Beef and String Bean Stir Fry Recipe

Asian ground beef over rice in a serving dish with a fork.

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Beef and String Bean Stir Fry Recipe

20 minute dinner alert! This Ground Beef and String Beans recipe is one of my go-to weeknight meals because it's fast, affordable, packed with protein, and loaded with flavor. We've been making quick skillet dinners for years and let me tell you... the secret is really in the sauce! This homemade sesame sauce is super simple yet really delicious, and the perfect consistency to coat every bite.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Servings:

Calories: 410kcal

Author: Misty

Equipment

Ingredients

Sauce

⅓ cup soy sauce regular, not reduced sodium
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 ½ tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon sriracha
2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
2 teaspoon cornstarch

Bowls

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil divided
½ lb fresh green beans cut into 1.5-2 inch pieces
1.5 lb ground beef 90% lean
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon garlic minced
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

For serving

Cooked white rice
Sliced green onions optional
Sesame seeds optional

Instructions

*If you plan to serve this with rice, get that started first.
Combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk, then set aside.
⅓ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 ½ tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon sriracha, 2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger, 2 teaspoon cornstarch
Heat a large 12 inch skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, then add the green beans for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. until they are tender-crisp and develop a bit of color. Remove to a plate and set aside.
0.5 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, ½ lb fresh green beans
Reduce the heat to medium, then add another ½ tablespoon sesame oil. Once hot, add the ground beef and salt. Cook, breaking it up into small pieces until it's cooked through and no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes (this meat masher makes this easy).
0.5 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1.5 lb ground beef, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
If there is a lot of excess grease in the pan, use paper towels to soak it up and discard. Then add the garlic and sesame seeds and cook for 1 minute, stirring often so they don’t burn. Cooking them like this before adding the sauce develops more flavor!
1 tablespoon garlic, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Add the green beans back to the pan, then pour the sauce in. Cook over medium heat for 1-3 minutes, stirring often until the sauce has thickened. Serve over white rice with green onions and sesame seeds.
Cooked white rice, Sliced green onions, Sesame seeds

Notes

Tips & Tricks

Don't skip draining the oil. If you leave it, the sauce will be watered down and greasy.
To avoid burning, don't let the pan get too hot or to the point of smoking.
Don't leave any ingredients out. It's only a few, so each one matters!

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. It reheats very easily in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove over medium heat (it really does taste good leftover too, which is a huge win in my book).

Prep Ahead Instructions: This is a very quick dinner. But you can make it even quicker by prepping a few things ahead of time. Combine all the sauce ingredients, then store in the fridge in a sealed container for 3-4 days. You can also cut the green beans and store in a sealed container for 1-3 days. When you're ready to eat, continue with the recipe as written.

Nutrition