Easy Healthy Beef and String Bean Stir Fry has everything you need for a satisfying meal that comes together in under 30 minutes. This stir fry made with lean ground beef and tender string beans has the perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors with just a hint of spice. The flavor-packed sauce made with rice vinegar, coconut aminos, ginger, chili garlic sauce and coconut sugar is the star of this dish. This one pan stir fry that requires minimal prep but delivers big flavors will become a favorite in your dinner rotation.
What you’ll need to make this recipe:
- extra lean ground beef
- I prefer to use 96/4 or 95/5. Just remember to adjust the macros/Points if you use a higher fat ground beef.
- onion
- string beans
- ginger
- I like to use squeeze ginger in a bottle. It is easy to store in the fridge and lasts a while; it also is easy to use and tastes great.
- scallions
- garlic
- rice vinegar
- coconut aminos
- This is a gluten free alternative to soy sauce. You can use reduced sodium soy sauce if that’s what you have on hand. I happen to enjoy the flavor of coconut aminos.
- chili garlic sauce
- I use the Huy Fung brand, which can be found in the international aisle of most supermarkets. See ingredient photo below.
- coconut sugar
- Coconut sugar has a similar taste to brown sugar, so you can sub that in instead. Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic index, so I have begun to use it frequently in place of regular sugar.
- kosher salt
- cooking spray
How to make Easy Healthy Beef and String Bean Stir Fry
This recipe is made entirely in one pan and can be on the table in under 30 minutes. Serve with frozen microwaveable rice for the ultimate easy weeknight meal.
To make this stir fry you are going to want to use a large frying pan or wok. Start by spraying the pan with non-stick cooking spray and placing it over medium-high heat. While the pan is heating up, start the string beans in the microwave. Cook them according to the package directions. You want to cook them until just tender. Cooking them too long will result in a mushy texture.
Dice the onion and add it to the pan with the ground beef and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook the onion and ground beef until the beef is no longer pink. Break apart the meat with a wooden spoon. Continue cooking until the onion is translucent and slightly caramelized. Remove the cooked onion and beef from the pan and set aside in a small bowl.
In the meantime, prepare the sauce by adding the rice vinegar, coconut aminos, 1 tsp of the ginger, chili garlic sauce and coconut sugar to a small bowl. Whisk together.
To the original pan, add more cooking spray. Mince the garlic and chop the scallions, separating the white and green parts of the scallions. Add the white part of the scallions, the garlic and 1tsp of the ginger to the pan. Next, add the string beans and saute over high heat until the string beans get some color on them.
Add the ground beef and onion back to the pan along with the string beans, and the sauce. Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes for the flavors to combine.
Garnish with the green parts of the scallions.
Other one pan dishes you might like:
- Easy Healthy One Pan Mongolian Beef
- This recipe for Mongolian Beef is just what the title says: easy, healthy and made in one pan. This recipe uses tender shaved beef, so it cooks in no time at all, and is packed with flavor. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner for the entire family, and made with pantry staples like brown sugar and soy sauce, this is an easy meal to keep in your rotation. Serve this delicious and quick meal over rice or cauliflower rice, with a side of steamed broccoli.
- One Pan Pepper Steak
- Quickly-seared strips of flank steak, red bell pepper and onion are flavored with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, and rice wine vinegar. Instead of opting for takeout, make your own at home! You control the ingredients, so you can feel really good about what you’re eating. Serve on top of some rice with a veggie on the side, and One Pan Pepper Steak makes for one of the easiest and well-rounded weeknight dinners.

Easy Healthy Beef and String Bean Stir Fry
Equipment
- large frying pan or wok
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef, I used 95/5
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- cooking spray
- 12 oz string beans, bag of microwavable
- 2 tsp squeeze ginger, divided
- 3 scallions, white and green parts divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
Instructions
- In a large frying pan or wok, add non-stick cooking spray. Preheat the pan over medium-high heat.
- Microwave the string beans according to package directions until just tender, not mushy.
- Dice the onion. Add it to the pan with the ground beef and a pinch of kosher salt.
- Cook the onion and ground beef until the beef is no longer pink, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. The onion should be translucent and slightly carmelized.
- Remove the cooked onion and beef from the pan and set aside in a small bowl.
- In the meantime, prepare the sauce. Add the rice vinegar, coconut aminos, 1 tsp of the ginger, chili garlic sauce and coconut sugar to a small bowl and whisk together.
- To the original frying pan, add more cooking spray.
- Mince the garlic and chop the scallions, separating the white and green parts of the scallions.
- Add the white part of the scallions, the garlic and 1tsp of the ginger to the pan. Then add the string beans and saute over high heat or until the string beans get some color on them.
- Add the ground beef and onion back to the frying pan along with the string beans, and the sauce. Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes for the flavors to combine.
- Garnish with the green parts of the scallions.
This was such a quick and easy dish to toss together for my lunch meal prep. And it is DELICIOUS!!! It has the perfect amount of sweet, savory and a little heat and it fills me up and I feel satisfied. This is going to be a consistent staple in the rotation. 🙂
Sounds delicious.! I have everything but chili garlic sauce, any suggestions for a substitute?
This was fantastic. Super quick with mostly pantry staples, easy to substitute things also. Going to be a regular in our dinner rotation!