Description
This Cheesy Ground Beef and Broccoli skillet is creamy, comforting, and packed with flavor all made in one pan. Juicy ground beef, tender-crisp broccoli, and a rich, velvety cheese sauce come together in under 30 minutes, making it a cozy weeknight dinner everyone at the table will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1/2 cup beef broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Extra shredded cheddar, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté for 2–3 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 5–7 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
- Drain off any excess fat if necessary, then return the beef mixture to the skillet.
- Season with paprika, salt, and black pepper, stirring to coat the beef evenly.
- Add the broccoli florets and beef broth to the skillet. Stir, then cover with a lid and let simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender but still bright green.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir until it is fully melted and combined with the broth, forming a creamy sauce.
- Gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring constantly until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove from heat. Garnish with extra shredded cheddar if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheddar for the smoothest, creamiest sauce pre-shredded cheese can be grainy because of added anti-caking agents.
- If using frozen broccoli, thaw and pat dry first so it doesn’t water down the sauce.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding a splash more beef broth if it gets too thick, or letting it simmer uncovered for a minute or two to reduce if it’s too thin.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Skillet Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, One-Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of the recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal (approx.)
- Sugar: 3 g (approx.)
- Sodium: 540 mg (approx., using low-sodium broth)
- Fat: 34 g (approx.)
- Saturated Fat: 16 g (approx.)
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g (approx.)
- Trans Fat: 0 g (approx.)
- Carbohydrates: 8 g (approx.)
- Fiber: 2 g (approx.)
- Protein: 28 g (approx.)
- Cholesterol: 115 mg (approx.)
Keywords: cheesy ground beef and broccoli, ground beef skillet, low carb beef and broccoli, one pan dinner, easy weeknight meal