Making my teriyaki beef and broccoli bowl in a rice cooker is an easy, one-pot solution for a delicious, balanced meal. Start by cooking your rice in the cooker, then add thin slices of marinated beef and fresh broccoli on top during the final stages of cooking. The steam from the rice gently cooks the beef and broccoli, keeping them tender and flavorful.
A simple homemade teriyaki sauce—made from soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey, and cornstarch—can be poured over the ingredients to infuse the dish with sweet, savory umami.
The rice cooker does all the work, and once the rice is fluffy and the beef and broccoli are perfectly cooked, you’ll have a hearty bowl that’s packed with nutrition and flavor.
Serve it all together, drizzling extra teriyaki sauce and garnishing with sesame seeds or green onions for a complete, satisfying meal. This method not only saves time but also cuts down on cleanup, making it a go-to for busy weeknights or meal prep.
What Type of Rice to Use
Choosing the right type of rice can be confusing, especially with so many varieties available. From long-grain basmati to aromatic jasmine rice, each type has its own texture and flavor. For this dish, however, I recommend Japanese short-grain or medium-grain rice.
Short-grain rice, often labeled as sushi rice, is particularly prized for its soft and chewy texture, which pairs beautifully with traditional Japanese dishes. Medium-grain rice is a great alternative if short-grain isn’t available (I actually almost always use medium-grain myself because it’s generally cheaper where I live!). Both are ideal for recipes like this one, where the rice’s stickiness helps meld the flavors into every bite.
Recommended Rice Cookers
Do I need to have a fancy rice cooker to make this meal? NO! Just like anything, generally, the higher the quality, the better. But you can make my rice cooker meals in a cheap rice cooker, too!
Click the rice cooker photos to see my favorite rice cookers. I included a budget-friendly rice cooker I love! I use the Tiger 5.5-cup model shown. About 1/2 cup of Japanese short- or medium-grain rice makes 1 serving.
Key Features to Look For in a Rice Cooker:
- Steaming Basket or Tray: Allows you to steam vegetables or cook other ingredients while the rice cooks.
- Multiple Cooking Functions: Ensure it has settings for steaming, slow cooking, and possibly even baking.
- Non-Stick Inner Pot: Makes cleaning easier and prevents sticking.
- Timer and Keep Warm Function: Useful for planning meals ahead of time and keeping them warm until you’re ready to eat.
5.5 cups or 10 cups
2 cups
Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Bowl in a Rice Cooker
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Description
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice (I recommend Japanese short-grain or medium grain for the most authentic Japanese experience!)
- Water
- 1 lb ground beef, uncooked
- 1 cup broccoli (frozen or fresh both work great)
- 3/4 cup teriyaki sauce (you can use store-bought or make your own using the ingredients below)
- 1 avocado
- Chili crisp (for drizzling on top; optional)
- Roasted sesame seeds (for garnish; optional)
Teriyaki Sauce:
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp honey (substitute with brown sugar)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (add more or less depending on thickness preference)
Instructions
- Begin by giving your rice a good rinse to clean it. Then pour it into the rice cooker, along with the appropriate amount of water. Be sure to follow the instructions for the correct water amount depending on the type of rice you are using. I used medium-grain rice, which requires 2 cups of water for every 1.5 cups of rice.
- Skip this step if you are using store-bought teriyaki sauce. To a small sauce pan over medium heat, combine soy sauce, water, brown sugar or honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and cornstarch. Let it cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat.
- To a medium-sized bowl, add your ground beef and 1/2 of your teriyaki sauce. Mix to combine.
- To the rice cooker, add your broccoli and marinated ground beef. Close the rice cooker lid and cook on the regular white rice setting until done.
- Serve, and top each serving with the rest of the teriyaki sauce, half of an avocado, and some chili crisp and roasted sesame seeds as garnish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
This looks fantastic! I’m curious if this would translate to the instant pot rice cooker setting. What do you think?
Hi Elizabeth! I’ve had a few friends say they tried it and it worked, but I think it loses its flavor a little more. To combat that, I recommend reserving most of the teriyaki sauce for drizzling at the end instead of cooking it with the beef. Best of luck!
If we wanted to just do veg, I assume it would be the same steps but marinade/coat the veg in sauce before cooking?
Hi Sam, yes you’re right!
It gives me very strong hamburger helper vibes.
Would everything taste better if you made everything separately? Yes.
Is this a super convenient way to make a meal with the least amount of dishes and effort? Absolutely!
To use 1 less dish, I microwaved the sauce in a microwave safe storage container.
The broccoli ended up very over cooked for me. I would recommend putting the broccoli in the steam basket (if you rice cooker comes with one) and removing it after about 5-7 minutes.
Thank you for sharing this very convenient recipe 😊
Thanks for sharing Meagan!
I’ve found that adding fresh broccoli with about 1/3 of the cook time left works out really well! I know some people like to use frozen broccoli from the start too.
Hi Ella – agreed! Both are easy depending on what you have on hand 🙂
The beef turned out tender and soaked up the sauce really well.
Thank you for your review, John! 🙂