This is easy Ground beef recipe is the easiest one pan meal you can make. The ground beef makes it easier than the other chickens, but it’s still packed with fresh vegetables and the best sauce I’ve ever learned from a chef. You’ll love the authentic taste, and you’ll make this recipe over and over again because it’s better than takeout!
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Ground beef rolls
This ground beef recipe comes in just a few steps and is all in one pot. Watch me make this filling meal with fresh vegetables and an amazing Stir Fry Sauce.
An easy recipe with ground beef
I learned this recipe for ground beef on a glamping trip I took years ago. The BBQ leader made this amazing hibachi. The sauce is very tasty and delicious, and when I asked him, he said that it only has 3 ingredients: soy sauce, BBQ sauce, maple syrup!
Well, it surprised me, but it was so fun and satisfying that I lost no time in bringing it back home. I added garlic, ginger, and sesame oil for that authentic Asian flavor, and this flavorful sauce was born.
When I’m in a hurry to eat, I like to make stir fry, such as Beef Stir Fry, Chicken Stir Fry, and Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry, because they are full of vegetables and good protein for dinner. A whole meal on the table in 20 minutes and only one pan is used for easy cleanup. And what’s easier than ground beef? Add the sauce, and this dish will knock your socks off (Besides, I wonder who came up with that term – probably someone with a wonderful mind – now you can see your socks flying off – ha!).
Ingredients for ground beef
The ingredients are simple to cook, and it’s easy to swap out the vegetables and proteins to use what you already have. Check out some of your suggestions below.
- Ground meat – I use 80/20 ground beef (usually called lean ground beef) for maximum flavor and moisture. You can replace it with a percentage of ground beef, but you may need to add more oil with leaner beef.
- Vegetables – sliced lime, sliced baby bella mushrooms, and 1 sliced carrot Thinly sliced (or julienned), and garlic/green onions for garnish.
Easy stir-fry ingredients
- Soy sauce – Use low sodium soy sauce to keep the sodium level in the dish low. I used gluten free Tamari. Regular soy sauce is fine, but you may not need extra salt in the end.
- BBQ sauce – you can use Homemade BBQ Sauce or the original, sweet, or smokey store-bought variety
- Really maple syrup – it gives sweetness without making it too sweet. Mix with honey for a different flavor or brown sugar. These options are sweeter, so add flavor.
- Aromatic – chopped garlic, fresh (or frozen) ginger, and sesame oil (part of getting that authentic flavor!)
Fry Fry Variations
Frying is amazing! Make this recipe your own by substituting ingredients you have on hand. Here are some of the options:
- protein – replace ground beef with ground pork, ground chicken or turkey.
- Vegetables – Use what you have or what you like best, such as chopped asparagus, green or red bell peppers, yellow onions, corn, broccoli, or water peas.
- Add heat – Add red pepper to taste
How to quickly remove beef
This year we bought ground beef, so most of the meat we use is frozen. If you forgot to put the meat in the refrigerator to thaw overnight, here are the best ways to grill ground meat:
In cold water – Place the frozen meat in a zip-top bag and release the air while zipping. Place in a bowl of cold water, change the water every 30 minutes. For 1 pound of ground beef, it will take about 1 to 2 hours to digest, depending on the shape of the ground beef (larger packages of beef will digest faster). Submerge it completely and avoid using hot water, as this encourages the growth of bacteria.
How to make ground beef
This simple recipe comes together quickly, so prepare all the ingredients before you start so they are ready when you need to add them. If you are serving with white rice, start cooking it before you start step 1. You want the rice to be ready when you are ready to cook.
- Mix the sauce– Put all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix.
- Brown the beef in a large pot or wok over medium heat. When the meat is browned, place it in a bowl while the vegetables are roasting.
- Wash the vegetables in the same hot pan, add oil if necessary. Stir frequently for about 3 minutes until the vegetables are soft – they should be half cooked by now and will cook more in the sauce – you don’t want them to become mushy.
- to put ground beef and vegetable sauce and mix. Pour the mixture into the sauce and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the sauce is thick and hot. You should smell the ginger and garlic when ready.
- season add salt and pepper if needed and add ginger to serve.
Tips for making ahead and storing
This ground beef comes together quickly and is very nice and sweet but the rest is still sweet. Be sure to cool the mixture before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Do it in advance: For food preparation, do the frying according to the instructions, but the vegetables are small. Then share it with the service and save as below.
- Heat: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Cold: I don’t like to refrigerate this because zucchini goes soft after freezing, but you can freeze it in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Then refrigerate overnight.
- Reheat: Put the rest in the hot pan and repeat. You can also microwave until warm. Add chicken broth or water to thin the sauce if needed.
How to prepare ground beef
I like to serve this ground beef over white rice to soak up all that sweet homemade sauce or dip it in lettuce leaves for a low carb wrap. Here are some additional side dishes that complement ground beef:
Ground Beef Stir Fry is an easy one-pot, 20-minute meal with one very surprising ingredient: BBQ Sauce (but no one will ever guess it’s in there)! You’ll love how this unexpected ingredient makes a great sauce! This recipe is a crowd pleaser that is great for quick meals and meal prep. Try this simple recipe for your meals next week.
Ground beef
This is a quick, 20-minute beef stew, full of fresh vegetables and the best sauce (that’s so easy!). Serve over rice or in a salad bowl for a low-carb option and you’ll definitely have a copy of the lettuce wraps you’ll get from takeout!
Food: 4 service
For the ground beef:
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Mix the sauce – Mix all the ingredients in the sauce in a small bowl or measuring cup and set aside
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Brown the beef – Put the pan on a medium heat or a large oven and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the beef and sauté, breaking it up with a spatula for about 5 minutes or until it’s cooked through and lightly browned for flavor. Transfer the beef to a separate plate, reserving all the oil in the pan.
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Sauté the vegetables – In the same oven, add a little oil if not enough reserved for the ground beef, add all the vegetables, make a sauce and stir often, for 2-3 minutes or until the zucchini is done and cooked. Don’t overcook them as they will cook a little more with the sauce and you don’t want them to dry out.
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Add the ground beef and sauce – Return the cooked beef to the pan, add the sauce and keep aside to mix. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about two minutes or until fragrant. This gives the garlic and ginger a chance to cook lightly. The zucchini should be soft.
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season taste with salt and pepper and remove from heat. Serve over freshly cooked rice or in lettuce cups. Garnish with ginger if desired.
Allow to cool before placing in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 4 days or in the freezer for 3 months. Refrigerate overnight.
Heat it again and place it in a hot pan and sauté until the fire goes off or use the microwave to reheat it.
413kcal Calories20h Carbs24h protein27h fat
The facts about food
Ground beef
Money per service
% Daily Value*
* Daily percentage values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
More ground beef recipes
Beef is a versatile protein, so once you try this ground beef, you’ll want to try some of your other favorite recipes: