Easy Teriyaki Ground Beef: Quick Weeknight Dinner (Print Version)

Whip up an easy teriyaki ground beef recipe for a quick and flavorful weeknight meal. A family favorite, perfect for busy evenings!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 10 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4-6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Dietary: Dairy-Free (can be Gluten-Free with Tamari)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - Ground Beef (1 lb)

→ Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

02 - Soy Sauce (1/2 cup)
03 - Brown Sugar (1/4 cup, packed)
04 - Rice Vinegar (2 tbsp)
05 - Cornstarch (1 tbsp)
06 - Water (1/4 cup)

→ Aromatics & Finishing Touches

07 - Fresh Ginger (1 tbsp, grated)
08 - Garlic (2-3 cloves, minced)
09 - Sesame Oil (1 tsp)

→ For Serving

10 - Green Onions (2-3, sliced)

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, grab your biggest skillet – I always use my trusty cast iron for this. Heat it over medium-high heat, then toss in that ground beef. Break it up with a wooden spoon, getting it all nice and crumbly. You want it browned all over, no pink bits left, okay? This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. The smell of the beef starting to sizzle, it's just the beginning of something wonderful. If there's a ton of grease, you can drain some, but I usually leave a little for flavor, especially for this easy teriyaki ground beef.
02 - While your beef is doing its thing, grab a small bowl. Whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, cornstarch, and water. Give it a really good whisk until the cornstarch is completely dissolved – no lumps allowed! This is where the magic happens, transforming simple ingredients into that glossy, savory-sweet teriyaki sauce. I always taste a tiny bit at this stage, just to make sure it's hitting all the right notes for my easy teriyaki ground beef.
03 - Once your beef is browned, if you drained any fat, add just a tiny splash of oil back in. Toss in your minced garlic and grated ginger (if you didn't add it to the sauce already, sometimes I do it this way for extra punch!). Let it cook for about 30 seconds to a minute, just until it's fragrant. You'll smell that amazing combo of beef, garlic, and ginger – honestly, it's one of my favorite kitchen smells. Don't let it burn, though, garlic goes from fragrant to bitter in a flash!
04 - Now, pour your whisked teriyaki sauce mixture over the browned beef. Stir it all together, making sure every bit of beef is coated. Bring it to a gentle simmer, and watch as the sauce magically thickens right before your eyes, thanks to that cornstarch! Keep stirring occasionally for about 2-3 minutes, until it's thick and glossy and clinging to the beef. This is where your easy teriyaki ground beef really comes alive.
05 - Once the sauce is perfectly thickened, take the skillet off the heat. Drizzle in that teaspoon of sesame oil. Give it a good stir. That nutty aroma from the sesame oil, it just elevates the whole dish. This is a crucial step for that authentic teriyaki flavor. Don't skip it, it makes all the difference to your easy teriyaki ground beef!
06 - Finally, transfer your delicious easy teriyaki ground beef to a serving bowl. Sprinkle generously with those sliced green onions. The vibrant green against the rich brown beef, it just looks so inviting! Serve it hot over fluffy rice, maybe with a side of steamed broccoli. The whole dish should look glossy, smell incredible, and taste like pure comfort. It’s a winner every time, even if my kitchen counter looks like a war zone afterwards!

# Notes:

01 - Always whisk your cornstarch with cold water *before* adding it to a hot pan, or you'll get lumps! Learned that the hard way.
02 - This easy teriyaki ground beef stores wonderfully in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
03 - If you're out of brown sugar, a little maple syrup can work, but the flavor will be slightly different.
04 - Serving this over fluffy white rice with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds makes it extra special.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large skillet
02 - small mixing bowl
03 - whisk

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 30g
Protein: 30g

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