Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry Recipe

Imagine sizzling Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry with tender meat glistening in a sweet-savory sauce, creating an irresistible aroma that fills your kitchen. This quick Asian-inspired dish transforms humble ground beef into a weeknight dinner masterpiece that rivals your favorite takeout. The umami-rich teriyaki glaze coats each morsel of beef and fresh vegetables, delivering a perfect balance of flavors in every bite. You’ll learn how to create restaurant-quality Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry in less than 30 minutes using simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry is about to become your new weeknight dinner hero. First, it’s incredibly fast—ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy evenings when you need something delicious without the wait. The texture contrasts are what make this dish truly special: the slightly caramelized ground beef provides a satisfying chew against the tender-crisp vegetables.

The homemade teriyaki sauce delivers the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and umami flavors without any artificial ingredients or excessive sodium found in store-bought versions. Plus, this recipe is endlessly customizable—swap vegetables based on what’s in season or your preferences, and adjust the heat level to suit your family’s taste.

The best part? You’ll only need one pan, meaning minimal cleanup after enjoying your meal. This beef teriyaki dish is a budget-friendly alternative to takeout that never compromises on flavor.

Ingredients

For the Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry:

• 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon (15g) fresh ginger, grated
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
• 2 cups (200g) broccoli florets
• 1 medium carrot, julienned
• 2 green onions, sliced diagonally for garnish
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish

For the Teriyaki Sauce:

• ⅓ cup (80ml) soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
• 3 tablespoons (45ml) mirin (Japanese sweet cooking wine)
• 2 tablespoons (30g) brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon (8g) cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

The key to authentic teriyaki beef flavor lies in the balance of soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar. Fresh ginger provides that distinctive aromatic quality that elevates this homemade teriyaki stir fry.

Pro Tips

Use the Right Pan: For perfect Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry, a large wok or high-sided skillet is essential. This gives ingredients enough space to sear rather than steam, creating those delicious caramelized bits that enhance flavor. If you don’t have a wok, a 12-inch cast iron skillet works beautifully.

Brown the Beef Properly: The secret to developing rich flavor is browning the ground beef thoroughly before adding other ingredients. Resist the urge to stir constantly—let the meat develop a golden crust by allowing it to sit untouched for 1-2 minutes before breaking it apart. This creates texture variation and deeper flavor notes in your beef teriyaki.

Prep Before Cooking: This stir fry moves quickly once you start cooking, so having all vegetables chopped and sauce mixed beforehand is crucial. The French call this “mise en place” (everything in its place), and it’s particularly important for stir fry success. Arrange ingredients in the order they’ll be added to the pan for seamless cooking.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Teriyaki Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until the sugar dissolves completely. In a separate small bowl, mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry, then combine with the sauce mixture. This will help your teriyaki sauce achieve that perfect glossy thickness that clings beautifully to the beef and vegetables.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef
Heat a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and let it shimmer. Add the ground beef, breaking it into smaller chunks, but then let it cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to develop a nice crust. Continue cooking while breaking up the meat until no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes total. The caramelization adds incredible depth to your Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry.

Step 3: Add Aromatics
Push the browned beef to one side of the pan and add onions to the empty space. Cook for 1-2 minutes until they begin to soften. Add garlic and ginger, stirring continuously for 30 seconds until fragrant. This layering of flavors creates a robust base for your teriyaki beef stir fry.

Step 4: Incorporate Vegetables
Add bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots to the pan. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp. Remember, they’ll continue cooking slightly when you add the sauce, so keeping them slightly firm now prevents an overcooked final dish.

Step 5: Finish with Teriyaki Sauce
Pour the prepared teriyaki sauce over the beef and vegetable mixture, stirring continuously as it thickens, about 1-2 minutes. You’ll notice the sauce transform into a beautiful glaze that coats everything evenly. Once everything is well-coated and the sauce has thickened to your liking, remove from heat.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Transfer your Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry to a serving dish and sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately over steamed rice for the classic presentation of this savory-sweet beef teriyaki dish.

Variations

Spicy Teriyaki Beef Stir Fry: Transform your Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry into a fiery delight by adding 1-2 teaspoons of sriracha or sambal oelek to the teriyaki sauce. For extra heat, include thinly sliced jalapeños or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes when cooking the aromatics. The combination of sweet teriyaki and heat creates an exciting flavor dimension that spice lovers will appreciate.

Vegetable-Packed Teriyaki: Double the vegetables for a more nutritious version. Great additions include snow peas, mushrooms, bok choy, or zucchini. For those seeking a lighter meal, you can even reduce the ground beef to 1/2 pound and increase the vegetables proportionally. This makes your teriyaki ground beef go further while boosting the fiber and nutrients.

Teriyaki Beef Lettuce Wraps: For a low-carb alternative, serve your Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry in butter lettuce cups instead of over rice. Drain any excess sauce before serving and top with crushed peanuts, thinly sliced radishes, and extra green onions for a refreshing crunch that contrasts beautifully with the savory beef teriyaki.

Storage and Serving

This Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry stores beautifully in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, making it perfect for meal prep. The flavors actually develop and deepen overnight, creating an even more delicious lunch the next day. For freezing, cool the stir fry completely, then portion into freezer-safe containers. It will maintain quality for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

For serving, the classic pairing is steamed white rice, which perfectly absorbs the delicious teriyaki sauce. For a more nutritious base, try serving over brown rice, cauliflower rice, or whole grain noodles like soba or udon. Add a side of miso soup and a simple cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar for a complete Japanese-inspired meal.

For an impressive presentation, serve your beef teriyaki stir fry in a bowl with rice on the bottom, the stir fry on top, and garnish with a sprinkle of black and white sesame seeds, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.

FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of beef for this teriyaki stir fry?
Yes! Ground turkey works excellently as a leaner alternative. Because it has less fat than beef, add an extra tablespoon of oil when browning to prevent sticking and enhance flavor.

Is there a substitute for mirin if I can’t find it?
Absolutely. Combine 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar with 2 teaspoons of sugar for each tablespoon of mirin needed. Dry sherry or sweet marsala wine can also work in a pinch.

Why is my teriyaki sauce not thickening?
Make sure your cornstarch slurry is well mixed before adding, and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer after adding the slurry. It needs heat to activate the thickening properties.

Can I make this Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry ahead of time?
Yes! It actually tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. Reheat gently with a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.

What’s the best way to get tender-crisp vegetables in stir fry?
Add harder vegetables (like carrots and broccoli) first, followed by softer ones (like bell peppers). Keep them moving in the hot pan and remember they’ll continue cooking slightly when you add the sauce.

Conclusion

This Ground Beef Teriyaki Stir Fry is weeknight dinner magic — a savory-sweet symphony that transforms simple ingredients into something truly crave-worthy in minutes. It’s the kind of dish that rescues you from the takeout temptation while delivering all the authentic flavors you love. Whether you’re meal prepping for a busy week or impressing dinner guests with your culinary skills, this versatile recipe proves that homemade Asian-inspired cuisine can be both accessible and delicious. Give your family the gift of this flavor-packed meal and watch it quickly become a requested favorite in your home cooking rotation.

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