Ground Beef Stir Fry

Easy Ground Beef Stir Fry

This is a quick and flavorful weeknight meal that’s perfect for using up ground beef and your favorite veggies.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (85/15 lean or leaner)
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, julienned (or other vegetables of your choice, broccoli florets, bell peppers, snap peas, etc.)
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
• 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp sriracha (or red pepper flakes for a milder option)
• 1 cup cooked rice (optional)
• Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Cooking Guide:

1. Marinate the beef (optional): In a bowl, combine the ground beef with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Marinate for 15 minutes while prepping the vegetables.
2. Heat the oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
3. Cook the beef: Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
4. Sauté the aromatics: Add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes, until softened.
5. Add vegetables: Push the cooked beef to the side of the pan and add your chosen vegetables. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until tender-crisp.
6. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, sriracha, and 1/4 cup of water.
7. Combine and simmer: Pour the sauce over the beef and vegetables. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
8. Serve: Serve the stir-fry over cooked rice, if desired. Garnish with sesame seeds (optional).

Tips:

• Use lean ground beef: This will help reduce the amount of grease in your stir-fry.
• Cut vegetables into similar sizes: This will ensure they cook evenly.
• Cook in batches: Don’t overcrowd the pan, as this will steam the vegetables instead of searing them. Cook the vegetables in batches if necessary.
• Thicken the sauce: If your sauce is too thin, add a cornstarch slurry (mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water) and cook for another minute.
• Get creative with vegetables: Feel free to add any of your favorite stir-fry vegetables to this recipe.
• Serve with noodles: You can also serve this stir-fry over rice noodles or ramen noodles.