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Healthy Ground Beef Stir Fry - A Quick, Flavor-Packed Weeknight Dinner

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound (450 g) lean ground beef (90–95% lean)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil (divided)
  • 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups broccoli florets, small bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup snap peas or snow peas, trimmed
  • 1 medium carrot, thinly sliced on a bias
  • 2 green onions, sliced (plus more for garnish)
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or hoisin (optional for richness)
  • 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium beef broth or water
  • 1–2 teaspoons sriracha or chili-garlic sauce (to taste)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch or arrowroot

Method
 

  1. Mix the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, honey, broth, sriracha, and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Prep the veggies: Slice and chop everything before you start cooking. Stir fry moves fast, so have ingredients ready to go.
  3. Brown the beef: Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high. Add ground beef, break it up, and cook until browned with some crispy bits, about 5–7 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Sauté aromatics: In the same pan, add remaining oil if the pan is dry. Add onion and carrot. Cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and ginger. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Cook the veggies: Add broccoli and bell pepper. Stir fry 3–4 minutes until bright and just tender. Add snap peas and most of the green onions. Cook 1–2 minutes more. Veggies should stay crisp-tender.
  6. Combine and sauce: Return the beef to the pan. Give the sauce a quick stir and pour it in. Toss to coat everything. Cook 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the meat and vegetables.
  7. Finish: Turn off the heat. Stir in toasted sesame oil. Taste and adjust seasoning—add a splash of soy for salt, a squeeze of lime for brightness, or more chili for heat.
  8. Serve: Spoon over brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. Garnish with remaining green onions and sesame seeds.