Quick and Delicious Beef Stir Fry Recipe for Busy Weeknights
This Beef Stir Fry is a quick and easy meal that’s full of flavor. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner that’s made with simple ingredients like ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a flavorful soy sauce mixture. Serve it over rice or noodles for a complete meal.
This recipe appears in our cookbook “Cooking for One – Not an Army” along with other delicious recipes. While it’s written for one serving, all our recipes are easily doubled (or tripled) for company or leftovers! If you didn’t get a copy yet, our book is on Amazon right here!
Ingredients for Beef Stir Fry
This stir fry is packed with nutritious vegetables and seasoned ground beef creating a balanced and delicious meal.
- Ground Beef: 8 ounces of ground beef is cooked with salt and pepper for flavor.
- Vegetables: A mix of mushrooms, onions, carrots, and peas adds texture and nutrition.
- Garlic and Ginger: These aromatics enhance the flavor of the stir fry. We use just 1 clove of garlic and ⅛ teaspoon of ground ginger, but you may want more.
- Spinach: 1 cup of spinach wilts perfectly into the stir fry adding a boost of vitamins.
- Soy Sauce and Apple Cider Vinegar: These add a savory and tangy finish to the dish.
- Rice: Serve the stir fry over 1 cup of cooked rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
These simple ingredients come together quickly for a flavorful dish that’s perfect for a busy night.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps to make a delicious and easy beef stir fry:
- Cook the ground beef: Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 4 minutes until browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In the same pan, heat the oil and sauté the mushrooms, onions, carrots, and peas for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add aromatics: Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add spinach and sauces: Stir in the spinach, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar and cook until the spinach wilts.
- Combine and heat: Return the beef to the skillet and cook until everything is heated through. Serve over rice or noodles.
This recipe comes together in just minutes. This wok works well for preparing AND reheating leftovers. Beef stir fry is a perfect option for a fast and nutritious dinner.
Tips for Perfect Beef Stir Fry
- Use Fresh Vegetables: Fresh mushrooms, onions, and carrots provide the best texture, but you can substitute frozen vegetables if needed. Check out these stir fry tips for even more tips.
- Don’t Overcook the Beef: Ground beef cooks quickly, so be sure to remove it from the pan as soon as it’s browned to avoid drying it out.
- Add Heat: If you like your stir fry spicy, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
These tips will help you create a flavorful stir fry that’s perfectly balanced and delicious.
Substitutions & Variations
This beef stir fry recipe is flexible and can be adapted to suit your preferences:
- Vegetarian Version: Swap the ground beef for tofu or tempeh and use vegetable broth instead of soy sauce for a plant-based stir fry.
- Different Veggies: You can swap in other vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas.
- Lower Carb Option: Serve the stir fry over cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative.
Feel free to customize this dish to your liking by swapping ingredients or adding your favorite stir fry vegetables.
What to Serve with Beef Stir Fry
This beef stir fry is delicious on its own, but here are some ideas to serve alongside it for a more complete meal:
- Steamed broccoli or green beans
- A side of egg rolls
- A simple cucumber salad with sesame dressing (Make you own with this recipe!)
- Fresh fruit or a light dessert (Our Lemon Pudding Cake is a perfect accompaniment.)
These sides will complement the flavors of the stir fry and round out the meal.
Leftovers & Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, you may want to add a splash of water or soy sauce to prevent the stir fry from drying out.
Other Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed this Beef Stir Fry, you will also enjoy these recipes from Sisters Know Best:
- Stir-Fry Sauce – A versatile sauce to add even more flavor to your stir fry.
- Kung Pao Chicken Recipe – A delicious and spicy chicken stir fry that’s full of bold flavors.
- Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe – A flavorful Thai-inspired dish with shrimp and rice noodles.
All of these recipes are great for adding to your stir fry rotation. They also offer ample opportunity for customizing ingredients.
This Beef Stir Fry is a quick, flavorful, and nutritious meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. With simple ingredients and bold flavors, it’s sure to become a favorite.
