Sharing is caring!

Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Bowls

These Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Bowls are loaded with tender strips of beef, crisp-tender broccoli, and a sweet and savory homemade honey teriyaki sauce, all served over warm white rice.

The sauce is what makes this dinner so good. It’s sweet from the honey, savory from the soy sauce, and filled with garlic and ginger. As it cooks, it thickens into a glossy sauce that coats every piece of beef and broccoli.

Spoon everything over a bowl of fluffy rice and drizzle a little extra sauce over the top.

It’s an easy dinner that tastes like your favorite takeout meal but is simple enough to make at home on a busy weeknight.

Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Bowl

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Tender strips of beef
• Crisp-tender broccoli
• Sweet and savory honey teriyaki sauce
• Ready in about 35 minutes
• Easy weeknight dinner
• Made in one skillet
• Delicious served over rice
• Easy alternative to takeout
• Great for meal prep

Ingredients

For the Beef and Broccoli

• 1 1/2 pounds flank steak or sirloin steak
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable or avocado oil, divided
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons water
• 3 cups cooked white rice, for serving

For the Honey Teriyaki Sauce

• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water

Optional Toppings

• Sesame seeds
• Sliced green onions
• Extra honey teriyaki sauce

How to Make Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Bowls

Step 1: Prepare the Beef

Slice the steak into thin strips against the grain.

This is important because cutting against the grain shortens the muscle fibers and helps keep the beef tender.

Place the sliced beef in a bowl.

Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and the black pepper.

Toss until the beef is lightly coated.

Step 2: Make the Honey Teriyaki Sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, 1/4 cup water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.

Set aside.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water.

This is your cornstarch slurry. You’ll add it toward the end to give the teriyaki sauce that thick, glossy consistency.

Step 3: Cook the Broccoli

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the broccoli florets.

Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add 2 tablespoons of water and cover the skillet.

Let the broccoli steam for another 2–3 minutes, or until it’s bright green and crisp-tender.

Don’t cook it until it’s completely soft. You want the broccoli to retain a little bite.

Transfer the broccoli to a plate.

Step 4: Sear the Beef

Return the skillet to medium-high heat.

Add the remaining tablespoon of oil.

Once the skillet is hot, add the beef in a single layer.

Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to cook the beef in two batches.

Let the beef sear without moving it too much so you get some beautiful browning around the edges.

Cook for approximately 2–3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked to your desired doneness.

Step 5: Add the Honey Teriyaki Sauce

Reduce the heat to medium.

Pour the honey teriyaki sauce into the skillet with the beef.

Stir and let it simmer for about 1–2 minutes.

Give the cornstarch slurry another quick stir and slowly pour it into the skillet.

Continue stirring as the sauce cooks.

Within another minute or two, the sauce should become thick, glossy, and beautiful.

Step 6: Add the Broccoli

Return the cooked broccoli to the skillet.

Gently toss the beef and broccoli together until everything is completely coated in the honey teriyaki sauce.

Let it cook for another minute, just long enough to warm the broccoli through.

Remove the skillet from the heat.

Step 7: Assemble the Bowls

Spoon warm white rice into the bottom of each bowl.

Pile the honey teriyaki beef and broccoli over the rice.

Make sure to spoon some of that extra glossy sauce over everything.

Finish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired.

Serve immediately.

Jennie’s Thoughts

I love dinners that are served in bowls.

There’s just something about putting rice on the bottom and piling something really saucy over the top that makes a simple dinner feel so much better.

And this honey teriyaki sauce is definitely the star here.

I wanted it to be sweeter than a traditional beef and broccoli sauce, so I used honey along with a little brown sugar.

Once the sauce hits the hot skillet and starts to thicken, it gets glossy and sticky and completely coats the beef.

Then you add the broccoli back in and coat that in the sauce too.

The rice underneath catches all the extra sauce.

That’s probably my favorite part.

I like to spoon a little extra sauce from the skillet right over the finished bowl so some of it runs down into the rice.

It’s sweet, savory, garlicky, and just a little sticky.

And when you get beef, broccoli, rice, and that honey teriyaki sauce all in one bite, it’s so good.

What Kind of Beef Is Best for Beef and Broccoli?

Flank steak is one of my favorite choices because it cooks quickly and works beautifully when sliced thinly against the grain.

Sirloin steak is another great option.

You can also use:

• Skirt steak
• Flat iron steak
• New York strip
• Ribeye

Whatever cut you choose, slicing it thinly is one of the most important parts of the recipe.

How to Slice Beef Against the Grain

Look closely at your steak and you’ll see lines running through the meat.

Those are the muscle fibers, or “grain.”

Instead of cutting in the same direction as those lines, turn your knife and cut across them.

Thin slices cut against the grain will be much easier to chew and give you more tender pieces of beef.

The Secret to Getting a Good Sear

Don’t overcrowd the skillet.

If you put too much beef into the pan at once, the temperature drops and the beef releases moisture.

Instead of browning, it begins to steam.

If your skillet isn’t large enough to hold all the beef in a single layer, cook it in two batches.

That little bit of extra time is worth it.

What Does Honey Add to Teriyaki Sauce?

Honey does more than make the sauce sweet.

As it cooks, it helps give the sauce a slightly sticky consistency that clings beautifully to the beef and broccoli.

Combined with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, you get that sweet-savory flavor that makes teriyaki so irresistible.

Can I Use Frozen Broccoli?

Yes.

Fresh broccoli gives you the best crisp-tender texture, but frozen broccoli works when that’s what you have.

Thaw it first and remove as much excess moisture as possible.

Because frozen broccoli is already partially cooked, add it toward the end rather than steaming it for several minutes.

You don’t want it to become mushy.

Don’t Overcook the Broccoli

One of the best things about beef and broccoli is the contrast between the tender meat and broccoli that still has a little texture.

Cook the broccoli until it’s bright green and just tender enough to easily bite through.

Remember that it goes back into the skillet with the hot sauce at the end, so it will continue cooking slightly.

Can I Make the Teriyaki Sauce Ahead of Time?

Yes.

Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.

Store the sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to several days.

Wait to make and add the cornstarch slurry until you’re cooking the meal.

What Rice Should I Serve With Teriyaki Beef?

I love this over simple white rice because it soaks up the extra sauce.

You can also serve it with:

• Jasmine rice
• Basmati rice
• Brown rice
• Fried rice

Jasmine rice is especially good with the sweet teriyaki sauce.

Make It Spicy

If you like sweet-and-spicy sauces, add a little heat.

Try adding:

• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Sriracha
• Chili garlic sauce
• Thinly sliced fresh chili peppers

Start with a small amount and add more to taste.

You still want the honey teriyaki flavor to come through.

Add More Vegetables

Broccoli is the classic choice, but this is an easy recipe to customize.

Try adding:

• Sliced bell peppers
• Snow peas
• Sugar snap peas
• Sliced carrots
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini
• Green beans
• Sliced onions

It’s also a great way to use vegetables you already have in the refrigerator.

Make Honey Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

You can use the same basic recipe with chicken.

Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into bite-sized pieces.

Cook the chicken in the skillet until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, then add the teriyaki sauce and continue with the recipe.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

You can store the rice separately or portion everything into individual containers for easy lunches.

How to Reheat

Reheat the beef and broccoli gently in a skillet over medium-low heat.

The sauce will thicken considerably in the refrigerator, so add a tablespoon or two of water while reheating if necessary.

You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.

Great for Meal Prep

These bowls are really easy to turn into meal-prep lunches.

Divide cooked rice between individual containers.

Add the Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli.

Refrigerate until you’re ready to eat.

The rice absorbs some of the sauce as it sits, which makes the leftovers especially flavorful.

Better-Than-Takeout Beef and Broccoli at Home

These Honey Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Bowls are one of those dinners that look impressive but don’t require complicated ingredients or hours in the kitchen.

You get tender strips of seared beef, bright broccoli, fluffy rice, and that gorgeous homemade honey teriyaki sauce tying everything together.

The sauce is sweet.

It’s savory.

It’s garlicky.

And it’s just sticky enough to coat every bite.

Spoon it all over a warm bowl of rice and make sure you get plenty of extra sauce from the skillet.

If you’re looking for an easy beef dinner, homemade teriyaki recipe, beef and broccoli recipe, or quick weeknight rice bowl, this is one you’ll want to save and make again.