Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry

Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry

Flavor profile: savory, herby, garlicky, a little tangy
Time: ~25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Serves: 3–4

Ingredients

Protein

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 works best)

Veggies

• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 red bell pepper, sliced

• 1 zucchini, halved and sliced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

Mediterranean Flavor Base

• 3 tbsp olive oil (divided)

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• ½ tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)

• ¼–½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt & black pepper, to taste

Finishers

• Juice of ½ lemon

• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill (optional)

Optional Add-Ins

• Kalamata olives (sliced)

• Spinach or arugula

• Pine nuts or slivered almonds

Instructions

1. Heat the pan
   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil.

2. Brown the beef
   Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned (5–7 minutes).
   Break it up well. Drain excess fat if needed. Remove beef from pan and set aside.

3. Cook the veggies
   Add remaining 2 tbsp olive oil to the pan.
   Sauté onion and bell pepper for 2–3 minutes until softened.
   Add zucchini and cook another 2 minutes.

4. Add garlic & spices
   Stir in garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.

5. Combine everything
   Return beef to the pan. Add cherry tomatoes. Toss and cook 2–3 minutes until tomatoes soften but don’t collapse.

6. Finish it
   Turn off heat. Squeeze in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.

7. Garnish & serve
   Top with feta and fresh herbs. Serve hot.

How to Serve It

• Over rice, quinoa, or couscous

• Stuffed into pita or flatbread

• Over cauliflower rice or greens (low-carb)

• As a filling for lettuce wraps

Q & A (Everything People Usually Ask)

Q: Can I use another meat instead of beef?

Yes.

• Ground lamb → very traditional Mediterranean

• Ground chicken or turkey → lighter, add a bit more olive oil

• Plant-based ground → works great with extra seasoning

Q: How do I make it dairy-free?

Skip the feta or replace it with:

• Dairy-free feta

• A sprinkle of nutritional yeast

• Extra olives + lemon for brightness

Q: Is this spicy?

Not by default.
The red pepper flakes are optional. You control the heat.

Q: Can I meal-prep this?

Absolutely.

• Keeps 4 days in the fridge

• Reheats well in a skillet or microwave

• Store feta separately for best texture

Q: Can I freeze it?

Yes.

• Freeze without feta

• Keeps up to 3 months

• Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating

Q: What if my stir fry tastes flat?

Quick fixes:

• More lemon juice

• A pinch more salt

• Extra feta or olives

• A drizzle of good olive oil at the end

Q: Can I add a sauce?

Mediterranean food usually stays light, but you can add:

• 1–2 tbsp tahini + lemon + water

• A spoon of Greek yogurt (off heat)

• A splash of balsamic glaze for sweetness