Ground beef stir fry combines lean beef and plenty of vegetables tossed in a fragrant, quick homemade teriyaki sauce. It’s a wholesome, flavorful weeknight meal that comes together fast and delivers great nutrition and comforting taste. This stir fry is an easy crowd-pleaser and perfect for busy evenings when you want something tasty and satisfying without a lot of fuss.
If you enjoy Asian-inspired dinners, try other ground beef favorites like Beef Fried Noodles, Burger Bowls, Ground Beef Fajitas, or Beef Fried Rice for more easy, protein-packed meals.
Ingredients Needed
Below are the main ingredients used in this ground beef stir fry. Exact amounts and the full recipe are in the recipe card farther down the page.
Stir Fry Ingredients
- Lean ground beef. Use lean beef for less grease; ground chicken or turkey can be substituted.
- Mushrooms. Cremini/baby bella are flavorful, but button or shiitake work well too.
- Carrots. Grated or pre-shredded for convenience.
- Bell peppers. Any color adds crunch and brightness.
- Onion. Yellow onion gives a mild, sweet base; green onions are optional garnish.
- Zucchini. Fresh sliced zucchini or yellow squash (optional).
- Broccoli. Adds color, fiber, and texture.
- Fresh ginger. Adds a bright, peppery note essential to the flavor.
Beef Stir Fry Sauce
- Soy sauce. I prefer low-sodium; tamari or coconut aminos work for gluten-free variations.
- Rice vinegar. Slightly sweeter than white vinegar and balances the sauce.
- Hoisin sauce. Adds a deep sweet-salty complexity.
- Brown sugar. Light or dark, or substitute honey for a natural sweetener.
- Garlic. Minced for depth and aroma.
- Cornstarch. Mixed with water as a slurry to thicken the sauce.
- Red pepper flakes. Optional for a touch of heat.
- Sesame seeds. Optional in the sauce and as a garnish.
How to Make This Recipe
Here’s a straightforward method to prepare this ground beef teriyaki stir fry. Complete measurements are provided in the recipe card below.
- Make the sauce. In a saucepan combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, hoisin, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes and optional sriracha. Bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk cornstarch with water to make a slurry, add to the sauce, and simmer until it thickens. Set aside.
- Cook and prep the beef. Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed, then remove the beef and set aside. If serving with rice, start the rice now.
- Cook the vegetables. Wipe the pan clean, add oil if necessary, then sauté onions, garlic, ginger, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, and broccoli for 5–8 minutes until tender and fragrant.
- Finish the stir fry. Return the beef to the pan with the vegetables, pour in the teriyaki sauce, and cook until heated through and well combined.
- Serve. Spoon the stir fry over rice, noodles, or into lettuce cups for a low-carb option. Serve hot.
Recipe Pairings
This stir fry is delicious over steamed white or brown rice, fried rice, or noodles. For a fresh, low-carb option, serve the beef and vegetables in lettuce cups. Top with chopped peanuts or cashews, crispy noodles, sesame seeds, or a drizzle of hot sauce for extra crunch and flavor.
It pairs well with simple sides like an Asian cabbage salad or roasted Brussels sprouts, and makes a great main if you’re serving appetizers like crispy shrimp or hand rolls.
Recipe Tips
- Veggie swaps. Use baby bok choy, mini corn, yellow squash, or kale if you prefer.
- Drain the beef. Remove excess grease after browning to keep the dish from being too oily.
- Prep ahead. Have all ingredients chopped and measured before you start—stir fry cooks quickly.
- Meal prep & storage. Keeps well in the fridge up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months. Reheat in a skillet until warmed through.
- Uniform cuts. Cut vegetables to similar sizes so they cook evenly.
Other Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Dinner
Crispy Beef Tacos (Baked)
Dinner
Beef Fried Rice
Dinner
Meatballs and Rice
Dinner
Pepperoni Pasta
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Ground Beef Stir Fry
Equipment
- Large frying pan or wok
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tbsp olive oil (for sautéing vegetables if needed)
- ⅓ cup yellow onion, chopped
- 6 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 1 small bell pepper, sliced
- 1 broccoli crown, chopped
- 1 small zucchini, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, grated
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 green onions, diced (for garnish)
Teriyaki Sauce
- ⅓ cup soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos)
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch (or arrowroot)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 Tbsp white sesame seeds (optional)
- 2 Tbsp sriracha (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef. Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat and brown the beef, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess grease if desired and set the beef aside.
- Make the sauce. In a saucepan combine brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, hoisin, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, and sriracha if using. Bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk cornstarch with ¼ cup water, add the slurry to the sauce, and cook until it thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the vegetables. Wipe the pan clean, add oil if needed, then sauté onions, garlic, ginger, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, and broccoli for 5–8 minutes until fragrant and tender.
- Combine and serve. Return the beef to the pan with the vegetables, pour in the teriyaki sauce, heat through, and serve over rice or in lettuce cups.
Notes
Nutrition facts exclude rice and reflect only the teriyaki beef stir fry.
- Swap or add vegetables as you like—baby bok choy, mini corn, yellow squash, and kale are great options.
- Drain browned beef if it’s particularly greasy to keep the final dish lighter.
- Prep and measure ingredients before cooking since stir fry cooks quickly.
- Store in the refrigerator up to 4 days or freeze in an airtight container up to 3 months. Reheat in a skillet until warmed through.
- Cut vegetables to uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
Nutrition
Serving: 1.5 cup | Calories: 399 kcal | Carbs: 36 g | Protein: 32 g | Fat: 15 g
Nutrition information is an approximation.
Additional Info
Author: Bailey Rhatigan
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes
Course: Main Course | Cuisine: Japanese | Servings: 4 | Calories: 399
Keywords: Ground Beef Stir Fry