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About This Recipe
If you’re looking for a fast, flavorful dinner that uses simple ingredients, these Honey Garlic Ground Beef Bowls are great! The sauce is a perfect balance of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and garlicky goodness that coats the beef and veggies in a glossy, irresistible glaze.
These Honey Garlic Ground Beef Bowls are perfect for busy weeknights, quick meal prep, or those evenings when you need dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. Serve it over rice, roasted potatoes, or even cauliflower rice for a flexible meal the whole family will love.
For more easy recipes, try my Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Bowls, Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Rice Bowls, Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls, Asian Ground Chicken Rice Bowls, or Crockpot Cuban-Style Mojo Pulled Pork Bowls.
Why You’ll Love These Honey Garlic Ground Beef Bowls
- Perfect for busy weeknights: Quick and easy to make in just 25 minutes!
- Made with simple ingredients: This recipe uses lots of pantry staples you probably already have on hand.
- SO much flavor: The combination of sweet + savory flavor is one the whole family will love!
- High protein: Packed with protein and fiber for a macro-friendly meal!
- Great for meal prep: Easy to prep and reheats great all week!
- Ground beef: I used 93/7 lean ground beef. You could also use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
- Oil or butter: You can use avocado oil, olive oil, or butter. Use whichever you prefer!
- Garlic: Fresh garlic, grated garlic, frozen garlic cubes, or garlic paste all work.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Regular or low sodium soy sauce both work.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with garlic and soy sauce. You can also use pure maple syrup.
- Rice vinegar: Brightens the sauce with a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
- Cornstarch: Helps to thicken the sauce.
- Carrots: Shredded carrots or matchsticks add sweetness, color, and a little crunch.
- Broccoli florets: Chopped into small florets.
- Optional: Cooked rice, roasted or mashed potatoes, or sweet potatoes (for serving), chopped green onions, crushed red pepper, or sesame seeds (for topping).
- Make it spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes, chili crisp, or a drizzle of sriracha mayo or hot honey for some heat.
- Use different vegetables: Swap the broccoli and carrots for snap peas, bell peppers, zucchini, or green beans.
- Make it gluten-free: Use tamari, coconut aminos, or gluten-free soy sauce instead of traditional soy sauce.
- Swap the protein: Ground turkey, chicken, or pork all work well in place of ground beef.
- Serve it low-carb: Skip the rice and serve the beef mixture over cauliflower rice or roasted vegetables.
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef.
2. Cook, breaking into tiny crumbles with a wooden spoon or meat masher, until browned, ~ 6–8 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and corn starch.
4. Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
5. Stir in the shredded carrots and chopped broccoli.
6. Cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly tender but still crisp. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I added 1/4 tsp salt + 1/8 tsp pepper). Serve as is or with cooked rice, roasted potatoes, or sweet potatoes, and enjoy!
Store leftover honey garlic ground beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, warm gently in a skillet over medium heat or microwave in 30–60 second intervals until heated through. If the sauce thickens too much after cooling, just add a splash of water while reheating to loosen it.
Helpful Tips
- Break the beef into small crumbles: Using a meat masher or wooden spoon helps create small pieces that soak up more sauce.
- Don’t overcook the vegetables: You want the broccoli and carrots to stay slightly crisp so they add texture to the dish (and also don’t become mushy when reheating).
- Prep everything first: This recipe cooks quickly, so having the sauce mixed and vegetables ready makes the process much easier.
- Meal prep: If making for meal prep, go ahead and portion out into airtight containers with rice or sweet potatoes for serving.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Honey Garlic Ground Beef Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef 93/7
- 2 tsp. oil or butter (10g)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce (80g)
- 2 Tbsp. honey (42g)
- 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp. corn starch
- 1 cup shredded or matchstick carrots (110g)
- 3 cups broccoli florets (270g) small or roughly chopped
Optional
- For serving: cooked rice, roasted or mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- For topping: Chopped green onions, crushed red pepper or sesame seeds
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Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking into tiny crumbles with a wooden spoon or meat masher, until browned, ~ 6–8 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and corn starch.
- Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- Stir in the shredded carrots and chopped broccoli. Cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly tender but still crisp. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I added 1/4 tsp salt + 1/8 tsp pepper)
- Serve as is or with cooked rice, roasted potatoes, or sweet potatoes and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
