Sautéed Ground Beef and Bell Pepper Stir Fry with Garlic and Soy Glaze
A quick and savory stir fry featuring ground beef and sweet bell peppers in a sticky garlic-soy glaze, perfect for weeknight dinners. This asian-inspired beef ready in about 25 minutes pairs ground beef, minced garlic cloves, soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large, thinly sliced into strips red bell pepper
- 1 large, thinly sliced into strips yellow bell pepper
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 stalks, sliced thin green onions
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Then add 1 large thinly sliced red bell pepper and 1 large thinly sliced yellow bell pepper, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes until peppers are tender-crisp.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Continue cooking and stirring for 2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the beef and peppers.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and garnish with 2 thinly sliced green onions before serving over steamed rice or noodles.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sautéed Ground Beef and Bell Pepper Stir Fry with Garlic and Soy Glaze take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (10 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Sautéed Ground Beef and Bell Pepper Stir Fry with Garlic and Soy Glaze?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sautéed Ground Beef and Bell Pepper Stir Fry with Garlic and Soy Glaze?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Sautéed Ground Beef and Bell Pepper Stir Fry with Garlic and Soy Glaze for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Sautéed Ground Beef and Bell Pepper Stir Fry with Garlic and Soy Glaze?
Asian beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
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