Ground Beef Stir Fry (One Pan, 30 Minutes)

Name: Ground Beef Stir Fry (One Pan, 30 Minutes)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 27 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 1 pound ground beef, Note 1; salt and black pepper to taste; 1 cup chopped onion (about 1/2-3/4 medium onion); 5 cups chopped vegetables, Note 2 (e.g. red bell peppers, snap peas, frozen corn niblets, carrots ); 2 teaspoons chopped garlic ((about 2 cloves)); 2 cups fresh baby spinach (optional); Garnish: chopped green onions (optional); 2 tablespoons tomato paste ((or tomato purée or ketchup)); 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary; 1/2 teaspoon each, salt and black pepper; 2 tablespoons all purpose flour; 1 cup broth Note 4 ((I use 3/4 cup broth, 1/4 cup red wine),)

Jump to Recipe

Packed with veggies and protein in a savory sauce, this healthy one-pan ground beef stir fry recipe is an easy dinner that can be on the table in 30 minutes

It’s a great way to use up those wilting vegetables in your fridge for a perfect weeknight meal. And, of course, you can put your own spin on it.

stir fry ground beef and vegetables over white rice on plate.

What to expect

All stir-fry recipes pretty much use the same method. Sauté a protein and vegetables, then add the sauce.

This recipe has a savory sauce instead of an Asian-style sauce. Stir-fry Asian recipes tend to use soy sauce as a main ingredient. This homemade stir fry sauce is made of savory ingredients like broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, tomato paste, and garlic.

The main effort in this recipe is chopping the vegetables. This can be done a day or two ahead for meal prep, cutting the time down on cooking night from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. Exact amounts are not necessary.

Ingredients – tailored to your taste

ground beef, chopped veggies, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, tomato paste, corn, oil, worcestershire, garlic, flour.

Ground beef: I prefer lean ground beef from the butcher, but any will do. For lower calories and fat, use ground chicken or ground turkey instead. Ground pork or sliced meat will also work.

Vegetables: I use carrots, red bell pepper, white or yellow onion, snap peas, frozen corn – and green onions for garnish. Other good fresh veggies options are green beans, snow peas, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, and celery. Frozen vegetables can be used as well.

Broth and optional wine: I use a full-bodied beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth (and replace 1/4 of it with red wine). If you’re using a bouillon paste such as Better Than Bouillon to make the broth, use more than 1 teaspoon per cup (237 ml) for a more flavorful sauce.

Seasoning and flavors: Rosemary and thyme have those classic comfort flavors, but feel free to change that up with other herbs like oregano or cilantro for example. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like heat. The tomato paste can be replaced by tomato purée or ketchup.

Sauce variation: Here is a recipe for Chinese stir-fry sauce if you’re looking for a different version of this ground beef stir fry. You will need about 1 cup/237ml of sauce.

Vegetarian version: Replace the beef with cubed tofu or plant-based beef like Impossible Burger. Or skip the protein altogether and just use more vegetables. For the sauce, use vegetable broth (Better Than Bouillon Roasted Vegetable base is my favorite).

Step-by-step instructions

sauteed ground beef in skillet. — Stir fry the ground beef until brown. Drain grease and set aside in a bowl

sauteed vegetables in skillet. — Stir fry the fresh vegetables for a few minutes, then add the garlic, seasonings, and cooked ground beef.

stir fried ground beef and veggies with spinach in skillet. — Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining broth and wine (if using) and cook until thickened, adding spinach at the last minute.

ground beef stir fry over rice on plate. — Serve the stir fry ground beef over rice or noodles.

Tip

The smaller the dice, the quicker the vegetables will cook.

For dense veggies like carrots that take longer to cook, make sure you slice them thinly or finely dice them.

What to serve with easy ground beef stir fry

Serve the stir fry over white rice, brown rice, herb cauliflower rice, any pasta, ramen noodles or rice noodles.

Because the dish is packed with healthy veggies, there is no need for another side dish except perhaps a citrus salad or easy cheese biscuits.

For a different way to serve the dish, try it wrapped in a tortilla or lettuce with a creamy yogurt-based cucumber-dill sauce or tzatziki.

For dessert? Anything goes. Try one of these easy sweet treats made in under 30 minutes.

Recipe FAQs

How can I add an extra kick of heat to the stir fry?

If you like your stir fry on the spicy side, you can add red pepper flakes, red chili peppers, a couple of dashes of hot sauce, or some chili garlic sauce.

Can I substitute fresh vegetables with frozen vegetables in a stir fry?

Yes, you can use frozen instead of fresh vegetables in a stir fry. Defrost them first and pat them dry with a paper towel before stir-frying.

Shortcuts

Instead of ground beef, use slices of leftover beef or pork, added at the end just to warm them through. So you will be skipping the first step.
You can buy packages of stir fry vegetables instead of chopping the veggies yourself – very convenient, but pricey. If you do, consider giving them an extra chop to make them smaller.

Make ahead or Freeze

Meal prep: chop veggies 1-3 days ahead and keep them in a ziploc or sealed container in the fridge.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze leftovers in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight then warm in the microwave.

If you like this recipe, please leave a 5 star rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟in the recipe card below. And if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments. Thanks very much!