I have always thought zucchini needed a little help.
On its own, it can be a bit of a wallflower—soft, mild, and perfectly pleasant, but rarely the thing you find yourself craving. Put it in a hot skillet with browned ground beef, onions, garlic, and a good sauce, though, and suddenly I have a very different opinion of it.
This is one of those dinners that came together because I had zucchini to use and ground beef in the fridge, and I wanted something that would turn the two into an actual meal rather than a collection of ingredients that happened to be cooked in the same pan.
The zucchini becomes tender and picks up all of the savory, slightly sweet sauce, while the ground beef gets browned and a little crisp around the edges. Put the whole thing over rice and, well, the zucchini has officially stopped being the boring part of dinner.
This is not meant to be a complicated stir-fry with fifteen vegetables and a sauce that requires its own recipe. It’s a very simple combination that happens to work exceptionally well—and one I’ve found myself making again whenever zucchini starts multiplying in the refrigerator.
And if you’re in the mood for something a little more cozy, my Ground Beef Stew is another one-pot dinner I make for weeknights. It’s the sort of meal that quietly takes care of dinner for you.
Recipe Update
This recipe has been updated! I originally made this stir fry with strips of beef, but I’ve changed it to ground beef for an even easier and more affordable dinner, along with a new and much more flavorful sauce. The original version was good, but I think this one is better—and much more practical for a weeknight.
Ingredient Notes
Dark Soy Sauce: This recipe calls for dark soy sauce, which has more flavor than light or all-purpose soy sauce and gives the stir fry its beautiful deep brown color. You can substitute all-purpose soy sauce if that’s what you have, but the beef won’t have quite the same deep brown color. I usually find dark soy sauce near the regular soy sauce in the grocery store.
Mirin: Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine used in cooking. It adds a subtle sweetness that balances the savory flavors in the sauce. You can usually find it in the Asian foods section of the grocery store.
Oyster Sauce: Oyster sauce adds a deep, savory umami flavor to the sauce. You’ll usually find it in the Asian foods aisle, near the soy sauce.
How to Make It
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the sliced onion and garlic and cook until the onion has softened and wilted. Stir in the sauce, making sure everything is well coated, then add the zucchini. Cook until the zucchini reaches your desired doneness—I like it tender with a little bite. Serve warm over rice.
A Few Notes
The most important thing here is not to overcook the zucchini. I like it tender but still with a little bite, but you can cook it longer if you prefer it softer. And don’t rush the ground beef—letting it brown well before adding the vegetables gives the whole dish more flavor.
What to Serve With Ground Beef Zucchini Stir Fry
I like to serve this over plain white rice. The rice soaks up the sauce and makes the stir fry into a complete, satisfying meal. Jasmine rice is especially good, but whatever rice you have on hand will work.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular soy sauce instead of dark soy sauce?
Yes. All-purpose soy sauce can be substituted for dark soy sauce, but the finished stir fry won’t have the same deep brown color and the flavor will be slightly different.
Can I use a different vegetable instead of zucchini?
Absolutely. Bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, or even yellow squash would work well here. You can also add extra vegetables if you have them in the refrigerator.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes. The stir fry can be made ahead and reheated when you’re ready to eat. The zucchini will be a little softer after reheating, but it will still be delicious.
Ground Beef Zucchini Stir Fry
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2½ tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon mirin
- 1 teaspoon brown or white sugar
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
For the Stir Fry
- 1 lb lean ground beef 500g
- 1 small onion thinly sliced into half-moons
- 1 small zucchini sliced into half-moons
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- drizzle of olive oil
- green onions optional
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Mix the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together the oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and minced garlic. Set aside.2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2½ tablespoons dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon mirin, 1 teaspoon brown or white sugar, 1 garlic clove
- Brown the beef. Drizzle a little olive oil into a large skillet and heat over high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as you go. Once the beef has changed from red to brown and the liquid has cooked off, allow it to brown nicely. Add a pinch of salt.1 lb lean ground beef, pinch of salt, drizzle of olive oil
- Cook the onion and garlic. Add the sliced onion and cook until it becomes translucent and wilted. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.1 small onion, 2 garlic cloves
- Add the sauce. Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir well, coating the beef and onions. Cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add the zucchini. Add the sliced zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired doneness. I like it tender but still with a little bite.1 small zucchini
- Serve. Stir in chopped green onion, if using, and serve over warm white rice.green onions
Notes
- Let the beef brown: Once the liquid has cooked off, give the beef a chance to develop some browned bits for extra flavor—but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
- Cook the zucchini to your liking: I prefer it tender with a little bite, but you can cook it longer if you prefer softer zucchini.
- Go easy on the salt: The oyster sauce and dark soy sauce are already salty, so a small pinch added to the beef is all you need.
- Dark soy sauce substitution: You can substitute all-purpose soy sauce using the same amount, but the finished stir fry won’t have the same deep brown color.
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