Beef and Broccoli Fried Rice Recipe

Because of the pandemic, plenty of us homemakers are looking for quick recipes to create at home. Nowadays, the ideal home-cooked meal is not only tasty, but also must not distract from our jobs, Zoom meetings, or bonding time with the kids. It’s been pretty challenging to say the least. 

Thankfully, rice is such a versatile food that with a little experimenting, you’re bound to come up with multiple easy yet satisfying recipes that don’t require long hours of standing in the kitchen!

Rice, meat, and vegetables is a combination you can almost never go wrong with. Just add the right spices and sauces, and you’re sure to be in for a treat! For this Chinese-inspired recipe, we’re featuring a well-rounded rice-based meal that is not only easy to make, but packed with protein, nutrients, and delicious flavors. 

Popularized in the United States by various Chinese restaurants in bustling cities like San Francisco and New York, Chinese fried rice-based recipes are pretty much woven into the fabric of American culture. They’re a staple in various households regardless of ethnicity, owing to their uniquely lovable taste. If you’re someone who values comfort food or a savory homemade dinner, then you’ve come to the right place.

How Do You Make the Best Fried Rice?

If you’ve been snooping around our site, you’ll find plenty of recipes that involve fried rice. This is because, apart from fried rice being comforting and uber yummy, these recipes are great for clearing out any leftover rice lying around without throwing them away. 

If you’re new to the rice-based recipes we’ve been posting on the site, be sure to check them out now. You may find some recipes to add to your weeknight meals or recipes for the kids to enjoy!

Back to fried rice. If there’s a single secret to recreating a stir-fry rice recipe perfectly, it’s that your fried rice must be really, really good. Generally, it’s better to have day-old cold rice instead of a freshly cooked batch so it’s less sticky or clumpy. 

If you don’t have leftover rice from the day before, there’s a way to give a fresh batch that day-old feel. Just spread it onto a baking sheet, pop it into the refrigerator for an hour to cool it down, then you’re good to go.

As for the variety, most of these recipes aren’t picky. However, some recipes do recommend long-grain rice or jasmine rice. These types tend to hold up better when fried and don’t stick too much nor fall apart. Short-grain types like sushi rice or glutinous rice, while great for making a quick nori roll, tend to clump together when used in fried rice recipes, so it’s best to stick to long grain.

For this beef and broccoli recipe, we certainly recommend jasmine or long-grain rice. However, feel free to substitute it for your grain of choice! There are a few variations to this recipe that we share below, so make sure to read until the end! Now, let’s get started on this beef and broccoli recipe.

How to Make Ground Beef and Broccoli Fried Rice

Do note that this recipe serves 4-5, so adjust the ingredients as necessary. Ready to start? Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make the perfect beef and broccoli fried rice:

Ingredients

• 4-5 cups cooked rice, preferably day-old
• 1 lb. or 455g flank steak, sliced into strips or cubes
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided (can be substituted for preferred cooking oil)
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
• 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup soy sauce (for marinade)
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic minced (can be substituted with garlic powder)
• sesame seeds for garnish if desired
• Kosher salt to taste

Note: you may substitute soy sauce for fish sauce, but you will want to reduce the amount according to taste.

Directions

1. Put your sliced flank steak in a bowl, then add the ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 tbsp. sesame oil, garlic, cornstarch, brown sugar, and water. Mix well until the steak is fully covered, then put into a refrigerator to marinate for an hour.
2. Using a deep skillet or a wok, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat. Add in the eggs, scrambling with a rubber spatula until fully cooked. Remove egg from heat and set aside.
3. Adding the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan, cook the beef until thoroughly browned or for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the steak and set aside.
4. This time, add the broccoli and carrots to the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat until tender. Mix in the garlic, then stir fry for one more minute.
5. Sauté the rice in the same pan until brown. Place the eggs and steak back in. Add the remaining soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil and cook for 2 minutes.

There you have it! A nice and flavorful home-made food bowl that you can adapt to your heart’s content. Mealtimes won’t have to be a chore to think of anymore! If you liked this dish and want to know make rice dishes, check out our recipes.

What Other Recipes Can You Make With Fried Rice?

Fried rice is both delicious and comforting, reminiscent of our favorite Chinese takeout dish but without the long waiting time nor the copious amounts of sodium (unless preferred, of course). 

We love experimenting with fried rice in recipes because it’s flexible, customizable, and won’t require you to rush to the grocery store since most ingredients you’ll need are in the pantry. If you need a few ideas, here are a few recipes you can create using fried rice:

• Kimchi Fried Rice. One of our favorite foolproof recipes is none other than this savory Korean dish. You can use the above broccoli fried rice recipe and simply add kimchi to add a whole new sensory experience.
• Ground Beef Fried Rice. A variation on our beef broccoli fried rice preparation, this is among the recipes that changes the texture of the whole dish without requiring too much. Simply exchange the sliced flank steak above for ground beef, and voila! You have two recipes to try out with only one ingredient different.
• Cauliflower Fried Rice. While most of us have experimented with swapping out white rice for brown rice (which you can also do for the above recipe), using cauliflower rice is a lesser known option. I’m a firm believer in this substitute; cauliflower rice is incredibly dense in nutrients. It certainly tastes different from white rice or brown rice, but it’s just as delicious, especially with the right recipes. The blend of sauces in this beef broccoli recipe complement the cauliflower rice. If you don’t believe us, try it yourself!
• Noodles and Fried Rice. A common misconception is that you can’t mix rice and noodles, but there are plenty of recipes that do so. And why not? They can make one feel full faster while adding a different texture to the recipe. You won’t need a different pan if you want to try it with the dish above; simply cook store-bought noodles beforehand and add it while cooking the rest of the dish. This is definitely one of our favorites!

These recipes are just some of the variations you can play around with while creating the perfect beef and broccoli meal. If you’ve discovered a new way to cook rice, don’t hesitate to try it! 

We hope this mealtime idea has inspired you to cook your favorite comfort food right at home! Want ideas for rice-based recipes? We’ve got all that and more in store for you right here on our site.