, use 1 lb of flank steak.
- Optional: Opionally serve over a bed of rice and top with sesame seeds for the perfect final touch!
Sauce
- Soy sauce: The beef and broccoli sauce will start with a base consisting of 1/2 cup of reduced sodium soy sauce.
- Honey: Sweeten things up a bit by including 2 tbsp of honey.
- Sesame oil: Add 1 tsp of sesame oil to help achieve that signature beef and broccoli sauce flavor.
- Arrowroot powder: Last but not least, 1 tbsp of arrowroot powder or cornstarch will thicken up the sauce.
Kitchen tools required to make beef and broccoli
This healthy beef and broccoli recipe will require a number of kitchen tools starting with a good old cutting board and chopping knife. In addition to those, you’ll need the following:
- Grater
- Large sautรฉ pan or dutch oven
- Spatula
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Stirring utensil
For measuring, you will need 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, and 1/2 cup.
How to make this healthy beef and broccoli recipe
This beef broccoli recipe is an easy one to prepare. We’ll start by steaming the broccoli before creating the sauce and cooking the onions and the steak. Then, we’ll thicken up the sauce and assemble the dish!
To begin, add the broccoli and water to a large sautรฉ pan or dutch oven. Let the broccoli steam for about 4 minutes until it’s slightly tender but still crisp.
Remove the broccoli and set it aside in a bowl.
Prepare the sauce ingredients by whisking them all together in a bowl.
Then, increase the stove heat to high and add the oil to the dutch oven. Once warm, add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly softened.
Add the grated ginger, garlic, and sliced steak. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the outside of the steak is no longer pink (the inside will still be pink).
Add the broccoli back to the dutch oven and pour the sauce over everything.
Mix everything until combined. Let cook over high heat for 4-6 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. It should be bubbling. Continue to stir occasionally.
Remove from the heat and optionally serve with sesame seeds over rice.
How this is healthier
We’re able to make this dish healthier by sneaking some better alternatives into the sauce! Beef and broccoli sauce is typically made with ingredients like soy sauce, brown sugar, and ginger. We’re switching out the soy sauce and brown sugar and replacing them with low sodium soy sauce and honey!
A low sodium alternative is always a win, and using honey allows us to add that dash of sweet flavor in an all-natural way!
The final sauce is the perfect blend of salty and sweet that tastes delish. It’s a win-win for health and flavor!
Storing leftovers
Beef and broccoli is a great option for meal prep as it stays nice and fresh for up to four days. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or on the stove!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
If you’re looking for some more hearty dinner meals, try these!
- Honey BBQ Grilled Chicken Skewers
- Lightened Scalloped Potatoes
- Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
- One Pan Cabbage and Potato Skillet
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Healthy Beef And Broccoli Recipe
Enjoy a savory and filling option with this Healthy Beef and Broccoli recipe. Complete with a homemade sauce, you can’t go wrong!
Ingredients
- 12 oz broccoli
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb flank steak, sliced into strips
- optional: rice to serve
- sesame seeds
Sauce
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Instructions
- In a large saute pan or dutch oven, add broccoli and water. Let broccoli steam about 4 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
- Remove broccoli and set aside in a bowl.
- Prepare sauce ingredients now but whisking all together in a bowl.
- To the dutch oven, add oil over high heat. Once warm, add onions and cook 2-3 minutes until softened slightly.
- Add in grated ginger, garlic, and sliced steak. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until outside of steak is no longer pink (inside will still be pink).
- Add broccoli back to dutch oven, and then pour the sauce on top of everything.
- Mix everything up and let cook over high heat for 4-6 minutes or until sauce has thickened. It should be bubbling. Continue to stir occasionally. Turn off heat and serve!
- If desired, serve over rice with sesame seeds.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Megan says
I rarely leave comments and reviews, but I couldnโt forget to come back and PRAISE how amazing this recipe is. My brother and I prep every Sunday, and we doubled this recipe. I think we may have added a little more ginger than needed, but it gave the dish such a distinct, amazing flavor that I would do it again and recommend. This will definitely be on our meal rotation, if not our every week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you both loved it! Thanks for sharing!!
Minerva says
How did those green onions get in there? I don’t see any text reference to them at all, just shown in the photos.
Erin says
Hi Minerva, they are garnish. You can feel free to use them too or omit them.
Steph says
So easy to make and very tasty! I added bell peppers with the onion and served over rice.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Steph, so happy you loved it and great additions! ๐
Liz says
I never comment on recipes. This was so simple and delicious. Not to be the one who is annoying but I added curry to the sauce. My family loves curry.
It was so good.
Thank you for taking the time to post a recipe. People like me depend on it.
Erin says
Hi Liz, so glad everyone liked it and you made it your own! ๐
Jam Braz says
Serving size says 1 service and serves 8 people.
How much is one serving of this dish? 1 cup?
Thanks! Iโm doing a strict calories counter diet plan
Christy says
Pretty simple and so delicious! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Christy, so glad you loved it! ๐
Mackenzie says
I love all of Erinโs recipe, this one is a go to staple for me on repeat. Soo yummy thank you Erin ๐
Erin says
Hi Mackenzie, so happy you loved it! ๐
Laura Lewis says
This is sooooo delicious!! I actually can’t believe how simple it is to make. All the flavors just pop!! It’s already been added to our list of favorites. ๐บ
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laura, so happy you loved it so much!! ๐
Kevin s says
Taste so good but the liquids were pouring out of the ginger ans onion so it didnt come out to think even after removing a lot of the water. May i know where i went wrong?
Made broccoli the. Emptied water. Added oil then let it heat up
Added onion, ginger, and meat and garlic at the same time
Added thickening agent but not thick but taste great still regardless.
★★★★★
Jodi says
This was delicious and super easy to make! I used coconut aminos which are always a great soy sauce substitute and a full onion.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jodi, so glad you loved it and made it your own!!
Erma Graham says
Hello, is there any other sauce you can use, as I’m allergic to soy sauce??
Really does look great.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erma, you could omit it or use a sub like liquid aminos or coconut aminos or even teriyaki sauce! You can really sub in any sauce you like!
Beka says
What is a serving size??
Erin says
Hi Beka, 1 cup of meat & broccoli. Let me know how yours comes out!
Monica says
I used this sauce for ground beef with broccoli because I didn’t have flank steak and it turned out great (just needed to drain off some oil/fat after cooking the beef before adding the sauce ingredients)
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Monica, so glad you liked it and made it your own!!
Taylor says
This recipe is so easy, and so so so tasty!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Taylor, so happy you loved it!!
Liz says
The EASIEST and tastiest recipe! This is a favorite of my fiancรฉ and I. Perfect for weeknight dinners!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Liz, so happy you both loved it! ๐
Mochael says
Made this for dinner tonight. It was a huge hit. Great flavor and super easy to put together โค๏ธ Highly recommend trying it.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Mochael, so happy everyone liked it! ๐
Abbey says
So delicious and easy! A great way to mix things up for dinner during the week
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Abbey, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Victoria W says
SO DANG GOOD!! Literally tastes like take in the absolute best way. This will 100% be a recipe in my rotation from now on. If Erin makes it= delicious perfection
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Victoria, so happy you loved it so much!! ๐
Courtney says
Amazing flavor! Will definitely be adding this to our dinner rotation!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Courtney, so happy you loved it! ๐