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This easy Mediterranean ground beef stir fry recipe features savory ground beef paired with tender-crisp zucchini, sweet cherry tomatoes, and vibrant bell peppers, all finished with tangy feta and fresh herbs.
It’s a quick, high-protein, and well-rounded meal, perfect for busy weeknights, make-ahead lunches, or family dinners and ready in just 30 minutes.
What makes this ground beef stir fry stand out is its Mediterranean flair, with fresh produce, bold spices, and nourishing ingredients all coming together in one satisfying skillet.
One of the secret weapons in this dish is the baharat seasoning, a warm Middle Eastern spice blend that adds depth and a subtle smokiness to the flavor.
We also use 90 to 93% lean ground beef, which provides all the rich, meaty flavor without the excess fat.
This ground beef stir fry recipe is easily customizable; swap the zucchini for eggplant or spinach, or make it more filling by serving it over quinoa, rice, or tucked into a warm pita wrap.
This particular dish is a true one-pan wonder, with everything cooked in one skillet, meaning less cleanup and more time to enjoy your meal.
✅ Take a moment to read through the whole post for the ingredient list, expert tips, and equipment suggestions. The full recipe is right below!
Ingredients You’ll Need for This Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry Recipe
Here are the fresh, flavorful ingredients you’ll need for this Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry recipe:
1. Lean Ground Beef
- You will need 1 pound (approximately 450g) of 90-93% lean ground beef.
- Choosing a leaner cut means less fat to drain, faster browning, and a healthier, less greasy stir-fry.
- While 80/20 ground beef brings extra flavor, its higher fat content renders more grease, so you’ll need to drain the excess.
2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- This is the cornerstone of Mediterranean cooking, providing not only a medium for sautéing but also a source of healthy monounsaturated fats and a rich, fruity base flavor.
3. Yellow Onion
- A foundational aromatic, finely chopped yellow onion adds a subtle sweetness and depth to the savory base.
- As it softens and caramelizes slightly, it releases essential flavors that build the complexity of the dish.
4. Garlic
- Indispensable in Mediterranean cooking, minced garlic adds pungent, savory notes that define the cuisine’s bold, rustic flavor.
- It’s a powerful aromatic that elevates the overall flavor profile.
5. Yellow Bell Pepper
- This vibrant vegetable contributes beautiful color, natural sweetness, and a pleasant, tender-crisp texture to the stir-fry.
- It adds a refreshing crunch and a mild, sweet counterpoint to the savory beef.
6. Zucchini
- Sliced zucchini offers a delicate, slightly sweet flavor and a tender texture when cooked just right.
- It’s a fantastic way to incorporate more vegetables and fiber into your meal.
7. Cherry Tomatoes
- Halved cherry tomatoes burst with sweet-tart juiciness, adding a crucial element of freshness and acidity.
- They brighten the entire dish and contribute a delightful pop of flavor and color.
8. Tomato Paste
- This concentrated form of tomato flavor adds richness, depth, and a hint of umami to the beef mixture.
- Cooking it briefly helps to develop its sweetness and intensify its flavor.
9. Dried Oregano
- A quintessential Mediterranean herb, dried oregano provides that authentic, earthy, and aromatic flavor profile that defines the region’s cuisine.
10. Ground Cumin
- Adds an earthy, warm, and slightly pungent note, characteristic of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spice blends, contributing to the dish’s aromatic depth.
11. Smoked Paprika
- Imparts a beautiful reddish hue and a subtle, smoky depth that enhances the savory qualities of the beef, adding another layer of complexity.
12. Baharat Seasoning
- This Middle Eastern spice blend, often containing cinnamon, paprika, cumin, and coriander, brings a complex, warm, and aromatic dimension that truly sets the dish apart.
- If unavailable, a small pinch of ground cinnamon and coriander can serve as a good substitute.
13. Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Essential for seasoning every layer of the dish, these enhance all the other flavors and are crucial for balancing the overall taste.
14. Feta Cheese
- Crumbled feta provides a crucial salty, tangy, and creamy counterpoint that defines the Mediterranean experience, melting slightly into the warm dish and adding a delightful briny note.
15. Fresh Parsley
- A bright, herbaceous finish that adds freshness, a vibrant green color, and a clean, peppery note that lifts the entire dish, making it visually appealing and enhancing the fresh flavors.
Tools You’ll Need to Make This Stir Fry With Ground Beef
To whip up this delightful ground beef recipe, you will need a few common kitchen tools that will make your cooking experience smooth:
- Large Skillet or Wok: A spacious 12-inch skillet or a wok is ideal for stir-frying. Its wide surface allows ingredients to spread out in a single layer, ensuring proper searing and browning without overcrowding.
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon: A sturdy, heat-resistant spatula is essential for breaking up the ground beef as it browns and for stirring the vegetables evenly throughout the cooking process.
- Cutting Board: A stable and clean cutting board is indispensable for safely chopping all your fresh vegetables, from onions and garlic to bell peppers and zucchini.
- Sharp Knife: A good quality chef’s knife makes quick and efficient work of all the slicing, dicing, and mincing required for the ingredients, ensuring uniform cuts for even cooking.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurate measurement of ingredients and spices, ensuring the flavors are perfectly balanced as intended by the recipe.
- Colander: If you opt for a ground beef with a higher fat content (like 80/20), a colander will be incredibly handy for quickly and efficiently draining any excess rendered grease after browning the meat.
Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Recipe
This ground beef stir fry is not just delicious; it’s a powerhouse of nutrition, embodying the core principles of the healthy Mediterranean diet.
- High in Protein: The lean ground beef serves as an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is vital for muscle repair and growth, and helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, aiding in weight management.
- Rich in Dietary Fiber: Loaded with fresh veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes, this dish is a great source of fiber, which supports digestion, balances blood sugar, and helps you feel full longer.
- Healthy Fats: Cooked with extra virgin olive oil, this stir-fry includes heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that also aid in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins.
- Low in Carbohydrates: With its focus on lean protein and non-starchy vegetables, this recipe is naturally low in carbohydrates, making it an ideal choice for those following a keto diet, low-carb diet, or diabetic-friendly diet.
- Packed with Vitamins and Minerals: The vibrant mix of vegetables delivers key nutrients like Vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron to help support overall health and immunity.
- Supports a Balanced Diet: By focusing on whole, unprocessed ingredients, this dish encourages a more balanced way of clean eating with less dependence on processed foods and added sugars.
- Quick and Easy: In today’s fast-paced world, this easy Mediterranean ground beef stir fry recipe is a lifesaver on busy weeknights, ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: This dish stores and reheats beautifully, making it a great option for preparing in advance and enjoying nutritious, delicious meals throughout the week.
Chef Tips for Making the Best Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry
Here are a few chef’s secrets that elevate your Mediterranean ground beef stir fry from good to truly unforgettable:
1. Getting the Heat Just Right
- While stir-fries are known for high heat, going too hot can burn your spices before the beef even browns.
- On the flip side, if your pan isn’t hot enough, your ingredients might steam instead of sear, making everything a bit soggy.
- The goal is to get a nice, quick sear on the beef while keeping the veggies tender but crisp, which is possible over a steady medium-high heat.
2. Don’t Overcrowd the Pan
- If you overcrowd your skillet, the temperature will drop dramatically, causing ingredients to steam in their own juices instead of searing and browning.
- If you’re doubling the recipe or using a smaller pan, cook the beef and vegetables in separate batches to ensure proper browning and crispness.
3. Season in Layers
- Don’t just add all the spices at the end. Begin by seasoning your ground beef with salt and pepper as it browns to builds flavor from the ground up.
- Then, after the beef is cooked and the onions and garlic are fragrant, stir in your Mediterranean spices like oregano, cumin, paprika, or Baharat and let them sizzle in the oil for a moment.
- Finally, always give your stir-fry a quick taste at the end and adjust the seasoning if needed.
4. Keep Zucchini Tender, Not Mushy
- Zucchini cooks very quickly and can easily become watery and mushy if overcooked.
- Add it towards the end of the cooking process, after the beef and heartier aromatics have had their time.
- Remember that zucchini keeps cooking even after the heat is off, so it’s better to slightly undercook it than to overdo it.
5. Don’t Skip the Feta and Herbs
- Feta and fresh parsley might look like simple toppings, but they’re key to the flavor of this stir-fry.
- The feta adds a salty, creamy tang that balances the rich beef and veggies while the parsley brings a fresh, bright note that keeps the dish from feeling too heavy.
- They might look like simple garnishes, but together, they’re what makes this dish truly Mediterranean.
6. Drain the Excess Fat
- If you’re using ground beef with a higher fat content (such as 80/20), it is crucial to drain off the rendered fat after browning the meat.
- Failure to do so will result in a greasy dish, and the vegetables will end up steaming in the fat rather than properly sautéing and searing, leading to a less desirable texture and flavor.
Final Remarks
With juicy, seasoned ground beef, tender-crisp veggies, and that signature finishing touch of crumbled feta and fresh herbs, this ground beef stir-fry strikes the perfect balance between wholesome and hearty comfort food.
Feel free to customize it; swap the beef for ground turkey or lamb, or toss in some baby spinach, chickpeas, or briny olives for an extra nutritional boost.
Pair it with a crisp cucumber avocado salad or serve it alongside warm pita and hummus for a full Mediterranean spread that’s sure to satisfy.
If you give this recipe a try, we’d love to hear how it turned out. Share your version or drop your thoughts in the comment section.
You’ll find the full recipe and cooking instructions just below.
Best Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry
Description
This easy Mediterranean ground beef stir fry serves 4 and features tender ground beef sautéed with fresh zucchini, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes, all topped with creamy feta and a sprinkle of bright parsley.
Ingredients
For the Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry
For Garnish
Step- By-Step Cooking Instructions
Prepare Your Ingredients
- Chop the onion.
- Mince the garlic.
- Thinly slice the bell pepper and zucchini.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes.
- Measure out all spices and seasonings into small bowls.
Brown the Beef
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the ground beef.
- Break up the beef into small, even pieces with a spatula.
- Season with a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is nicely browned and no longer pink.
- Transfer the cooked beef to a bowl and set aside.
Sauté the Aromatics & Veggies
- Return the skillet to medium-high heat.
- If the pan looks dry, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Add the chopped onion and sliced bell pepper to the hot pan.
- Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and the peppers are tender-crisp.
- Stir in the minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste.
- Cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant and slightly darkened.
Add Zucchini & Cherry Tomatoes
- Return the browned ground beef to the skillet with the sautéed veggies.
- Add the sliced zucchini and halved cherry tomatoes.
- Gently stir everything together to combine.
- Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
Season & Finish
- Sprinkle in the dried oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and baharat seasoning.
- Stir everything well so the spices evenly coat the beef and veggies.
- Cook for 1 more minute to let the spices bloom in the heat and oil, as this boosts their flavor and aroma.
- Taste and adjust with a little more salt and pepper if needed.
Serve It Up
- Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Transfer the ground beef stir fry to a large serving dish or bowl.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta and fresh chopped parsley on top.
- Serve immediately while it’s hot.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Serving Size Approximately 1½ cups
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 437kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 15g24%
- Saturated Fat 5g25%
- Trans Fat 0.5g
- Cholesterol 88mg30%
- Sodium 1353mg57%
- Potassium 1132mg33%
- Total Carbohydrate 37g13%
- Dietary Fiber 4g16%
- Sugars 6g
- Protein 37g74%
- Vitamin A 3620 IU
- Vitamin C 69 mg
- Calcium 77 mg
- Iron 4 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
- Be careful not to overcook the zucchini; aim for tender-crisp, not soft or mushy.
- If you're using fattier ground beef, be sure to drain the excess fat after browning to avoid a greasy dish and soggy veggies.
- For the best flavor, stir the dry spices into the browned beef before adding the veggies back to the pan.
- For the best flavor and texture, use fresh, seasonal produce like crisp zucchini, vibrant bell peppers, and juicy cherry tomatoes.
- Ensure the skillet is hot before adding beef to get a nice sear.
