Description
This Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring lean ground beef cooked with vibrant vegetables, aromatic herbs, and tangy feta cheese. Perfectly seasoned with oregano, cumin, and a splash of lemon juice, this skillet meal is both nutritious and satisfying, ideal for serving on its own or over grains like rice, quinoa, or couscous.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Aromatics
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 zucchini, halved and sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
Seasonings and Garnish
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed to reduce grease.
- Sauté aromatics: Add chopped red onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add vegetables: Stir in the sliced red bell pepper and zucchini. Cook for an additional 4–5 minutes until the vegetables become tender-crisp, preserving some texture.
- Incorporate remaining ingredients: Add the halved cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, dried oregano, ground cumin, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir everything well and cook for 2 more minutes until the tomatoes soften slightly.
- Finish with lemon and garnish: Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the skillet, stirring to combine all flavors. Remove from heat and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley over the top. Serve warm, either plain or over rice, quinoa, or couscous.
Notes
- This dish is excellent for meal prepping and reheats well for quick lunches or dinners.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground lamb or turkey to vary the flavor and texture.
- For extra nutrition, add spinach or chickpeas during the vegetable cooking stage.
