Growing up, beef and broccoli stir-fry was a regular meal in my family since it was quick, easy, and balanced with veggies, protein, and a bowl of rice. So I was excited to see a frozen version of my childhood classic at Trader Joe’s. Keep reading for my review of Trader Joe’s Mildly Sweet & Spicy Beef & Broccoli.
Trader Joe’s Mildly Sweet & Spicy Beef & Broccoli Overview
The Beef & Broccoli comes frozen and can be found in the freezer section. One bag costs $7.50 and includes three smaller bags inside: one with broccoli, one with breaded beef, and one with sauce.
Rating and Review
This dish was quite different from the traditional beef and broccoli stir-fry I grew up with. The sauce leaned heavily on the sweet side and reminded me more of Panda Express’s Beijing Beef or the sauce used for orange chicken. Despite the name suggesting heat, I didn’t find it spicy at all. The beef slices were coated in a thick breading, giving it a texture more like a fast-food-style entrée than a classic stir-fry. The flavor wasn’t bad—just not what I would consider traditional. While the traditional version is a fairly healthy dish, the thick breading in this one made the macros less favorable compared to classic beef and broccoli.
Ingredients
- Broccoli florets
- Beef with seasoning: beef strips, soybean oil, water, coating (cornstarch, bread crumbs made from enriched unbleached wheat flour, sugar, yeast, salt), soybean oil, leavening agents (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate), soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), potato starch, sodium bicarbonate, soy protein isolate, salt, carrageenan, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper
- Sauce: sugar, water, red chile garlic puree (chile pepper, vinegar, garlic, salt), soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), vinegar, garlic puree (garlic, citric acid), modified cornstarch, salt, ginger puree, red chile pepper, cayenne pepper, caramel color
Allergens: Contains wheat and soy
Nutrition:
- Serving size: 1 cup frozen with sauce (116g)
- Calories: 230
- Total Fat: 8g
- Total Carbohydrate: 31g
- Protein: 8g
Trader Joe’s Mildly Sweet & Spicy Beef & Broccoli Cooking Instructions
Keep frozen until ready to cook.
Stove Top: Warm skillet over medium/low. Add broccoli and stir until warmed through and any excess water evaporated, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Increase heat to medium/high, add cooking oil, and heat until sizziling. Add beef and stir until hot and crispy about 6-7 minutes.
Add broccoli back in and re-warm for about 1-2 minutes.
Add sauce and continue to stir until broccoli and beef are well coated and sauce starts to sizzle, about 2 minutes.
Serve right away; alone or rice.
If you enjoyed this sweet and spicy beef and broccoli review, you might also like my Trader Joe’s Okonomiyaki review.
