Ground Beef Teriyaki

Recipe Ingredients:

• sesame oil: sesame oil is preferred for flavor in this stir fry recipe. Olive oil or another cooking oil can be used in place of the sesame oil.
• ground beef: use your favorite ground beef–chuck, sirloin, etc. I prefer a lean ground beef and typically opt for ground sirloin.
• broccoli florets: you can use fresh or frozen, I often use fresh. Chop into small broccoli florets for quick and easy cooking.
• shredded carrots: the grocery often has shredded carrots on hand for quick and easy prep. They cook very quickly which is ideal.
• salt and pepper: the soy sauce already adds a level of saltiness to the dish so add salt as desired. A touch of black pepper will round this recipe out as well.
• green onions: these are the preferred onion, but if you want to dice up a yellow onion and sauté it as well, you may!
• beef broth: a natural option for this ground beef recipe–if you don’t have beef broth you could use another broth or as a last resort, water will work as well.
• soy sauce: I prefer low sodium, but use what you have. You can keep this recipe gluten free by using tamari in place of the soy sauce.
• brown sugar: light or dark brown sugar will work
• honey: sweetens the sauce along with the brown sugar while adding flavor
• fresh ginger: freshly minced ginger is what you will want for the best flavor
• garlic cloves: fresh minced garlic, just as with the ginger is ideal–if you don’t have any, use garlic powder instead. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and add to taste.
• corn starch: this will thicken the teriyaki sauce.
• orange zest: this is the flavor enhancer that is my absolute favorite when making my pork or turkey teriyaki and added to this beef stir fry brings it to WOW in my personal opinion. Don’t skip it!
• red pepper flakes: for a touch of spice and depth, this is added. You can adjust to your desired spice level and add more to taste.

Traditionally teriyaki sauce includes mirin, a form of rice wine that is similar to sake but with a lower alcohol content. Not everyone wants to add alcohol in cooking and it’s not something everyone has on hand, so I decided to omit it. Tried to keep to simple ingredients that would most likely be in your pantry! If desired, you can add a tablespoon or two in the sauce or a bit of rice vinegar.

Storage:

Fresh ground beef can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days so make sure it is cooked within this timeframe. Leftovers of this beef teriyaki stir fry can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

To freeze, allow to cool and then transfer to a freezer-safe container. You can divide into single portions with rice or store the entire recipe. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or microwave. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Ways To Vary This Beef Teriyaki Recipe:

You can serve this dish over white or brown rice, cauliflower rice is another option. Add some diced avocado, pickled onions, toasted sesame seeds and other delicious toppings. There are also some great ways to vary the recipe itself.

• vary the vegetables: since this is super quick and easy recipe, the veggies are kept to a minimum. You can easily add more–snow peas, green or red bell pepper, bok choy and more!
• add some heat: the crushed red pepper can be as subtle or strong as you like. You can also add a few splashes of sriracha or hot sauce to increase the spice level
• serve in lettuce wraps: you can think beyond rice! This beef teriyaki is great in crisp lettuce wraps as well
• change the sweetener: use maple syrup instead of the honey for a different sweetness flavor of the sauce