20 Minute Zucchini and Ground Beef Stir-Fry Recipe

I remember eating things like Hamburger Helper (or Tuna Helper) when I was a kid. Shrink) regularly. This MSG, hydrolyzed corn, protein-infused one-pan meal was a staple in the 80s. My friends and I lamented its existence over the equally processed school lunches. Naturally, I had not yet learned my own food rules to break my picky eating habits!

As the saying goes, “If you know better, you do better.” To be honest, I’ve never bought a Hamburger Helper at the grocery store. But I can understand the appeal!

Do you need only one pound of meat for a dish that can be prepared in 20 minutes? Yes, please!

Stir-fried Minced Beef That’s Better Than Takeout

Hamburger Helper definitely got one thing right… convenience! I’m sure the low price and easy preparation are some of the main reasons it’s become so popular (but not the taste!). A simple beef stir-fry makes the perfect weeknight meal that even the pickiest of eaters will love.

With just a few simple and equally inexpensive real food ingredients, you can replace prepackaged one-pan meals with more nutritious options. You can also use gluten-free noodles or shirataki noodles instead of regular noodles, but this recipe is the perfect way to get more vegetables into your diet. I always enjoy making new recipes and this one is now a hit with the kids!

Replace vegetables with noodles

I often use Our Spiralizer For this recipe, you need to slice the zucchini into thin noodles. If you don’t have a spiralizer, buy one! It works magic to get kids to love making and eating vegetables.

Another great thing about this recipe is how easy and quick it is to prepare. My kids love that they can help me prepare this recipe, and the older kids can now prepare it all on their own without my help.

This simple stir-fry is a regular in our meal planning rotation. It’s also one of my go-to recipes on busy nights when I don’t have anything else to cook. I usually use ground beef, but you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken if you have those.

Minced Beef Stir-fry Recipe Variations

My favorite vegetable for this recipe is zucchini, but you can use whatever vegetable you have on hand. Some vegetables that readers have used and loved include carrots, yellow squash, kohlrabi, and sweet potatoes.

You can also mix it with different spices to get a completely different flavor. Some of our favorites include:

• 2 teaspoons of cumin and 1 teaspoon of chili powderTop with salsa, sour cream and cheese for some Tex-Mex flavor.
• Add it Italian seasoning And a can of chopped tomatoes. If you like it spicy, add some chili flakes. Top with Parmesan cheese for an Italian twist.
• use Curry powder Add a little bit of the listed spices instead Coconut milk For a deep, rich flavor.
• Try some toast Sesame oil Instead of butter, add a little more garlic and put it on top. Coconut Amino (Similar to soy sauce) It has a taste similar to scrambled eggs.
• For an Asian version, add red bell peppers and broccoli florets. Top with sesame seeds and a drizzle of rice vinegar.

More Topping Ideas

• green onion
• Fresh grated ginger
• sugar peas
• Sriracha sauce or stir-fry sauce

Now that my family eats a little grain, we often eat fried rice on top of white rice. My favorite is jasmine rice, but sometimes we eat cauliflower rice (still a vegetable). I actually like cauliflower rice better than brown rice (here’s why).

So, let me introduce you to our favorite beef and pumpkin stir-fry recipe…

For an easier weeknight meal, try Asian lettuce wraps or Korean beef rice bowls.

What’s your favorite stir-fry recipe? Share it below!