Versatile and simple, stir-frying is a tried-and-true, go-to method for getting dinner on the table FAST. We love stir-frying for countless cheap and easy dinners, but especially in this recipe that combines ground beef with broccoli, carrots, and teriyaki sauce. Ground beef means no slicing or dicing the meat; just go from the package directly to the pan and get cooking. Use lean ground beef in this recipe, so the stir fry doesn’t end up greasy. Stir frying is very versatile—you can customize the meat or vegetables to your tastes, but sometimes it’s nice to have a guide. Here beef, broccoli, and shredded carrots round out the dish, but these 3 rules will guide you to the perfect stir fry.
The sauces:
In this recipe, we made two to complete the dish. One is a homemade teriyaki sauce that thickens up and cooks in the pan, flavoring and seasoning the meat and vegetables. The second sauce is a finishing sauce of sour cream and sriracha which is drizzled over top, adding a non-traditional creamy element in addition to a little heat.
Have everything ready to go:
Once you start cooking, your stir-fry can be done in as little as minutes, so you want everything chopped and ready to go. Divide the ingredients into bowls based on when they go into the dish, so all you have to do is grab one for each step and keep going.
Don’t overload the pan:
There is a sweet spot on the amount of food in a stir-fry. Flavor is built as the ingredients browning the hot pan. Crowding means ingredients will steam rather than brown. If you want to make dinner for more than 4 people, cook this recipe twice rather than doubling the amount in the pan.
Made this stir-fry? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
jasmine or long-grain white rice
Kosher salt
sour cream
sriracha
packed dark brown sugar
reduced-sodium soy sauce
cornstarch
unseasoned rice vinegar
toasted sesame oil
scallions
vegetable oil
cloves garlic, finely chopped
finely chopped peeled ginger
lean ground beef
broccoli florets, chopped into bite-size pieces (about 3 c.)
carrots, shredded (about 1 1/2 c.)
toasted sesame seeds, divided
In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring rice, salt, and 2 cups water to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 17 minutes.
Sauces