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You only need one skillet and about 10 minutes to pull together an easy ground beef teriyaki recipe for dinner tonight!
Table of Contents
That’s right — you can have a quick and easy dinner ready for the table in well under 30 minutes! This easy beef teriyaki recipe takes advantage of a handful of simple shortcuts to get supper ready in a flash. Pair the sweet and savory ground beef with veggies in rice bowls, or wrap the meat in flour tortillas or lettuce wraps. It’s always well-received!
Teriyaki Sauce
Teriyaki is a sweet-and-salty sauce commonly used in Japanese cooking. The four main ingredients of a simple teriyaki sauce include soy sauce, sake (or mirin), sugar (or brown sugar) and ginger. It might also include cornstarch as a thickening agent.
When paired with chicken, seafood, beef, or vegetables, teriyaki creates a rich, flavorful, umami dish. It’s a great way to yield a complex, satisfying meal in a short amount of time. While you can certainly make your own homemade teriyaki sauce from scratch, this ground beef teriyaki recipe takes advantage of a store-bought sauce for even quicker weeknight dinners!
Is teriyaki marinade the same as teriyaki sauce?
In some cases, these terms are used interchangeably to describe a thick, rich teriyaki sauce that can be used for both basting and for marinating.
For this recipe, you’ll want to look for a thick, rich sauce for the best flavor and texture. I prefer this Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki brand or this version by Kikkoman, but any similar variety will work. It’s sweet, savory, and adds great umami flavor to the dish. Just make sure that you’re not using a thin, watery teriyaki sauce with a texture that’s similar to soy sauce.
What is the best cut of meat for teriyaki?
There are many different cuts of beef that will work for a classic beef teriyaki recipe. Flank steak is a good option, along with skirt steak, sirloin steak, brisket, hanger steak, or other thinly sliced beef. Here, however, we’re using ground beef. It’s an affordable, quick-cooking, family-friendly option that tastes delicious when stir-fried with the teriyaki sauce.
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you need for an easy teriyaki beef recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Sesame oil: lends a rich, nutty, toasty flavor to the dish. If you don’t have sesame oil, you can sub with vegetable oil; however, I highly recommend using the sesame oil for a more flavorful stir fry.
- Ground beef: or sub with ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken if you prefer.
- Onion and garlic: for savory flavor.
- Ginger: fresh gingerroot is best (keep it stashed in your freezer so that it lasts!), but dried ground ginger will also work.
- Teriyaki sauce: pick a thick, rich sauce for the best flavor and texture. I prefer this Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki brand or this variety made by Kikkoman. It’s sweet, savory, and adds great umami flavor to the dish. Just make sure that you’re not using a thin, watery teriyaki sauce (that’s similar to soy sauce).
How to Make this Ground Beef Teriyaki Recipe
This beef teriyaki stir fry recipe cooks in about 10 minutes, and you can make it completely prep-free by using frozen diced onion and pre-minced garlic. That eliminates the need to even pull out a cutting board! The detailed instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here’s the quick version:
- Cook the ground beef, onion, garlic, and ginger in sesame oil.
- Pour the teriyaki sauce into the pan.
- Simmer for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
What to Serve with Teriyaki Beef Stir Fry
This ground beef is delicious in a beef teriyaki bowl made with fluffy white rice. Add steamed or stir-fried broccoli, snow peas, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, baby corn, or other veggies of choice, and garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and/or crushed red pepper flakes.
The sweet-and-savory beef stir-fry is also delicious wrapped up in tortillas or lettuce wraps. Pair it with a side of egg rolls, dumplings, or ramen noodle salad.
Preparation and Storage
- Make Ahead: Cook the meat according to the recipe instructions above and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, simply reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan.
- Storage: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: warm the cooked beef teriyaki in a skillet or saucepan over low heat until it reaches the desired temperature. Add extra teriyaki sauce, as needed. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Variations
- If you don’t have sesame oil, you can substitute with vegetable oil or canola oil. The sesame oil adds great flavor, richness, and toasted, nutty flavor, though.
- Add vegetables to the stir-fry. For instance, saute broccoli, snow peas, asparagus, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, or cabbage. Remove it to a plate, and then cook the beef mixture as instructed. Return the cooked vegetables to the skillet at the end to warm through, adding extra teriyaki sauce as needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Cut all of the ingredients in half to serve just 2 people, or freeze half of the cooked beef mixture for a later meal. Similarly, you can double all of the ingredients to feed a larger family.
- Swap out the beef and use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Add fresh or canned pineapple chunks or slices for a touch of Hawaii in your beef teriyaki!
- Add a splash of rice vinegar towards the end for a bright, acidic finishing touch.
Tips for the Best Beef Teriyaki Recipe
- Pick a brand of teriyaki sauce that has a thick, rich consistency (rather than other varieties that have a thinner consistency that’s similar to soy sauce). I like Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki or this variety made by Kikkoman.
- For even less prep, use frozen diced onion and pre-minced garlic. You won’t even have to pull out a cutting board or a knife!
- Add more teriyaki sauce, if needed, to reach the desired consistency.
- Garnish the finished dish with sliced green onion, toasted sesame seeds, chopped fresh cilantro, or crushed red pepper flakes for even more flavor.
More Easy Asian-Inspired Dinners to Try
One Skillet “Egg Roll in a Bowl”
20 minutes mins
Shortcut Sesame Chicken
25 minutes mins
Honey Garlic Shrimp {15 Minutes!}
15 minutes mins
10-Minute Beef Teriyaki Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup finely diced onion
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger (or about ¼ teaspoon dried ground ginger)
- ¾ cup thick teriyaki sauce (such as Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce)
- Optional Garnish: sliced green onion, toasted sesame seeds, crushed red pepper flakes
- Optional, for serving: cooked rice
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat for about 1 minute.
- Add beef, onion, garlic, and ginger to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat as you stir, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is tender (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off excess grease.
- Stir teriyaki sauce into the beef mixture. Bring to a low simmer and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, just until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Serve over rice, in tortillas, or in lettuce wraps. Garnish with optional toppings.
Notes
- Pick a brand of teriyaki sauce that has a thick, rich consistency (rather than other varieties that have a thinner consistency that’s similar to soy sauce). I like Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki or this variety made by Kikkoman.
- For even less prep, use frozen diced onion and pre-minced garlic. You won’t even have to pull out a cutting board or a knife!
- Add more teriyaki sauce, if needed, to reach the desired consistency.
This recipe was originally published in October, 2016. The photos were updated in March, 2023.
My dinner takes at least 45 minutes every night to make! I can’t imagine it having it done in only 10 minutes and being hearty and delicious like this beef skillet! Love this idea 🙂
Oh, this is definitely NOT a 45-minute dinner! I hope that you give it a try, Bethany!
I love the looks of this 10 minute dish! I’ve never thought to use ground beef before in a teriyaki skillet. Such a time savor and I love the flavor, too!
It’s SO great, Gayle! Thank you so much!
I LOVE a quick meal, of course. Who doesn’t? Cooking isn’t my favorite thing, so I’d like to minimize how much I do it so I can bake more. 😉 We were just at PF Chang’s this weekend and ordered the lettuce wraps – one of my FAVE appetizers. I love the idea of this quick dish as lettuce wraps! So smart.
This looks delicious! We love any kind of Asian inspired dish so I have to try this! I love that you used ground beef so it’s budget friendly too!
I just finished stuffing my face with this new recipe and we absolutely love it! Great flavour and so unbelievably quick we definitely will make again thanks so much!
Thanks, Julia! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. 🙂
Blair,
I have tried so many of your recipes and as usual this one is as great tasting as all of the others.
I wish you an endless supply of new creations in quality, great tasting recipes to continue sharing with all of us.
Please keep up the great site with so much variety.
Thank you so much, Marlene! Your support means the world, and we’re so glad you enjoy the recipes.
Love this, Blair. You are so good at creating quick and easy dishes! I’m always so surprised at the variety of frozen foods you have in the US. You’d never find frozen onions here. That would be so handy!
Love your shots. Sharing 🙂
Thank you, Robyn! Frozen diced onion is my go-to! It’s so much easier and I don’t have to worry about the tears from chopping an onion!
I made this tonight! It was liked by everyone and will definitely make a repeat performance! I added snap peas to it and served it over spinach. I bet it would be good with spinach wilted mixed up in it, too. Quick and easy. Thank you!!!
Wonderful! Thanks so much for letting me know, Theresa! I bet it was delicious with the snap peas and spinach!!! Great idea. 🙂
I might add some baby carrots. I need to sneak veggies in that’s the only way they get eaten in this house.
Awesome! Sounds perfect!
This dish was so easy to make and so yummy. My kids loved is.
That’s wonderful! Thanks so much for letting me know, Christine! My kids love it, too. 🙂
Quick meal. My family enjoyed it, but I found it to be too salty. I served it as a lettuce wrap.
Thanks, Terri! I think the lettuce wraps work really well for this meal! 🙂
So yummy quick and easy! I thinly sliced some Napa cabbage while cooking the meat and it melted in barley noticeable but adds texture. I made my own sauce- 1/4 soy, 1/4 Brown sugar, table spoon sweet chili sauce, a lime, 1/2 tbl garlic, and 3 thinly sliced green onions. I had all the ingredients on hand so it was only an extra one or two minutes.
Hi, Rayne! Your homemade sauce sounds delicious — especially since you had the ingredients on hand (so easy)! Thanks for sharing, and I’m glad that you enjoyed the meal!
It was very good.
We all loved it.
Can’t wait to make it again.
Thanks
Wonderful! Thanks so much for letting me know, Vicky!
My family and I have been using this recipe for a while now but I’m just getting around to commenting. We LOVE this! I swap the ground beef for turkey since we’re not big red meat eaters, and it works great. The meat is so flavorful we often put it on top of salads the next day for lunch. This is one of those super easy, quick ideas that is so delicious I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself. Thank you so much for posting!
That’s awesome, Lauren! I’m so glad that you’ve found a quick go-to meal. I bet the turkey is great — I need to try that next time! Thanks so much for your note!
This smelled great but was far too salty. If you look at the nutrition facts, that’s a day’s worth of sodium in just one cup of food.
But I like the idea of it and will try the option one of the reviewers mentioned where she made her own sauce.
Mrs Dash has salt free teriyaki sauce
I just made this (literally still on the stove). I dropped some broccoli in it! It’s delicious and I will be making it again. Thank you for sharing!!!
Awesome! I’m so glad that you liked it, Melissa. Broccoli is the perfect addition!
Made it for my family Saturday….HUGE HIT! Making it again tonight and doubled the recipe to freeze half for next week. Yuuuuum!
Wonderful! Love the idea of freezing a double batch, too. So smart!
This was a hit with my whole family and so easy!
Thanks, Anna! 🙂
I have made this a few times now and it is so good! I also make coconut jasmine rice for it to go over. The 2 together are very very yummy!
Thanks, Linda! I’m so glad that you enjoy it! 🙂
I added water chestnuts, cashews, mushrooms and served in lettuce wraps. Delicious and easy.
Currently making right now ! So excited to try. Will definitely try water chestnuts and snap peas next time, great recipe and great ideas! Love quick and easy. Such great ideas
I made this ahead of time for lunches – scooped it into lettuce wraps and it was so good! So quick and easy 🙂
Wanting to make this dish (I kinda specialize in quick, easy dishes with few ingredients, but never tried this one!). Sure I will love it! The nutrition label, however, did not list the serving size. Can you tell me how much a serving size is for this dish and the nutrition information listed? I like full flavored food and not diet food, but I watch my serving sizes. Thanks!
Hi, Lynn! If you look at the top of the recipe card it says that there are 4 servings (about 3/4 cup each). Hope that helps! 🙂
Found it! Thanks! Plan on having a version of this tomorrow night.
Can I use a red onion instead of yellow? That’s all I have.
Yes! 🙂 Enjoy the meal!
Thank you! This is so good my hubby is gluten free and I was scouring the internet for meal ideas! I used GF teriyaki sauce in this and even my kids love it! It is so yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
Awesome! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Madison! 🙂
On the stove right now and it smells yummy!!!
Made this tonight with ground turkey and it was delicious! One at it over rice and two as a lettuce wrap. Big hit all around!
Sounds perfect, Jen! Thanks for taking the time to leave a note!
Just made it! YUM. This was so savory and satisfying! Easy made it even better. I had no bottled teriyaki sauce so I made my own and I still call it easy!!
Thanks so much.
Thanks, Paula! I’m so impressed that you even made your own sauce! Thanks for taking the time to come back here and let me know that you enjoyed it. 🙂
Do you think this would be good on top of plain rotini noodles?
Yes! The rice is a more traditional Asian side, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy it over pasta if that’s your preference. 🙂
If I add a whole bunch of veggies can I double the sauce recipe and it will still work out?
Yes — that should work perfectly!
I’ve made something similar to this. Mine takes 20 minutes too. (20 minutes on the rice). I brown the beef in the sesame oil, add the seasons and then use a frozen stir fry mix that has the onions, Green and red peppers, broccoli and sugar snap peas. Add the teriyaki sauce (bottled because I’m slightly lazy) And simmer until rice is finished. I let both stand to palatable warm and serve. Next day tastes even better!! 🙂
Hi, does this recipe work with ground chicken?
Hi, Ka! Yes, the ground chicken should be a good substitute for the beef. Hope you enjoy!