Begin by preparing your ingredients. Chop broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces for even cooking, and mince the garlic. If you plan to serve this stir-fry with rice or noodles, start cooking them according to package instructions to streamline meal prep and ensure everything is ready simultaneously.

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chopped broccoli and sauté for 3-4 minutes until the florets turn bright green and are tender-crisp. Remove the broccoli from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.

In the same skillet, add the lean ground beef and minced garlic. Cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces with a spatula. Stir occasionally until the beef is mostly browned.

Whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper in a bowl.

Pour the prepared sauce over the browned ground beef in the skillet. Cook everything together for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce slightly thickens.

Return the sautéed broccoli to the skillet, tossing everything together to ensure each component is well coated in the flavorful sauce.

Remove the skillet from heat and taste, adding salt if needed. Serve immediately over your choice of rice or noodles, garnished with sesame seeds.