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Healthy Ground Beef and Broccoli Fried Quinoa Recipe

Introduction

This Healthy Ground Beef and Broccoli Fried Quinoa recipe is a nutritious, flavor-packed alternative to traditional takeout fried rice. Quinoa acts as a protein-rich, gluten-free base, while lean ground beef and crunchy broccoli add hearty texture and depth. It’s a simple, one-pan meal that’s satisfying enough for dinner yet light enough to make you feel energized—not weighed down.

Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef and Broccoli Fried Quinoa

With its savory umami notes and vibrant veggies, this dish is a total crowd-pleaser. The quinoa absorbs a delicious blend of garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil, while ground beef adds richness, and broccoli brings a fresh crunch. Better yet, the whole meal comes together in about 30 minutes using just one skillet, keeping weekday dinners healthy and hassle-free.

How to Get That Perfect Fried Quinoa Texture

Start by cooking your quinoa ahead of time and letting it cool—day-old quinoa works best because it’s dry and less likely to clump. Brown the ground beef for extra flavor, then stir-fry broccoli just until crisp-tender. When adding the quinoa, spread it evenly in the pan and let it toast for a few moments to ensure you get that classic “fried rice” texture with nourishing whole-grain benefits.

Simple Steps for Healthy Fried Quinoa

Stir-frying is fast, so prep all your ingredients first. You’ll sauté aromatics like garlic and onion, add protein, toss in veggies, then finish with perfectly cooked quinoa and your sauce. For extra nutrition, toss in a handful of chopped scallions or shredded carrots—or customize it with your favorite add-ins.

Serving Suggestions for Maximum Enjoyment

This healthy fried quinoa is perfect served hot from the skillet, garnished with sesame seeds, a squeeze of lime, or a drizzle of sriracha for heat. Pair it with a fresh cucumber salad or steamed edamame to round out your meal. The leftovers are just as tasty, so it’s ideal for meal prep lunches.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes about 4 generous servings. Each portion typically contains around 350 calories, packing in protein, fiber, and veggies with lower carbs than classic fried rice—making it a smart choice for balanced, everyday eating.

Healthy Ground Beef and Broccoli Fried Quinoa (Recap)

Quick, satisfying, and full of flavor—this ground beef and broccoli fried quinoa recipe transforms basic ingredients into a crave-worthy meal. It’s a healthy dish that doesn’t sacrifice taste or convenience, perfect for busy weeknights and crowd-pleasing family dinners.

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked quinoa (about 2 ½ cups cooked, cooled)

1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil

1 pound lean ground beef

2 cups broccoli florets, chopped small

1 small onion, diced

2–3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos)

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (optional)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Salt and pepper, to taste

Sesame seeds and sliced green onion, for garnish (optional)

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate a smart, organized shopping list—sorted by store section for quick, efficient grocery trips and stress-free meal prep.

Instructions

Rinse quinoa and cook according to package directions. Fluff and set aside to cool completely, ideally in the fridge for several hours or overnight for best texture.
Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, cook until browned and crumbled, about 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat if needed.
Add the diced onion and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
Add chopped broccoli florets and cook, stirring often, until just tender but still bright green—about 4 minutes.
Push the meat and veggies to one side of the pan. Pour eggs into the cleared side and scramble until just set, then combine everything together.
Add cooked, cooled quinoa to the skillet along with soy sauce, sesame oil, and grated ginger. Toss well, spreading the quinoa out in the pan and letting it toast undisturbed for a minute to develop flavor.
Stir and cook for 2–3 more minutes until everything is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and scallions if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This beef and broccoli fried quinoa is perfect for batch cooking and meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe to your weekly meal plan—CookifyAI will instantly generate organized shopping lists and even combine ingredients across all planned recipes for you.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates exact ingredient totals for all your weekly meals
– Sorts groceries by store aisle for speedy shopping
– Prevents forgotten ingredients and food waste by reducing duplicates
– Makes meal prepping for the week effortless and streamlined

Pro Tip: When planning several meals that use similar produce or proteins, schedule your week ahead—CookifyAI aligns overlapping ingredients so you buy just what you need!