Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry

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This Mediterranean ground beef stir fry is what a quick and healthy dinner is all about! It’s loaded with savory veggies, classic coastal seasonings, and packs in a ton of flavor without the need for a sauce.

Mediterranean ground beef stir fry in a pan with a slotted spoon.

I hummed and hawed on what to call this recipe as ground beef is not typically what you’d consider mediterranean food. But the blistered tomatoes, bell pepper, baby spinach, green onion, and garlic are most definitely Mediterranean in nature. So consider it a healthier, veggie-packed ground beef stir fry that’s light in flavor. A divergence from your typical Asian chicken stir fry flavors, yet delicious in a whole new way!

And speaking of flavors and sauces, there’s actually no sauce in this recipe. Once the tomatoes break down they become oozy and liquidy, and that melds with the garlic and oregano and douses the rest of the ingredients in garlicky, Mediterranean goodness. You’re gonna love it.

Ingredients for Mediterranean ground beef stir fry on a table.

What’s In This Mediterranean Stir Fry?

From the blistered tomatoes to bell pepper and oregano, this non traditional stir fry is made from the best Mediterranean ingredients.

  • Bell Pepper: Red bell pepper is ideal for its natural sweetness and vibrant red color, but any color works!
  • Cherry Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes can be a substitution, but cherry tomatoes are ideal here since they’re much juicier and blister beautifully in a pan.
  • Baby Spinach: It’s amazing how much a small tub of spinach wilts down, so while it may look like a lot, trust me, it’s not too much.
  • Garlic and Green Onion: Essential alliums give the recipe a punch of fresh flavor.
  • Ground Beef: You’ll need one pound for this recipe. But if you’re not a fan of beef, you can also use ground chicken or turkey.
  • Oregano: Can’t do a savory Mediterranean dish without oregano!
  • Crumbled Feta: This can be optional if you’re dairy-free. Otherwise, the crumbled feta really adds a delicious Mediterranean flair.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Cooking Mediterranean ground beef stir fry in a pan.

Let’s Make The Best Stir Fry Recipe!

What I love about stir fries is that they’re SO easy to make, yet just as flavorful as a recipe that takes hours. So grab a large pan and let’s get cooking.

  • Saute the tomatoes and bell pepper. Heat the oil in a large pan, then saute the bell pepper and cherry tomatoes for 4 to 5 minutes, until the tomatoes are blistered. Then add the garlic and stir for another minute.
  • Cook the spinach and green onion. Add the spinach and white parts of the green onion. Then stir for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the spinach has wilted. Remove these veggies to a plate.
  • Cook the ground beef. Add the beef, oregano, salt, and pepper to the pan, and use a spatula to break up the meat. When it’s browned, drain off any excess liquid.
  • Combine everything together! Transfer the veggies back to the pan, add the green parts of the green onion, and stir everything together. Then garnish with crumbled feta before serving it up.

Ways To Serve This Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry

Honestly, I can just eat this as is with a sprinkle of feta because it’s that good. But if you want to make it a well rounded meal, here’s a few other fun ways to serve it.

  • Serve over a bed of rice or lentils for an extra filling meal.
  • Use this as a filling for a butter leaf lettuce wrap (great for a low-carb option!).
  • For all my egg lovers, top a plate of this with a fried egg or poached egg.
A plate of Mediterranean ground beef stir fry next to a bowl of feta.

How To Store Leftovers

This dish makes for great leftovers and meal prep for the week!

  • To store: This will keep for up to 4 to 5 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Just make sure to let it cool before closing the lid.
  • To freeze: Alternatively, you can freeze this for up to 3 months.

More Easy Ground Beef Recipes

From stuffed peppers to a big pot of chili, here’s a few comfort food favorites.

If you make this ground beef stir fry, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.

A stainless steel pan with Mediterranean ground beef stir fry

Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry

4.93 from 114 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

This easy and healthy ground beef stir fry recipe is loaded with the best of Mediterranean flavors. From blistered tomatoes to crumbled feta, an easy dinner doesn't get any better than this!

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 8 ounces baby spinach (small tub)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 green onion, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled feta

Instructions 

  • Heat the oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper and cherry tomatoes and saute for 4-5 minutes, until the tomatoes are blistered, and saucy. Add the garlic and stir another minute.
  • Add the spinach and white parts of the green onion. Note that the spinach will take up most of the pan, but it will wilt down. Stir for another 2-3 minutes, until the spinach has wilted. Remove these veggies to a plate.
    Sauteing tomatoes and spinach for Mediterranean ground beef stir fry
  • Add the ground beef, oregano, salt, and pepper to the pan, and use a spatula to break up the meat. Cook the ground beef until it's browned, then drain off any excess grease.
    Cooking ground beef in a pan for a stir fry.
  • Transfer the veggies back to the pan, add the green parts of the green onion, and stir until warmed through. Garnish with crumbled feta before serving.
    Mediterranean ground beef stir fry in a metal pan next to a napkin.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 1038mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6927IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 5mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: beef stir fry, Ground Beef Recipe, Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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Recipe Rating




233 Comments

  1. Made this as written except we added an extra red pepper. This is delicious! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!5 stars

  2. I just tried it and am so happy to have shown me how to cook this recipe.
    I love this page and advise from you> Bravo! Aime5 stars

  3. Just oregano does not make it “mediterranean”. I am of mediterranean descent. I got a lot more creative with my spices and added za’atar and some greek season in place of the plain oregano since it already contains it. And I added a touch a aleppo pepper for a little heat. Served it with rice, tzatziki, and pita for those of us not gluten free. I also roasted the tomatoes and peppers to get more of a “blister”.3 stars

  4. Great and quick! I prepped this the day before. My husband and I topped it on top of our salad. However, next time will use lentils.4 stars

  5. So good!! We ate it over cauliflower rice. My teenage boys even loved it and said it’s a new favorite.5 stars

  6. Super easy and delicious! I have made this recipe a couple of times but using chicken mince and it’s great! My husband loved it!
    It’s great for meal prep too, I’m doing a batch right now to enjoy this week 😊
    Thanks Lisa!!5 stars

  7. Amazing recipe! I forgot to put in the spinach and it was still an amazing meal with great flavor. Served over jasmine rice. A definite staple for using ground beef!5 stars

  8. I always seem to have ground beef, so this is a go-to recipe for me. Sometimes I add your pickled onions as a garnish. This is a quick easy week night supper, and if there are any leftovers – it’s a delicious lunch.

    Since I had some health issues that led to a new diet 2 years ago, these recipes have been life-changing for me. This is one of my favorites.5 stars

    1. There are so many ways to spruce up this Mediterranean ground beef stir fry! But happy to hear you’re loving it.

  9. Made this once when I was looking for something different to do with minced beef. It was amazing, absolutely loved the flavors. Didn’t save it, but had to look for the recipe again after the family all asked me to make it again. Very quick and tasty!5 stars

    1. Happy to hear the whole family enjoyed this ground beef stir fry! Don’t forget to bookmark it this time around, ha!

  10. Incredible dish!!! My teen son requests this several times a week. We love it as a bowl with hummus, tzatziki, and veggies5 stars

  11. Made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! The whole family loved it. I had some sliced baby portobello mushrooms left over from another recipe so I decided to add them in with the peppers and tomatoes. I think they work great in the dish. I’ll definitely make it again and keep the baby bella addition!5 stars

  12. Super easy & scrumptious!
    For many years I was vegetarian and pescatarian and recently switched over to a paleo diet.
    I used grass-fed beef, had three Roma tomatoes already in my fridge and lots of fresh homegrown oregano. The spring onions were a nice touch too! I will definitely be making this again and I think my teenage son will enjoy this also!5 stars

  13. DELICIOUS!!! Easy to prepare and CHEAP! Substituted ground turkey for the ground beef to reduce fat content and served over riced cauliflower to get one more veggie serving in my meal and tasted fantastic!5 stars

  14. Made this recipe for our good friends who just had a baby and WOW!! It was so good when taste testing that I have made it 3 times since! Super easy dish to make yet extremely flavorful!5 stars

  15. I couldn’t figure out what green onions were until I saw your photo. We call them spring onions in the UK 🇬🇧. This looks delicious.

      1. It was absolutely delicious, it’s on my keto recipe list now. I will definitely be making this again, thank you.5 stars

  16. Lisa,
    Is olive oil safe to use when sautéing the peppers? I know it is infinitely better than the seed oils, but what about the smoke point?

  17. I will make this again. It was easy and yummy after a work day. I prepped everything the night before (chopped veggies, cooked meat) and it came together fast. I added more oregano. I’m glad to serve my family a meal with so many veggies. I had leftover noodles and used those to go along with the meal. Thank you!4 stars

    1. I bet it’s even quicker if you have all the ingredients chopped and prepped! Glad you’re loving this, Jennifer :)

  18. Made this for meal prep for the week-pretty tasty. I added some cooked quinoa, garbanzo beans, asparagus, and some roughly chopped Kalamata olives-added quite a bit of flavor. Will definitely make this again. Thanks!4 stars

  19. I make this recipe all the time, my boyfriend loves it as much as I do. We’ve made it for dinner guests and they raved about it as well. I add crushed red pepper to mine and when I want to switch it up I eat it over orzo or rice! 10/10 recommend.5 stars

  20. My husband and I love this dish. I replaced the spinach with zucchini, as we both dislike spinach. The second time I made this I added Kalamata olives…just because it’s Mediterranean and we both love them. Also, I added lots of butter instead of oil.  This is becoming a staple recipe!!5 stars

  21. This was very delicious! It was simple and easy to make and my family loved it.
    A family member said they thought we should put this into our meal rotation and I agree.5 stars

  22. This recipe looks healthy AND refreshing! Thank you! I am always looking for new healthy recipes for ground beef.5 stars

  23. I loved this recipe. I live in a county with more cows than humans, so we buy fresh beef. From rural America – this meal was wonderful!!! It was also a beautiful meal! I loved that it was Mediterranean and with ground beef, something I never see.5 stars

    1. This recipe is perfect for you then Paula! I’m glad you enjoyed this fresh twist on ground beef.

  24. We loved it. Based on other reviews, I upped the oregano to 1 tsp, added a 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sliced white mushrooms, and a handful of sliced Kalamata olives. My husband couldn’t stop eating it and asked me to make it again soon.