Quick & Easy Beef Mince Stir Fry for Busy Weeknights
If you need a quick, no-fuss dinner, this beef mince (ground beef) stir fry is the answer. It’s packed with bold flavors, fresh vegetables, and a delicious teriyaki stir fry sauce. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love it:
- Fast & Easy – Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal prep (no slicing meat!).
- Healthy & Versatile – Packed with protein, fresh veggies, and a homemade sauce.
- Better Than Takeout – A sticky, garlicky-ginger stir fry sauce that’s naturally gluten-free.
- Great for Meal Prep – Perfect for lunches or make-ahead dinners.
If you love stir fry recipes, be sure to try this flank steak stir fry, ground turkey teriyaki rice bowl, ground pork stir fry, or pork lettuce wraps next.
This ground beef stir fry is a go-to recipe for a quick meal on busy weeknights. It’s easy to meal prep and to make your own depending on which veggies and protein you (or the kids) enjoy. It’s gluten and dairy-free and is packed with veggies, protein, and flavor.
Serve it over white rice, brown rice, coconut rice, ramen noodles, lettuce cups, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
Watch How to Make Ground Beef Stir Fry
If you love stir fry, try ground pork stir fry, ground turkey teriyaki bowls, or flank steak stir fry next!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef – Also called beef mince. The main protein in this stir fry, providing a rich, savory flavor. You can swap it with ground turkey, chicken, or pork for variety.
- Fresh Vegetables – A mix of red bell pepper, broccoli, snap peas (or asparagus), and carrots. These add color, crunch, and a balance of sweetness and freshness to the dish.
- Garlic & Fresh Ginger – Essential aromatics that bring bold, slightly spicy, and fragrant notes to the stir fry.
- Sesame Oil – Adds a nutty, toasted flavor that enhances the overall stir fry. Used for both cooking and in the sauce.
- Coconut Aminos (or Soy Sauce) – A salty, umami-rich base that creates the signature stir fry taste. Coconut aminos is a great gluten-free option.
- Rice Vinegar – Adds tanginess to balance out the flavors and brighten the sauce.
- Maple Syrup (or Honey) – A natural sweetener that balances out the savory and acidic ingredients.
- Arrowroot or Tapioca Starch – A natural thickening agent that gives the sauce its sticky, glossy texture.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Sauce – Whisk together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
2️⃣ Cook the Beef – Heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles. Remove and set aside.
3️⃣ Sauté the Veggies – Add remaining sesame oil, then stir-fry bell pepper, broccoli, snap peas, and carrot for 5-6 minutes until tender-crisp.
4️⃣ Combine & Thicken – Return beef to the pan, pour in the sauce, and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Stir in garlic and ginger. Sprinkle with green onions & sesame seeds and serve over rice, noodles, or lettuce wraps.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
🔄 Swap Proteins – Use ground turkey, chicken, or pork instead of beef.
🥦 Change the Veggies – Try zucchini, mushrooms, bok choy, or cabbage.
🌶 Make it Spicy – Add red pepper flakes or more sriracha to the sauce.
🥢 Low-Carb Option – Serve over cauliflower rice or lettuce wraps.
Storage and Reheating
Store rice, meat, and veggie leftovers separate from the garnishes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat leftovers, except the garnishes, in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
You can also freeze the meat and veggie portion in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving over rice.
If you love to make takeout recipes at home, try asian chicken wings, healthy chicken pad thai, korean beef tacos, or garlic salmon rice bowls.
More Ground Beef Recipes
Ground Beef Stir Fry
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Ingredients
Stir Fry Sauce
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- ¼ cup fresh squeezed orange juice (about 1 medium orange)
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 Tablespoon honey or brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch or tapioca starch
Stir Fry
- 1 lb ground beef (I used 90% lean)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoons sesame oil or olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 3 cups chopped broccoli florets
- 2 large carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 cups snap peas
- Garnish: Green onions, sesame seeds, or red pepper flakes
- To serve: White rice, brown rice, coconut rice, ramen noodles, lettuce cups, or cauliflower rice
Instructions
- Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
- In a large pan or wok, heat 1 Tablespoon of sesame oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and brown, breaking it up into small pieces, until no pink remains, 4-5 minutes. Transfer the ground beef to a bowl and drain the fat.
- Add the remaining Tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan over medium heat. Add all of the vegetables and stir to cook until almost tender, 5-6 minutes.
- Pour the sauce over the vegetables and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Continue to cook until the sauce bubbles and thickens, 2-3 minutes.
- Add the ground beef back to the pan and stir to coat the beef in the veggies and sauce. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over white rice, coconut rice, brown rice, noodles or in a lettuce wrap.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is definitely a recipe I will make again!
Thank you!
We all loved this so much. My husband went back for 3rds! I switched the ground beef for turkey because we don’t eat red meat and it felt so healthy. Another winner to add to our rotation!
Hi Molly, This was delicious and my family loved it. I forgot to make rice. . and as we were eating it, my husband and daughter suggested we use spring roll rice paper wrappers to enhance it. I pulled the rice paper wrappers out of the cupboard. We each let our rice paper soak in hot water for 5 seconds, wrapped the stir fry in them and it really was good. Just thought it would be nice to share another idea on how to eat it. Thanks for the great recipe!
Love this!! Thanks for sharing this idea, I know others will want to hear!
This one is on rotation in our house! So yummy!
So glad to make the rotation! Thanks, Kate!
Loved it! Very simple and balanced. My 18month old loved it too 🥰
Thanks, Grace!!
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I could see this becoming part of the rotation. Didn’t change a thing and had it with your coconut rice which we make all of the time!
Glad you liked it! The coconut rice is our FAVORITE 😍