Dinner

Ground Beef Stir Fry Recipe

ByMaya Quinn February 5, 2026February 5, 2026

Introduction

This Ground Beef Stir Fry is a quick and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with colorful vegetables and a savory-sweet sauce, it’s both satisfying and easy to prepare.

The dish shows a white plate filled with a colorful stir-fry served over white rice. The stir-fry has several layers, starting with a base of steamed white rice that looks soft and fluffy. On top, there is a mixture of ground meat with a rich brown sauce coating it, appearing juicy and tender. Mixed in are vibrant vegetables including bright green broccoli heads, crisp green snap peas, orange carrot slices, red bell pepper chunks, and light brown mushroom pieces that add varied texture and color. The sauce glistens slightly over the meat and vegetables, giving a fresh and appetizing look. The background features a white marbled texture, and in the back, blurred white bowls with similar food add depth. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons Mirin sweet cooking rice wine
3 tablespoons honey
1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons freshly grated garlic
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon sesame oil
⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound lean ground beef (93%-7%)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons peanut oil
¾ cup fresh broccoli florets (1 inch bite size pieces)
¾ cup large diced sweet yellow onion (Vidalia onion)
¾ cup large diced red bell pepper (seeds removed)
½ cup sugar snap peas (cut in half on a diagonal)
½ cup carrots (from 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into ¼ inch rounds)
½ cup sliced button mushrooms

Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, Mirin, honey, cornstarch, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper flakes. Set the sauce aside.
Step 2: Heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt, and black pepper. Cook and brown for 7-8 minutes, leaving some chunkiness in the beef.
Step 3: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked beef to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Remove remaining fat from the skillet but do not clean it.
Step 4: Add peanut oil to the skillet along with broccoli, onion, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook for 8-10 minutes until vegetables are tender but still crisp.
Step 5: Return ground beef to the skillet and pour in the prepared sauce. Stir to coat evenly. Cook for 45 seconds to 1 minute until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat; sauce will thicken further as it cools.

Tips & Variations

For extra flavor, try adding a splash of toasted sesame oil at the end of cooking.
Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
Add chopped green onions or toasted sesame seeds as garnish for added texture.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave, stirring occasionally to maintain the sauce’s consistency.