Brownlee is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Cherry County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 13. It is located on the North Loup River, west of U.S. Route 83 in the Sandhills region of the state.
Founded in 1886 by John R. Lee and William B. Lee, immigrants from Ireland. Brownlee was given the maiden name of the founder's grandmother.