This Ground Beef Stir Fry is a quick and easy weeknight meal, packed with colorful vegetables and tender ground beef in a savory homemade stir-fry sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, this one-pan dish is budget-friendly, low-carb, and can be served with rice or noodles for a satisfying meal. It’s a family favorite that can easily be customized with your favorite vegetables and protein.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Stir-Fry:

2 tbsp olive oil, divided
8 oz mushrooms, sliced (crimini or any preferred type)
3 bell peppers (red, yellow, and green), chopped
1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
4 green onions, chopped
2 tbsp white sesame seeds, toasted
1 tbsp black sesame seeds, toasted

For the Stir-Fry Sauce:

2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp low-sodium tamari sauce or low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp brown sugar

Directions

Cook the mushrooms: In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 4 minutes without stirring, allowing them to get a nice sear. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Cook the bell peppers: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and the chopped bell peppers. Cook for about 5 minutes, until softened, and then remove from the skillet.
Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, crumbling it with a spoon until it’s fully cooked through. Drain any excess grease and liquid.
Prepare the sauce: While the beef is cooking, whisk together the garlic, tamari sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar in a small bowl.
Combine the stir fry: Return the cooked bell peppers, mushrooms, and green onions to the skillet with the beef. Pour the stir-fry sauce over the mixture and stir everything together to coat. Cook for another 2 minutes until everything is heated through.
Serve and garnish: Top with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately. Optionally, serve over cooked rice or noodles.

Nutrients (Per serving, estimated)

Calories: 477
Carbohydrates: 20g
Protein: 29g
Fat: 31g
Sodium: 650mg
Sugar: 9g

Why This Ground Beef Stir Fry is Perfect for Busy Nights

There are so many reasons why this stir fry is an ideal dinner option for busy weeknights:

Quick and Easy: Ready in just 20 minutes, it doesn’t require hours of prep or cooking time, making it perfect for those evenings when you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen.
One-Pan Meal: You’ll only need one skillet to cook everything, making cleanup a breeze.
Customizable: Whether you prefer different vegetables or proteins, this dish is flexible, allowing you to add your favorite ingredients and make it your own.
Healthy and Balanced: With lean ground beef, fresh veggies, and a homemade stir-fry sauce, this meal is nutritious and provides a good balance of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Budget-Friendly: Ground beef is an affordable protein source, and the recipe uses simple pantry staples, making it a cost-effective meal option for families.

The Benefits of Ground Beef in Stir Fry

Ground beef is a popular protein choice for stir-fry recipes, and for good reason:

Flavorful and Tender: Ground beef provides a rich, savory flavor and cooks quickly, making it perfect for stir-fries.
Versatile: Ground beef pairs well with a wide variety of vegetables and sauces, allowing for easy customization.
Protein-Packed: This recipe uses lean ground beef (85% lean), providing a good source of protein without too much fat, making it a filling and satisfying option.

For those who prefer a different protein, this recipe can easily be adapted to include ground chicken, turkey, tofu, or even shrimp, allowing you to make it suit your dietary needs or personal preferences.

The Vegetables That Make This Stir Fry Shine

The vegetables in this stir fry are not only delicious, but also packed with nutrients. Here’s what they bring to the table:

Bell Peppers: These colorful vegetables are rich in vitamins A and C and bring both sweetness and crunch to the stir fry. The different colored peppers (red, yellow, and green) add a pop of color, making the dish even more visually appealing.
Mushrooms: Mushrooms add an earthy, savory flavor and are packed with fiber and antioxidants, making them a great addition to any meal.
Green Onions: These bring a mild, fresh onion flavor that complements the richness of the beef without overwhelming the dish.
Optional Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables such as zucchini, broccoli, snap peas, or carrots to increase the dish’s nutritional value and add variety to the texture and flavor profile.

These vegetables, combined with the beef, create a dish that’s both hearty and fresh, perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner.

The Secret to the Perfect Stir-Fry Sauce

The sauce is the key to creating the bold, savory flavor in this dish. Made with a combination of tamari (or soy sauce), sesame oil, garlic, rice vinegar, and brown sugar, the sauce delivers a perfect balance of salty, sweet, and tangy flavors that coat the beef and vegetables beautifully.

Tamari or Soy Sauce: Adds the umami base that gives the stir fry its savory depth. Tamari is often used as a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce, so it’s perfect for those with dietary restrictions.
Sesame Oil: A fragrant, nutty oil that adds richness and enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Rice Vinegar: Provides a mild acidity that balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and the saltiness of the soy sauce.
Brown Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the savory flavors and create a well-rounded sauce.
Garlic: A key aromatic in stir-fries, garlic adds a punch of flavor that complements the beef and vegetables.

The quick, homemade stir-fry sauce is easy to make, and you can adjust the flavors to suit your taste—whether you prefer a bit more sweetness, tang, or spice.

How to Serve Ground Beef Stir Fry

This Ground Beef Stir Fry is incredibly versatile, allowing you to serve it in different ways:

Rice: Serve the stir fry over a bed of steamed white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a complete, satisfying meal.
Noodles: For a noodle dish, serve the stir fry over rice noodles, soba noodles, or even ramen for a delicious and filling dinner.
Salads: For a low-carb or keto-friendly option, serve the stir fry on top of a bed of leafy greens or a cucumber salad for a light and refreshing meal.
Lettuce Wraps: For a healthier alternative, serve the stir-fried beef and veggies in lettuce leaves to create a low-carb, fresh wrap.
Tacos or Burritos: Use the stir-fry as a filling for soft corn tortillas or flour tortillas, and top with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa for a tasty twist.

This one-pan stir fry is so flexible that it can fit into any meal plan, whether you’re craving a comforting bowl of rice or a light, low-carb option.

Meal Prep and Storage Tips

This Ground Beef Stir Fry is perfect for meal prepping, as it stores and reheats beautifully. Here are some tips:

Refrigeration: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze the stir fry for up to 3 months. Let it cool before transferring it to a freezer-safe container, and reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or broth to keep the beef and veggies moist. You can also microwave it in short intervals to ensure even heating.

Why This Ground Beef Stir Fry Is a Must-Try

Quick and Easy: It takes just 20 minutes from start to finish, making it an ideal recipe for busy weeknights.
Customizable: Whether you like to swap in different vegetables or proteins, this recipe can be easily adjusted to suit your preferences.
Healthy and Flavorful: The stir fry is packed with vegetables, lean beef, and a balanced, flavorful sauce that makes every bite satisfying.
Budget-Friendly: Ground beef is an affordable protein, and the recipe uses simple pantry staples, making it a cost-effective dinner option for families.

Conclusion

This Ground Beef Stir Fry is a fantastic weeknight meal that combines tender beef, colorful vegetables, and a savory stir-fry sauce that’s easy to make and packed with flavor. With minimal preparation and cooking time, this dish is perfect for busy evenings when you want a meal that’s both healthy and delicious.

Whether you serve it with rice, noodles, or as a salad, this stir fry is a family-friendly, customizable meal that will quickly become a regular part of your dinner rotation. Try this quick, one-pan meal today and enjoy a flavorful, nutritious dish that will leave everyone at the table satisfied!

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