Ground beef is one of the easiest proteins to keep on hand for quick family dinners. It is budget-friendly, freezes well, cooks fast, and works in everything from casseroles to tacos to simple skillet meals. This Beef & Pepper Stir Fry is a flavorful, weeknight-friendly dinner made with ground beef, colorful vegetables, and a simple sweet and savory sauce.
The sauce comes together with everyday pantry ingredients: soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and red pepper flakes. It has the perfect balance of salty, slightly sweet, tangy, and gently spicy flavor. Served over warm rice, this ground beef and bell pepper rice bowl is filling, easy to customize, and ideal for busy nights when you want something homemade without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
Serve this easy ground beef stir fry over your favorite rice and add any vegetables you love. It is simple, versatile, and full of flavor.
Beef & Bell Pepper Rice Bowl Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked rice
- 2-3 tbsp oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion
- 2 bell peppers, any color
- 1 small zucchini
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
Step 1 Cook the rice according to the package directions. Most varieties take about 20 minutes on the stovetop, but timing can vary depending on the type of rice you use. For extra flavor, toast the dry rice in the pan with a little butter for a few minutes before adding the liquid. You can also replace some or all of the water with chicken or beef broth for a richer taste.
Step 2 While the rice cooks, chop the onion, bell peppers, and zucchini into small bite-size pieces. Keeping the vegetables similar in size helps them cook evenly and makes every bite of this ground beef rice bowl taste well balanced.
Step 3 Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a few tablespoons of oil. Sauté the onion first so it has time to soften, then add the bell peppers and zucchini. Cook the vegetables until they are tender but still colorful. Stir in the chopped garlic during the last minute or two so it becomes fragrant without burning.
Step 4 Move the cooked vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the ground beef to the center. Break it apart with a spatula and cook until browned and no longer pink. Once the beef is cooked through, mix it together with the vegetables so the flavors begin to combine.
Step 5 If your ground beef releases a lot of grease, you can carefully blot or drain some of it. If you prefer a richer, juicier stir fry, leave a little in the pan. Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes so the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef and vegetables.
Serve over fluffy cooked rice and enjoy! This easy ground beef and bell pepper stir fry is a satisfying dinner with protein, vegetables, and a simple homemade sauce. It is also a practical meal for stretching your grocery budget because ground beef can be purchased on sale, frozen, and used later for fast weeknight recipes.
Easy Ground Beef & Bell Pepper Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked rice
- 2-3 tbsp oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
- 2 bell peppers (chopped)
- 1 small zucchini (chopped)
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
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Cook the rice according to the package instructions. For extra flavor, toast the rice briefly in butter before adding the liquid, or use broth instead of water.
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While the rice cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and sauté the onion, bell peppers, and zucchini for 5-10 minutes, adding the garlic during the last minute or two.
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Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet and add the ground beef. Break it apart and cook until browned and no longer pink. Drain or blot excess grease if needed.
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Stir in the soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Mix well and let the beef and vegetables simmer for a few minutes so the sauce coats everything evenly.
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Serve the ground beef and bell pepper stir fry over cooked rice. Add extra red pepper flakes, a splash of soy sauce, or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- Any type of rice can be used, including white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice. Cooking time may change depending on the variety.
- Soy sauce is naturally salty, so taste the finished dish before adding any extra salt.
- The fat content of your ground beef will determine whether you need to drain the grease. Leaner beef may not need draining.
- Ground turkey or ground chicken can be used instead of beef if you prefer a lighter option.
- For a lower-carb meal, serve the stir fry over cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- To make the dish richer, stir a small amount of butter or sesame oil into the beef mixture before serving.
- Other vegetables work well in this stir fry, including broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, or additional bell peppers.
- If you do not have fresh garlic or onion, garlic powder and onion powder can be used as convenient substitutes.
Save this easy budget dinner recipe for a busy weeknight when you need something quick, flavorful, and family-friendly.
