Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir-Fry
A quick, flavorful one-pan meal featuring lean ground beef, colorful vegetables, Mediterranean herbs, and a touch of feta. Ready in about 30 minutes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Stir-Fry
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup baby spinach
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Juice of ½ lemon
For Garnish
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
1. Brown the Beef
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef.
- Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart until browned.
- Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Season lightly with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, and smoked paprika.
- Transfer to a plate.
2. Cook the Vegetables
- Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet.
- Cook the onion for 3 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add bell peppers and zucchini.
- Stir-fry for 5–6 minutes until slightly tender.
3. Finish the Stir-Fry
- Add cherry tomatoes and olives.
- Cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in spinach until wilted.
- Return the cooked beef to the skillet.
- Add lemon juice and toss everything together.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
4. Serve
Top with:
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Fresh parsley
- A squeeze of fresh lemon
Serve immediately.
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- Sliced mushrooms
- Artichoke hearts
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Fresh mint
Serving Suggestions
Pair with:
- Warm pita bread
- Cauliflower rice (low-carb)
- Brown rice
- Couscous
- Quinoa
- Greek salad
- Tzatziki sauce
Approximate Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 390
- Protein: 31 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fat: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg (varies with olives and feta)
Storage
- Refrigerator: Up to 4 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Up to 3 months (freeze before adding feta).
- Reheating: Warm gently in a skillet over medium heat or microwave until heated through.
This stir-fry is packed with lean protein, colorful vegetables, heart-healthy olive oil, and classic Mediterranean flavors, making it an excellent option for a satisfying weeknight dinner.