Easy Honey Garlic Ground Beef
This one-skillet honey garlic ground beef is sweet, savory, sticky, and wildly versatile. Serve it over rice, noodles, or in lettuce cups for a quick, satisfying dinner.
Equipment
- Skillet
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef 85/15 preferred
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil optional
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- 2 green onions sliced, plus extra for garnish
For Serving
- steamed rice or noodles, for serving
- steamed broccoli optional side
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes.
- Drain excess grease, leaving a small amount for flavor if using lean beef.
- Push beef to the side and add minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar. Stir everything to coat the beef evenly. Simmer on low for about 4 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.
- Add red pepper flakes and sesame oil (if using). Stir in green onions and mix well.
- Serve over steamed rice, noodles, or in lettuce wraps. Garnish with additional green onions if desired.
Notes
This recipe is highly flexible — swap the protein, adjust sweetness or spice levels, and add veggies like broccoli or snap peas for a more complete meal. Leftovers taste even better the next day!