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Thai Ginger Beef

ByStephanie Wilson Updated on
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This easy Thai Ginger Beef is a quick, flavor-packed ground beef dinner with fresh ginger, garlic, asparagus, and a savory-sweet sauce. It's ready in about 20 to 30 minutes and is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something simple but full of flavor.

This easy Thai Ginger Beef recipe is a quick, flavor-packed alternative to a classic stir-fry and perfect for busy nights when you need a simple dinner fast. If you love quick skillet meals, you might also enjoy this easy Simple Stir Fry or this 15 Minute Chicken and Broccoli.

A bowl of white rice topped with Thai Ginger Beef, green vegetables, sliced scallions, and a purple edible flower, served with chopsticks on a wooden board.

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Why I Love This Thai Ginger Beef

Traditional ginger beef is often made with strips of marinated beef, which is delicious but takes a little more time. This version keeps the flavors I love - ginger, garlic, soy sauce, a touch of sweetness, and chili heat - but uses ground beef for a faster weeknight dinner.

The asparagus adds freshness and color, while the sauce comes together quickly with pantry staples. It's simple, flexible, and one of those meals that tastes like more effort than it actually requires.

Like my Asian Chicken Coleslaw and Thai Chicken Noodle Curry, this recipe has fresh, bright flavors but comes together easily enough for a weeknight.

A scattered pile of small red and green chili peppers on a white background, ready to add a fiery kick to your Thai Ginger Beef creations.

Substitutes for Thai Chili

Thai chilis, often called bird's eye chilis, bring bright heat to this quick beef recipe. They can vary in spice level, so use more or less depending on your preference.

If fresh Thai chilis are unavailable, here are a few easy substitutes:

  • Serrano chili: Milder than Thai chili, but fresh and easy to find.
  • Cayenne pepper: A good option for heat, though the flavor is slightly different.
  • Red pepper flakes: Easy pantry substitute; start small and add more to taste.
  • Dried Thai chili: A good substitute when fresh chilis are unavailable. As a general guide, 1 teaspoon dried Thai chili can replace about 2 fresh Thai chilis, but adjust to your heat preference.
  • Habanero pepper: Much hotter and fruitier, so use sparingly if substituting.

For a milder version, you can omit the chili altogether and serve chili crisp, red pepper flakes, or sriracha on the side.

Overhead shot of a bowl of ground beef stir fry with rice, and a bowl of chilli sauce and another of dried red pepper flakes on the side.
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How to Serve Thai Ginger Beef

Serve this ginger beef over steamed jasmine rice, brown rice, or rice noodles. It's also delicious with extra vegetables like broccoli, snap peas, bok choy, or green beans. For freshness, finish with sliced scallions, cilantro, basil, or a squeeze of lime.

Serve it with steamed rice, rice noodles, or alongside a crisp salad like this Crunchy Mandarin Salad with Thai Dressing.

A bowl of white rice topped with Thai Ginger Beef, green beans, sliced scallions, and an edible flower, served with chopsticks and sauce on the side.
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Thai Ginger Beef Recipe

This easy Thai Ginger Beef is a quick weeknight dinner made with ground beef, fresh ginger, garlic, asparagus, and a savory-sweet sauce. Serve it over rice for a simple, flavor-packed meal ready in about 30 minutes.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate Text
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Cooking Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry or broth
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

Sir Fry

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon dark toasted sesame oil optional for flavor
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 4 green onions cut into 1-½ inch pieces
  • 1 bunch asparagus cut into 1-½ inch pieces
  • 2 Thai chilis seeded and chopped (or chili of choice)
  • 2 cloves garlic sliced
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup water

Garnish:

  • sesame seeds
  • red pepper flakes
  • chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

Instructions

Cooking Sauce:

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, dry sherry, water, sugar, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.

Stir Fry:

  • Heat a large skillet with vegetable oil and sesame oil. Then brown the beef, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the green onions, asparagus, and chilis; stir-fry until the veggies begin to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooking sauce; cook for another minute.
  • Combine the cornstarch and water in a small jar; shake to mix. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the skillet. Bring to a boil; then reduce to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring, until thickened.
  • Serve immediately over cooked rice or noodles. Garnish each bowl with sesame seeds, red pepper flakes and/or chopped fresh parsley.
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Notes

  1. Thai Chili Substitute: Use serrano chili, cayenne, red pepper flakes, or dried Thai chili if fresh Thai chilis are unavailable. For a milder version, omit the chili and serve chili crisp or red pepper flakes on the side.
  2. Serving Ideas: Serve over jasmine rice, brown rice, or rice noodles. It's also delicious with broccoli, snap peas, bok choy, or green beans.
  3. Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal | Protein: 23g
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Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Stephanie Wilson

Cookbook Author, Food Writer, and Chef

Stephanie Wilson is the founder of 31Daily.com, where she shares seasonal recipes, weekly meal plans, and teatime favorites to help readers gather around the table with joy. A certified private chef, cookbook author, and longtime event planner, she brings over 20 years of experience in catering, food writing, and media production—including network television work as a producer, director, and writer. Her work has been featured by Today.com, The Kitchn, Parade, and more.

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Everything was going great... Until I got to the end of the recipe instructions and was left with my 2 sliced garlic cloves on the counter😐 of course, I threw them in there anyway!

    Reply

    1. I'm so glad I'm not the ONLY one to do just that!! Glad you enjoyed it. BTW -- I always throw them in too! Thank you for trying the recipe.

      Reply