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    Home » Beef

    Teriyaki Ground Beef

    Published: Jun 26, 2021 / Updated: Apr 14, 2022 / 20 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This teriyaki ground beef recipe makes the best easy rice bowls! It's ready in about 30 minutes, so skip the takeout and create a simple and delicious family meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Love ground beef? Try my Easy Beef Bowls or Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry.

    teriyaki ground beef rice bowl

    Why you'll love it

    This Asian-inspired dish is one of my go-to skillet recipes with ground beef. It has a wonderful homemade teriyaki sauce that you can make in a jiffy with a handful of grocery store ingredients. It's much more economical than getting takeout, and you can customize it to your exact preferences.

    It's an especially fantastic meal for those busy weeknights when you want something quick since it's on the table in just half an hour. The flavorful garlic ginger sauce has a touch of sugar, so chances are it'll be a hit with picky kids as well!

    Ingredients you need

    For the stir fry

    • Ground beef - I recommend 90% lean
    • Scallions, bell pepper, and carrots - we chose a really simple veggie mix, but you can totally change it up

    For the sauce

    • Brown sugar - for a hint of sweetness
    • Garlic - use more than suggested if you're a garlic lover
    • Ginger - for a zesty kick
    • Mirin - it's a sweet Japanese rice wine. For this recipe, it's fine to use the grocery store version found in the Asian foods aisle in most major grocery stores near soy sauce and rice wine vinegar. I use Kikkoman brand.
    • Soy sauce - we chose regular, but if salt is a concern, try a low sodium variety
    • Rice wine vinegar - apple cider vinegar will work too
    • Beef broth - to enhance the savory flavor
    • Cornstarch - for thickening the sauce

    How to make beef teriyaki bowls

    This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    • Brown the beef in a skillet. While it's cooking, prep the veggies and then add the sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk them together.
    • Add the veggies to the skillet and let them cook for a few minutes, then pour in the sauce and continue cooking for a little bit longer until the sauce thickens up a bit and the vegetables finish cooking. Keep in mind it's not a super thick sauce.
    • Serve over rice or noodles. Simple!
    teriyaki ground beef in a skillet

    Tools you'll need

    • Fresh ginger is very easy to grate if it's frozen. I always keep some whole fresh ginger in the freezer (in a ZipLoc), and I use my Microplane grater/zester to grate it. This way, I also don't have to worry about running out of ginger or forgetting it in the back of my fridge somewhere.
    • This garlic press makes mincing garlic effortless. You don't need to peel it first!

    Substitutions and variations

    • Want to make this recipe spicy? Add in a tablespoon or two of sriracha to the sauce, or sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes while cooking the beef!
    • I kept it very simple by just using the red bell pepper, matchstick cut carrots, and scallions for veggies, but you could definitely incorporate some small broccoli florets, snow peas, or even mushrooms. Just be sure to cut them small enough that they cook fast.
    • You can find pre-cut matchstick carrots in most major grocery stores. If you can't find them and don't want to julienne them yourself, cut the carrots into very thin slices (so they cook faster) or omit them from the recipe.

    What to serve with it

    • We like it as a rice bowl. Jasmine or basmati are my favorite varieties with it.
    • Noodles will work great as well. Try Udon or ramen noodles.
    • You could even do zoodles (zucchini noodles) or cauliflower rice if you want a lower carb/calorie option.

    Leftovers and storage

    • Ground beef teriyaki will keep for a few days in the fridge in a covered container.
    • Reheat on a low heat in a small saucepan until warmed through. I'd make fresh rice or noodles for leftovers, though.
    • You could also try making tasty lettuce wraps with the leftovers.

    More Asian-inspired recipes

    • Ground Pork Stir Fry
    • Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
    • Honey Chicken (Asian Style)
    • Ground Turkey Stir Fry
    • Pineapple Chicken (Asian Style)
    ground beef teriyaki close-up in a skillet

    Questions about this easy ground beef and rice? Let me know in the comments below! As always, tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you've made one of my recipes.

    teriyaki ground beef rice bowl

    Teriyaki Ground Beef

    This teriyaki ground beef recipe makes the best easy rice bowls! It's ready in about 30 minutes, so skip the takeout and create a simple and delicious family meal that everyone will enjoy.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Asian American
    Servings 4
    Calories 263 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1/3 cup scallions chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 1/2 cup matchstick cut carrots

    Sauce:

    • 1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 3 tablespoons mirin see note
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • 1/2 cup beef broth (or chicken broth)
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    Instructions
     

    • Add the beef to a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown it for 8 minutes, breaking it up with your spoon as it cooks. If there's a lot of fat released, spoon most of it out.
    • Meanwhile, add the sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk together. Prep the veggies.
    • To the skillet, add in the scallions, bell pepper, and carrots. Cook for 3 minutes.
    • Pour in the sauce and cook for another 3 minutes or so (the sauce will thicken up a bit and the veggies will become tender-crisp).
    • If needed, season with salt & pepper to taste. Serve over rice or noodles. I topped the bowls with sesame seeds and extra scallions, but that's totally optional.

    Notes

    • Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine. For this recipe, it's fine to use the grocery store version (found in the Asian foods aisle near soy sauce etc.). I use Kikkoman brand.
    • The fresh ginger is very easy to grate if it's frozen. I always keep some fresh ginger in the freezer (in a ZipLoc) and I use my Microplane grater/zester to easily grate it. 
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 26gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 805mgPotassium: 591mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 3688IUVitamin C: 41mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword ground beef teriyaki, teriyaki beef recipe, teriyaki ground beef
    Author Natasha Bull
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    1. Heather Ford says

      March 13, 2023 at 6:11 PM

      5 stars
      I have made so many of your recipes, and this one definitely has me coming back for more. Delicious, quick and easy!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 14, 2023 at 10:51 AM

        Aww I'm thrilled to hear that! I appreciate your 5-star review, Heather!

        Reply
    2. Kayla says

      October 17, 2022 at 6:05 PM

      5 stars
      This is one of our favorites! So much flavor and easy to make.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 17, 2022 at 8:50 PM

        Awesome!! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Sharon says

      February 24, 2022 at 7:17 PM

      5 stars
      I used 2 tablespoons regular soy sauce plus 1/2 tsp. mollasses for the mirin sauce. Found on another site several years ago. It works great!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 24, 2022 at 9:06 PM

        Good idea!!

        Reply
    4. Ann says

      November 3, 2021 at 8:36 AM

      5 stars
      So easy, I followed it to the recipe other than adding mushrooms rather than carrots. Very tasty, thank you.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 3, 2021 at 10:39 AM

        You're very welcome, Ann!! Thanks for your review!

        Reply
    5. Mrs says

      July 26, 2021 at 10:05 AM

      Wanting to make this tonight but don’t have everything for the sauce, can I just use a bottled teriyaki sauce instead?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 26, 2021 at 10:28 AM

        Hi! I don't see why not. 🙂

        Reply
        • Mrs says

          July 26, 2021 at 1:25 PM

          Great! Do you no about how much I should use?

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            July 26, 2021 at 1:53 PM

            Maybe about a cup? I don't usually use pre-made sauces, so I am just taking a guess here. 🙂

            Reply
    6. Michelle says

      July 11, 2021 at 6:00 PM

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight. So easy and delicious. Will definitely make again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 11, 2021 at 6:10 PM

        That's wonderful! Thanks for letting me know, Michelle! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Laura says

      July 6, 2021 at 6:40 PM

      5 stars
      I love how easy this recipe is! I prepped the veggies and sauce the night before so I could throw this all together quickly after work. Delicious and my picky husband approved! Next time I’ll use half as much meat and twice as much veggies, but that’s just personal preference.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 6, 2021 at 6:50 PM

        That's awesome!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know! Yup, you could definitely tweak the meat/veg ratio. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Julie says

      June 26, 2021 at 4:48 PM

      Wonder if ground turkey or chicken could be substituted?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 26, 2021 at 5:58 PM

        Sure!

        Reply
        • Reyna says

          September 24, 2021 at 1:17 PM

          Can you use worcestersire sauce to substitute the soy sauce

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            September 25, 2021 at 9:26 AM

            I would say that's a lot of Worcestershire sauce to add... 2 tablespoons will give a very strong flavor that may not taste so good. If you really have to, I'd add half the amount max (probably less... like a teaspoon or so), and maybe sub water for the rest of the liquid needed. I'd just buy a bottle of soy sauce, though, for best results.

            Reply

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    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

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