Ground Beef Stir Fry with Vegetables and Savory Soy Sauce Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful ground beef stir fry featuring a mix of fresh vegetables tossed in a savory and slightly sweet homemade sauce. This quick and easy skillet recipe delivers a perfect balance of textures and tastes with tender beef, crisp vegetables, and a thickened soy-ginger sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce
- 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
For the Stir Fry
- 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, peeled and cut into ¼ inch rounds
- ½ cup sliced button mushrooms
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, water, Mirin, honey, cornstarch, grated ginger, grated garlic, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth. Set the sauce aside for later use.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef with salt and black pepper. Cook for 7-8 minutes, browning the beef without breaking it down too finely, leaving some chunkiness. Ensure no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat: Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the cooked ground beef onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Remove the remaining liquid fat from the skillet, but do not clean the skillet itself.
- Sauté the vegetables: To the same skillet on medium-high heat, add peanut oil followed by broccoli, sweet yellow onion, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, carrots, and sliced mushrooms. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just tender yet still slightly crisp.
- Combine beef and sauce with vegetables: Return the drained ground beef to the skillet, then pour the prepared sauce over the mixture. Stir well to coat all ingredients evenly. Allow the sauce to cook and thicken for 45 seconds to 1 minute, then remove from heat. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef with 93% lean to reduce excessive grease.
- Do not overcook vegetables to maintain their crisp texture.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- Mirin adds sweetness and depth; if unavailable, a combination of rice vinegar and sugar can be used as a substitute.
Keywords: ground beef stir fry, beef stir fry, easy stir fry recipe, quick dinner, Asian stir fry, healthy beef recipe, vegetable stir fry
