Quick & Flavorful Asian Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce: A Versatile Meal Your Family Will Love
I’ve been craving an Asian lettuce wrap recipe with savory, fresh, and balanced flavors—without MSG or artificial enhancers. Additionally, I wanted a recipe using healthy, whole ingredients and clean sauces like coconut aminos or tamari for wholesome flavor. Thankfully, this Asian stir fry with peanut sauce has all the umami and crunch I was craving, made with simple, nutritious ingredients. Overall, it’s the perfect guilt-free, flavor-packed meal that’s easy to make and satisfying to eat.
For a quick, delicious weeknight dinner, try this Asian Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce! With just a few simple ingredients, this stir fry cooks in one pan, making it perfect for busy nights. The savory mix of ground beef, water chestnuts, and carrots pairs perfectly with coconut aminos or tamari sauce. Furthermore, you can serve it in lettuce wraps or as a hearty bowl with rice for a versatile, crowd-pleasing meal. Finally, leftovers are just as delicious, making this stir fry a fantastic option for meal prep!
Why You'll Love This Easy Asian Stir Fry
This stir fry is a flavorful, all-in-one meal that’s quick and easy to prepare. Moreover, you can customize it to suit your family’s preferences and dietary needs with ease. For serving, enjoy it on its own, over rice, or wrapped in lettuce for a low-carb option. Overall, it’s a satisfying dish loaded with plenty of healthy ingredients!
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Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 lbs ground beef: This provides a hearty base for the stir fry, giving you plenty of protein and flavor. You could use ground turkey as well.
- ½ cup matchstick carrots: These add a light crunch and a burst of color to the dish. You can use pre-cut matchstick carrots or shred your own.
- 8 oz water chestnuts: These bring a delightful crunch and slight sweetness, perfect for balancing out the savory beef and sauce.
- 2 teaspoon minced ginger: Ginger adds that signature zing and warmth to the dish.
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic: Garlic pairs perfectly with ginger to create that rich, aromatic base that makes stir-fries so flavorful.
- ¼ cup coconut aminos or low-sodium tamari sauce: Coconut aminos are a great gluten-free, soy-free alternative to soy sauce, while tamari is a fantastic option for those needing gluten-free soy sauce.
- Optional cooked rice: For a more filling meal, serve your stir fry over steamed rice—brown rice, or cauliflower rice all work well.
- Peanut sauce (optional): Drizzle with a creamy, savory peanut sauce to add richness and extra flavor. (Naked & Saucy is a good option with clean ingredients)
How to Make the Asian Stir Fry
This stir fry is quick and easy to whip up, and the best part is that it only takes one pan! Here's how to make it:
Instructions:
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet or wok over medium - med/high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat, if necessary.
- Add Garlic and Ginger: Add the minced garlic and ginger to the pan and sauté for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the Vegetables: Add the matchstick carrots and water chestnuts to the pan. Stir everything together and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften slightly while still retaining their crunch.
- Add the liquids: Pour in the coconut aminos (or tamari) and peanut sauce and stir to combine, making sure the beef and vegetables are well-coated with the sauce. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: You can serve the stir fry in two ways:
- Lettuce Wraps: Scoop the stir fry mixture into large lettuce leaves (like romaine or iceberg) and roll them up like wraps for a light, low-carb option.
- Bowl-Style Meal: Serve the stir fry over a bed of cooked rice (white, brown, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative) for a heartier meal.
- Top with Peanut Sauce (Optional): For extra creaminess and flavor, drizzle some homemade or store-bought peanut sauce over the stir fry. It complements the savory beef and crunchy veggies perfectly!
Why This Stir Fry is So Great
- Quick & Easy: This Asian Stir Fry with peanut sauce comes together in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights. It’s one of those meals you can easily pull together with ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- Customizable: Feel free to add or swap in any other veggies you like—bell peppers & snap peas, would both work beautifully in this stir fry.
- One-Pan Meal: Less mess and fewer dishes! All you need is one skillet or wok to cook everything, making cleanup a breeze.
- Leftovers: The leftovers are just as good, if not better, the next day. The flavors continue to develop, and the stir fry makes for a perfect lunch or dinner later in the week.
Variations
- Rice: If you're serving the stir fry in bowls, adding rice makes it even more filling. You can go with classic steamed rice, or try cauliflower rice for a lighter, low-carb option.
- Alternative protein: Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Add More Veggies: You can easily up the veggie content by adding bell peppers, broccoli florets, or snow peas for extra crunch and color.
Final Thoughts
This Asian Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce is a quick, satisfying meal that’s sure to become a family favorite. Whether you’re wrapping it in lettuce for a lighter meal or serving it with rice for something more filling, it’s a flavorful and nutritious option that’s perfect for busy weeknights. And with a touch of creamy peanut sauce, you’ve got a dish that’s deliciously balanced in every bite. Plus, the leftovers are just as tasty, making this recipe perfect for meal prep!
Asian Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef turkey, or chicken
- ½ C matchstick carrots
- 8 oz can water chestnuts - drained optional
- 2 t minced ginger
- 1 t minced garlic
- ¼ C coconut aminos or low sodium tamari
- Salt + pepper to taste
- Peanut sauce - to taste Naked & Saucy is a good option with clean ingredients
- Romaine or iceberg lettuce
- Cooked rice optional
Instructions
- Heat a large saute pan on medium high heat and add the ground meat and the carrots and cook until the meat is cooked through.
- Add the minced ginger, minced garlic and coconut aminos and continue to simmer for a few minutes.
- Add desired amount of peanut sauce (I use ¼ C) and stir.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve on lettuce leaves or with rice.
- Top each lettuce leaf with the meat mixture and a dab of the peanut sauce.
