This healthy beef and broccoli freezer meal takes about 15 minutes to prep for a quick and easy make ahead meal! Then you can cook it on the stove in 15 minutes for a super simple meal on those busy nights. The delicious, tender beef strips are packed with flavor thanks to a savory sauce that infuses into every bite. Serve it with rice or noodles to make a complete meal the whole family will love! {Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free-Friendly}
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Healthy Beef and Broccoli Freezer Meal
There’s nothing better than knowing your freezer is stashed with simple, healthy meals you can use any time, and this classic broccoli beef freezer meal is one of the best! It’s loaded with protein, fiber, veggies…and flavor. The sauce is made with some of the most flavorful ingredients ever, like soy sauce, fresh garlic, ginger, honey, sesame oil, and more.
The entire meal can be packed up in the freezer and cooked up in around 30 minutes, so it’s such an easy way to eat nutritious meals even during those busy times of year!
For more easy freezer meals, check out this Freezer Meal Chicken Fajitas Recipe too!
Why We Love This Healthy Beef and Broccoli Recipe
- Savory and satisfying with lots of texture and flavor
- Dietitian-approved for a nutrient-rich option for the whole family
- Great for meal prep (makes the best leftovers!)
- Tastes like Chinese restaurant take out
- Naturally sweetened with honey – no brown sugar
- Gluten-free and non-dairy for those with intolerances
- Ready in about 30 minutes – perfect for busy weeknights!
- Super simple recipe anyone can make
- Great freezer meal for busy times of life
- Made with simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry
Ingredient Notes
For the sauce
- Low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos: This adds a deep, savory flavor to this healthy beef and broccoli stir fry without a ton of sodium.
- Low sodium beef broth: Or you can use water. Broth will add more flavor.
- Fresh garlic
- Sesame oil: For a glossy, nutty flavor.
- Grated ginger: This is key for a really bright, refreshing flavor that balances all of the fresh garlic.
- Honey: Honey rounds out the flavor of this dish and balances the salty soy sauce. You can substitute a tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup if you don’t have honey on hand.
- Red pepper flakes: Add these to taste. If you don’t like spicy flavors, you can skip this!
- Corn starch (or arrowroot powder): To thicken the sauce.
- Green onions
- Salt and pepper: Season to taste. Since the soy sauce is naturally salty, you won’t need much.
For the beef and broccoli
- Light olive oil: Heat some oil to cook the beef. You can also use coconut oil or avocado oil.
- Lean steak: Feel free to use any type of lean beef, including flank, skirt, or sirloin steak. It’s important to slice the meat very thin.
- Fresh broccoli: Cut into small florets. If you are freezing this meal, feel free to use frozen broccoli instead.
- Sweet onion: These add a nice sweetness and soak up all that sauce!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep for the Freezer
- In a half gallon size freezer bag, place the sliced beef, remove air and seal.
- In a separate half gallon size freezer bag, place the broccoli and onion, remove air and seal.
- In a third bag, place the sauce ingredients, remove air and seal. Label a large freezer bag with the recipe name and date, and place the three bags inside. Seal and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or up to 2 days in advance.
Stove Top Instructions
- Mix all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl with the cornstarch and 2 green onions. Set aside.
- Pat the beef dry with clean paper towel.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium high heat, add a drizzle of oil, about 1 tablespoon. Once shimmering, add the beef, working in batches so you don’t crowd the pan. Cook until lightly seared, about 3 minutes, it’s ok if it’s not cooked through at this point. Remove to a plate.
- Add the broccoli and sliced onion to the pan and saute until brown and crisp tender, about 3 minutes, adding another drizzle of oil as needed.
- Add the sauce ingredients to the pan, simmer until the broccoli is cooked to your liking. Add beef and any accumulated juices on the plate, along with the green onion, cook an additional 1 minute until the beef is warmed and just cooked through. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- If you want to make this freezer meal on the stovetop, I recommend storing the vegetables and meat in separate bags. Then, you can cook the thawed beef first and add the vegetables at the end to avoid overcooking.
- For best results, thaw this freezer meal in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking. If you need to thaw the beef quickly, you can submerge the bag in a bowl of cool water for about 15-30 minutes, do not exceed 30 minutes for food safety.
- For fastest thawing: place the beef in the bag and flatten the bag, dispersing the beef in all of the available space in the bag, then freeze flat. Creating more surface area will help it thaw quickly.
- Sirloin, skirt steak and flank steak can all be tough cuts of meat because they are very lean. Slice it as thinly as you can across the grain to keep it tender. Be careful to not overcook if using the stovetop method, this will make your beef tough.
- Use a long, very sharp knife to cut your beef. If you are having trouble slicing it, place the beef in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm it up a bit, this will make it easier to slice thin.
- Chuck would not be a suitable cut for this dish. Chuck contains a lot of fat and connective tissue that needs to be slowly rendered down. Strip steak or tenderloin would work as well, but would not be the most cost effective option.
Recipe FAQs
You can make beef and broccoli with ground beef, similar to my healthy Korean beef, but this recipe is best with a steak. It makes it taste much more like you ordered takeout and has a satisfying texture. I recommend using flank steak or another lower-fat cut and trim it into thin strips.
No, if you prefer, you can just freeze the beef in the sauce and add frozen or fresh broccoli when you go to cook it! That’s an easy swap.
Technically, yes, but store-bought teriyaki sauce is very, very sweet and tends to be highly processed. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, try adding more honey or substituting maple syrup instead.
Storage Guidelines
How to store: Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat: Either microwave the leftovers for 3-4 minutes or warm them in a skillet on the stove with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce.
How to make a freezer meal: Combine the meat and sauce in a gallon-sized freezer bag and the broccoli in a separate bag. Place the vegetable bag in with the beef and squeeze out as much air as you can. Freeze for up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the fridge and either cook on the stove or in the slow cooker following the instructions in the recipe card. Easy!
Serving Suggestions
Since this recipe already contains the protein, veggies, and sauce, you really just need a starch to make a balanced meal (or skip it for a lower carb option)! This can be as simple as a pot of jasmine rice or brown rice, warm soba or udon noodles, cauliflower rice, quinoa, roasted potatoes, or your preferred side.
I also like to garnish it with sesame seeds, fresh green onions, or chopped cilantro for a little extra color. It’s great with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, too!
Recipe Variations
- Add more veggies: Instead of just broccoli florets and onion, feel free to add sliced bell peppers. You can also serve the dish with mushrooms or zucchini, but it’s best to cook those from fresh for the best texture.
- Sweeten the sauce: For more of a teriyaki flavor, add more honey or switch to maple syrup. You can also use coconut sugar or brown sugar, but they may require a little extra liquid to bring the sauce together.
- Add more heat: If you love spicy foods, feel free to amp up the broccoli sauce with even more red pepper flakes as well as cayenne pepper or sriracha sauce.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Healthy Freezer Crockpot Meals
- Healthy Freezer Meals
- Pulled Maple BBQ Beef
- Vegetarian Lasagna Soup
- Low Sodium Orange Chicken
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Beef and Broccoli Freezer Meal
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1/2 cup low sodium beef broth or water
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, or 1/2 teaspoon dry ground
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish if desired
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the beef and broccoli
- Light olive oil (or avocado or coconut oil)
- 1 1/2 pounds lean steak, sliced very thin (flank, skirt, or sirloin)
- 4 cups broccoli, cut into small florets
- 1/2 large sweet onion, sliced
Instructions
Prep for the Freezer
- In a half gallon size freezer bag, place the sliced beef, remove air and seal.
- In a separate half gallon size freezer bag, place the broccoli and onion, remove air and seal.
- In a third bag, place the sauce ingredients, remove air and seal. Label a large freezer bag with the recipe name and date, and place the three bags inside. Seal and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or up to 2 days in advance.
Stovetop Instructions
- Mix all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl with the cornstarch and 2 green onions. Set aside.
- Pat the beef dry with clean paper towel.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium high heat, add a drizzle of oil, about 1 tablespoon. Once shimmering, add the beef, working in batches so you don’t crowd the pan. Cook until lightly seared, about 3 minutes, it’s ok if it’s not cooked through at this point. Remove to a plate.
- Add the broccoli and sliced onion to the pan and saute until brown and crisp tender, about 3 minutes, adding another drizzle of oil as needed.
- Add the sauce ingredients to the pan, simmer until the broccoli is cooked to your liking. Add beef and any accumulated juices on the plate, along with the green onion, cook an additional 1 minute until the beef is warmed and just cooked through. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately along with rice, cauliflower rice or noodles.
Notes
- For best results, thaw this freezer meal in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking. If you need to thaw the beef quickly, you can submerge the bag in a bowl of cool water for about 15-30 minutes, do not exceed 30 minutes for food safety.
- For fastest thawing: place the beef in the bag and flatten the bag, dispersing the beef in all of the available space in the bag, then freeze flat. Creating more surface area will help it thaw quickly.
- Sirloin, skirt steak and flank steak can all be tough cuts of meat because they are very lean. Slice it as thinly as you can across the grain to keep it tender. Be careful to not overcook if using the stovetop method, this will make your beef tough.
- Use a long, very sharp knife to cut your beef. If you are having trouble slicing it, place the beef in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm it up a bit, this will make it easier to slice thin.
Nutrition
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