Savory Weeknight Ground Beef Fried Rice
This one-pan ground beef fried rice is a quick and flavorful meal perfect for a busy weeknight. It comes together quickly with day-old rice, savory ground beef, and a colorful mix of vegetables.
Equipment
- Large skillet or wok
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef lean
- 3-4 cups Day-Old Cooked Rice cold
- 2 Eggs large
- 2 cups Mixed Vegetables e.g., peas, diced carrots, corn, bell peppers, broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
- 1 Onion small, finely chopped
- 2-3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Ginger inch piece, grated or minced (optional)
- 3-4 Soy Sauce tbsp, low sodium preferred
- 1-2 tsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Oyster Sauce tbsp (optional)
- 1-2 Cooking Oil tbsp (vegetable, canola, or grapeseed)
- 2-3 Green Onions stalks, sliced
- Salt To taste
- Pepper To taste
Instructions
Preparation
- Dice the onion, mince the garlic, chop fresh vegetables, and slice the green onions, then whisk the eggs and measure the sauces.
Cooking
- Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, then add ground beef and cook until browned, draining excess fat before setting it aside.
- Add a bit more oil to the pan, scramble the whisked eggs until cooked, then remove and set aside with the beef.
- Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan, sauté onion, garlic, and ginger for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then add harder vegetables and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp or heated through if frozen.
- Push vegetables to one side, add day-old rice to the empty side, breaking up clumps, then pour in soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
- Stir everything together until the rice is well coated and heated through, then return the cooked ground beef and scrambled eggs to the pan and toss gently to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then remove from heat, stir in most sliced green onions, and serve immediately garnished with the remaining green onions.
Notes
For best results, use jasmine rice that has been cooked and refrigerated for at least a day, as this helps prevent the fried rice from becoming mushy. Adjust spice levels by adding a dash of sriracha or red pepper flakes with the sauces. Make sure to drain excess fat from the beef for a less greasy outcome.