Sticky Honey Garlic Beef & Broccoli Bowls – Easy 25-Minute Dinner
These Sticky Honey Garlic Beef & Broccoli Bowls are an easy 25-minute weeknight dinner made with tender sirloin steak, crisp broccoli and a sweet and savory homemade honey garlic sauce.
Creator: Leslie Stokes
There are some nights when I have the energy to make a whole dinner with sides and all the things…and then there are the nights when I need everything to come together in one skillet in about 25 minutes.
These Sticky Honey Garlic Beef & Broccoli Bowls are for those nights.
Thin slices of sirloin steak get quickly seared until browned around the edges, broccoli keeps a little bit of crunch, and everything gets tossed in the best sticky honey garlic sauce. It’s sweet, savory, garlicky and just a little spicy if you add the sriracha.
Pile everything over warm jasmine rice, add green onions and sesame seeds, and dinner is done.
This is exactly the type of recipe I need during the school year. With three kids, after-school activities, homework, work and everyone asking what’s for dinner, I’m always looking for meals that don’t require a ton of prep or a sink full of dishes afterward.
And while this tastes like the kind of beef and broccoli we’d normally order for takeout, it’s simple enough to throw together on a random Tuesday night.
Why You’ll Love These Honey Garlic Beef Bowls
I think the best weeknight recipes are the ones that feel like you put more effort into them than you actually did. This is definitely one of those dinners.
The steak cooks in just a few minutes, broccoli goes right into the same skillet, and the sauce is made with ingredients I almost always have in the pantry.
Plus, you’re getting protein, vegetables and carbs all in one bowl, so there’s really no need to figure out a bunch of sides.
A few more reasons this one is going into our regular dinner rotation:
- Ready in about 25 minutes.
- Made mostly in one skillet for easy cleanup.
- Family-friendly with an optional kick from sriracha.
- High in protein thanks to the sirloin steak.
- Great for meal prep because the beef and broccoli reheat really well.
- Easy to customize with different vegetables, rice or noodles.
- That sticky honey garlic sauce makes broccoli something everyone actually wants to eat.
The Secret to Really Good Beef & Broccoli
There are two little things that make a huge difference here.
First, slice your steak thinly against the grain. This keeps the beef tender instead of chewy. If you’re having trouble getting really thin slices, pop the steak into the freezer for about 20–30 minutes first. You don’t want it frozen solid—just firm enough to make slicing easier.
Second, don’t overcrowd your skillet.
I know it’s tempting to dump all the steak in at once, especially when we’re trying to get dinner on the table quickly, but cooking it in two batches gives the beef those browned, slightly crispy edges instead of steaming in the pan.
The cornstarch coating also helps with browning and gives the outside of the beef that restaurant-style texture.
That Sticky Honey Garlic Sauce
The sauce might be my favorite part of this entire recipe.
It starts with low-sodium soy sauce and honey and then gets plenty of fresh garlic and ginger. Rice vinegar cuts through the sweetness, sesame oil adds that classic savory flavor, and a little sriracha can give it some heat.
Then cornstarch and water turn everything into a thick, glossy sauce that clings to every piece of steak and broccoli.
And when I say it thickens quickly, I mean quickly. Once the sauce hits the hot skillet, you’ll only need a minute or two before it becomes glossy and sticky.
My Weeknight Shortcut
If it’s one of those nights, grab a bag of steam-in-bag broccoli.
Microwave it for slightly less time than the package recommends so it stays crisp, then skip the broccoli-cooking step completely. Toss it into the skillet with the beef right at the end.
You can also use frozen jasmine rice or microwaveable rice. Dinner can genuinely be on the table in about 20 minutes with those two shortcuts.
What Other Vegetables Can I Add?
This is also a great clean-out-the-fridge dinner. Along with—or instead of—the broccoli, try bell peppers, snap peas, green beans, mushrooms, zucchini, shredded carrots or asparagus.
Just keep in mind that vegetables cook at different speeds. I would sauté firmer vegetables first and add quicker-cooking vegetables toward the end.
What Kind of Steak Is Best for Beef & Broccoli?
Sirloin is my pick for this recipe because it’s relatively lean, affordable and cooks quickly.
You can also use:
Flank steak: Great for thin slices and really good at soaking up sauce.
Skirt steak: Super flavorful, but make sure you slice it very thinly against the grain.
Flat iron steak: Tender and great for quick skillet recipes.
Whichever cut you choose, slicing against the grain is probably more important than the exact cut of beef.
Can I Make This Less Spicy for Kids?
Absolutely. Just leave out the sriracha.
The sauce will still have plenty of flavor from the honey, garlic, ginger and sesame oil. If the adults want some heat, add sriracha or chili crisp to individual bowls at the table.
That’s usually what I do because everyone in our house has a very different definition of “spicy.”
What to Serve With Honey Garlic Beef & Broccoli
Jasmine rice is my favorite because it soaks up all of that sticky sauce, but you can switch things up with brown rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa or noodles.
For an extra vegetable, cucumber salad would be really good on the side and give the meal something fresh and crunchy.
Meal Prep & Storage
This is a really good one to make for dinner and purposely save a couple servings for lunch.
Let everything cool before transferring it to airtight containers. Store the beef and broccoli in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
You can store the rice separately or portion everything into individual meal-prep containers.
Reheat gently in the microwave or in a skillet. If the sauce has thickened too much in the refrigerator, add a tiny splash of water before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken instead of beef?
Yes. Thinly sliced chicken breast or chicken thighs would both work. Just make sure the chicken is cooked through before adding the sauce.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes. I prefer fresh for the best crisp-tender texture, but frozen broccoli works on busy nights. Steam it until just tender and add it toward the end.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes. Replace the soy sauce with gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos. Double-check the labels on your remaining ingredients as well.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes. Whisk the sauce together and store it covered in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Give it a really good whisk before pouring it into the skillet because the cornstarch will settle.
Can I use ground beef?
You can. It becomes a slightly different recipe, but it’s a great budget-friendly shortcut. Brown the ground beef, drain excess grease if necessary, and then add the sauce and broccoli.
Tips for the best beef & broccoli
Get the skillet hot. High heat is what gives you those browned edges on the steak.
Cook the beef in batches. Crowding the skillet causes the beef to steam instead of sear.
Don’t overcook the broccoli. You want it bright green and crisp-tender because it’ll cook a little more when you toss it back into the sauce.
Whisk the sauce again before adding it. Cornstarch tends to settle at the bottom while it sits.
Have everything ready before you start cooking. This recipe moves fast once the skillet is hot.
Double the sauce if you’re a sauce person. Especially if you want plenty left to spoon over the rice.
I hope this dinner recipe helps you! Don’t forget to follow along on social media for more Meal Prep + healthy recipes!
Sticky Honey Garlic Beef & Broccoli Bowls
Ingredients
Beef + Broccoli
- 1½ pounds sirloin steak thinly sliced against the grain
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons water
- 3 green onions sliced
- Sesame seeds for serving
- Cooked jasmine rice for serving
Sticky Honey Garlic Sauce
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 5 cloves garlic finely grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ⅓ cup water
- 1-2 teaspoons sriracha optional
Let's Make It
- Prep the beef. Pat the steak dry with paper towels and slice it thinly against the grain. Add it to a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon cornstarch, salt and pepper until lightly coated.
- Make the honey garlic sauce. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, cornstarch, water and sriracha, if using. Set aside.
- Cook the broccoli. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a small drizzle of oil. Add the broccoli and 2 tablespoons water. Cover and cook for about 2 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes, or until the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender. Transfer it to a plate.
- Sear the steak. Increase the heat to high and add another drizzle of oil if needed. Arrange the steak in a single layer. Cook in two batches if necessary so the pan isn’t overcrowded. Sear for approximately 1–2 minutes per side until browned.
- Make it sticky. Return all of the beef to the skillet. Give the sauce another quick whisk and pour it over the beef. Let it bubble for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce becomes thick, glossy and sticky.
- Add the broccoli. Return the broccoli to the skillet and toss everything together until the beef and broccoli are completely coated in the honey garlic sauce.
- Build the bowls. Spoon jasmine rice into bowls and top with the sticky honey garlic beef and broccoli. Finish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition Facts
Approximate nutrition per serving, based on 5 servings and excluding rice:
Calories: 390
Protein: 38g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 17g
Sodium: 850mg
Nutrition will vary depending on the exact steak, soy sauce, amount of oil and serving size used.
Meal Prep in 1 Hour
You can use any two of the meals in this series to get your meal prep done in just about and hour, give or take!
Having your breakfast and lunch ready for the week helps you stay on track with your nutriton, saves you time and money! I truly beleive that meal prep does not need to be over complicated, take too much time or be boring!
I always get asked- “do you ever get tired of eating the same thing all week?” and the answer is, no! Not when the food taste good! I give plenty of variety in these preps and keep it simple!
As always, thanks for being here and remember, don’t over complicate the process! Take a deep breath, you got this!
