If you like stir fry flavors, but worry about tender meat, then a ground beef stir fry recipe is the perfect solution. This recipe is super easy to make, affordable, and delicious. Serve with rice or cauliflower rice, and add to your meal plan for a frugal but delicious meal everyone will devour.
Ground Beef Stir Fry Recipe
I won’t lie and say this is just like takeout, because I have honestly never had takeout stir fry using ground beef. I will say that it is flavorful, easy to make, and has that element you expect from stir fry with a certain level of umami. It’s a great starter recipe if you are new to cooking, and uses basic ingredients and methods so it’s practically foolproof.
Ingredients
Below are the ingredients for making ground beef stir fry. You can adjust by adding different vegetables and adding seasoning to your preferences. For exact measurements, see the printable recipe at the bottom of the post.
- Ground beef
- Vegetable oil
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Black pepper
- Salt to taste
- Broccoli
- Bell peppers – any color
- Red onion
- Carrots
- Soy sauce
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions
How to Make Ground Beef Stir Fry
Start by preparing your vegetables. I recommend cutting everything into bite-sized pieces to make it easier to cook evenly. For broccoli, cut off the stem and then chop the florets into smaller pieces.
For the onion, carrots, and bell pepper, I recommend slicing rather than chopping, but you can cut them how you prefer. Just make sure that the carrot slices are thin enough to tenderize during the cooking process. Set these aside.
Now, in a deep skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring regularly and breaking the meat up as it cooks. Once it is cooked through, remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
Add the remaining vegetable oil to the skillet, and then add the garlic, onion, and ginger. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring regularly until aromatic. Then, add the bell pepper, carrots, and broccoli. Cook these for another 4 to 5 minutes, until they are tender but still crisp.
In a bowl, whisk together the water, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and cornstarch. Add the meat and the sauce to the skillet. Stir to combine, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes until heated through. Serve over a bed of rice with a sprinkle of green onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, the meat would be cooked, then vegetables added. That is the case in this recipe. However, you can do this in whatever way you prefer. Ultimately, you need to make sure the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are tender but not overcooked.
Sure! I like the simplicity of this homemade sauce, but if you have a preferred store-bought option, feel free to use it. In that instance, you would not need soy sauce, water, or cornstarch. Depending upon the sauce, you may or may not need to add sesame seeds, but that is a preference on your part.
In our simple sauce, we used a bit of cornstarch to thicken the mixture. This is a common choice and tends to be best in simple sauces. Another option would be arrowroot powder or tapioca starch. I would not recommend adding anything additional to this sauce until you have let it simmer with the vegetables and meat for at least 2 to 3 minutes as it will thicken as it cooks.
Yes! This can be made with ground beef, ground pork, ground chicken, or ground turkey. You may even be able to find ground sausage that has an Asian flavor that would work well in this recipe.
What Goes with Ground Beef Stir Fry?
Traditionally, a stir fry is served over rice. It can also be served with cauliflower rice for those who are watching their carbohydrate intake. I also like serving any copycat Asian dish with these baked veggie eggrolls.
Another option would be to serve this with another copycat takeout recipe such as authentic fried rice or copycat General Tso’s chicken.
Storage Tips
If you plan to make this ground beef stir fry ahead of time, you may want to know the best way to store it for later. Below are tips for how to make sure you and your family are safe while enjoying this recipe, and that you are able to make the most of your time in the kitchen.
- Beef stir fry is good in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days after it has been prepared
- To freeze, let cool and place in airtight freezer containers that are labeled – for up to 3 months
You can even make this a prep-ahead meal that is frozen for later. While you can use the method above for freezing after it has cooked, it can also be frozen before cooking. Simply place the beef in one bag, and the vegetables in another. Then you add the sauce as directed when cooking.
If you like this recipe, then check out my cookbooks. I’ve created 4 books filled with delicious recipes that are easy to make, packed with flavor, and ideal for a new cook!
- Mediterranean Air Fryer: 95 Healthy Recipes to Fry, Roast, Bake, and Grill
- Clean Eating Air Fryer Cookbook: 70 Healthy Whole-Food Recipes
- The Complete Dutch Oven Cookbook: 105 Recipes for Your Most Versatile Pot
- The Complete Cookbook for Beginners: Essential Skills and Step-by-Step Techniques
Ground Beef Stir Fry Recipe
Enjoy a quick, healthy dinner with our Ground Beef Stir Fry recipe. Packed with veggies, flavorful beef, and a savory sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 bell pepper, sliced (any color or a mixture)
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Cut all vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Make sure carrot slices are thin enough to cook quickly. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a deep skillet or wok over medium heat. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5-6 minutes. Stir and break up the meat as it cooks. Once cooked, remove from skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining oil to the skillet. Add garlic, onion, and ginger. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Add bell pepper, carrots, and broccoli. Cook for 4-5 minutes until tender but still crisp.
- In a bowl, mix together water, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and cornstarch.
- Add the cooked meat and the sauce to the skillet. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.
Notes
- Use any preferred vegetables in your stir fry.
- Season the meat with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Add more seasoning once the mixture is combined and cooked, only if needed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 460Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 1089mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 35g