Flavorful Korean Beef Bowls are quick and easy to make with ground beef, cooked in a sweet and savory sauce in under 30 minutes. Enjoy with steamed rice and your favorite veggies for a hassle-free dinner that’s packed with delicious flavor.
Korean Beef Bowls are the perfect solution if you’re on the hunt for a super easy, tasty meal that the whole family will enjoy! This recipe uses just a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen, and you can pair it with any rice or vegetables you’d like. We especially love it with steamed rice or cauliflower rice and stir fry veggies!
Why you should make this recipe
- It’s so easy: You can have a delicious, satisfying meal on the table in just about 20 minutes!
- Loaded with incredible flavor: The ground beef is cooked in a sweet and savory Asian-inspired sauce with just enough spice! You’re definitely going to want to make this dish on the regular!
- Versatile: If you don’t want to use ground beef, you can easily substitute ground chicken or ground turkey. Then, enjoy it with rice, noodles and/or vegetables!
- Perfect for meal prep: Korean beef bowls are great to make ahead to enjoy throughout the week for ready-to-go lunches or dinners. Simply, divide equal amounts of meat and rice into meal prep containers and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
Ingredients needed
This Korean beef bowl recipe is easy and straightforward, but doesn’t taste easy! To make it all you’ll need is:
- Ground beef: We prefer using 85-90% lean ground beef because even though it’s leaner, it still has plenty of flavor.
- Onion & garlic: Sautéing minced onion and garlic with the beef, adds delicious aromatic flavor to the dish.
- Ginger: Use fresh ginger for a warming and fiery taste.
- Soy sauce: We use low-sodium soy sauce and don’t even need to add extra salt. You can always add extra salt to the finished dish, depending on your preference.
- Brown sugar: Either light or dark brown sugar will work great to perfectly sweeten the sauce.
- Sesame oil: Gives the beef a rich, nutty taste that’s totally delicious.
- Sriracha sauce: Optional, to add flavorful warmth.
- Seasonings: Red pepper flakes and black pepper for an extra bit of heat and flavor.
- Rice: We like this beef paired with jasmine rice best, but use any favorite.
- Garnish: Top your finished dish with sesame seeds, green onion, or chopped parsley for extra color and texture.
How to make this recipe
This Korean beef recipe could not be more simple, yet it turns out so delicious! Once the beef is browned with the onion and garlic, add the sauce, and it’s ready to serve in no time at all! Here’s how to make it:
- Brown the meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onion, garlic, and ginger until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain the grease.
- Mix in the sauce ingredients: Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, sriracha, and spice to the beef and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Serve: Enjoy over hot rice. Garnish with sesame seeds, green onion, or chopped parsley, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Gluten-free option: To ensure these beef bowls are gluten-free, swap the soy sauce for tamari.
- Drain the grease: Depending on how much fat your ground beef has, after browning it, you may need to drain extra grease from the pan.
- Shortcut tip: To cook rice in a hurry, consider using the ready-to-serve microwave rice or minute rice that can be ready to eat in just 5 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What goes good with Korean beef?
Korean beef is wonderful served alongside any favorite vegetables, rice, or even a fresh green salad.
What is Korean beef called?
Korean beef is typically called Bulgogi, which means fire meat because it is traditionally thinly sliced meat that is barbecued or grilled over a fire. You can use this same sauce recipe but with thinly sliced rib-eye steak instead of ground meat.
Variations
Korean beef bowls are versatile! There are many ways to customize this recipe and make it your own. There are also countless ways to serve the beef. Here are some ideas:
- Pairing options: Serve the beef over rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or even noodles.
- Use a different meat: Ground chicken or turkey work great!
- Heat level: If you or someone you’re serving is sensitive to spice, omit the sriracha sauce and red pepper flakes. Even without those ingredients, this is plenty flavorful!
- Vegetables: Add some veggies to the mix! This Korean beef tastes great with sautéed broccoli, carrots, asparagus, bell pepper, bok choy, and/or mushrooms.
- Lettuce wraps: To keep this meal light and low carb, skip the rice and serve these in lettuce wraps.
Storage recommendations
- Refrigerator: Store any leftovers for 4 days in an airtight container, in the fridge.
- Reheat: Rewarm the meal in a pan over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave. If it has become a bit dry, you can add more soy sauce or even a splash of broth to loosen it up.
- Freeze: The beef freezes well in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Korean Beef Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, 85-90% lean
- ¼ cup onion, minced
- 4 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sriracha, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooked Jasmine or white rice for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onion, garlic, and ginger until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain the grease.
- Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, sriracha, and spice to the beef and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Serve over hot rice. Garnish with sesame seeds, green onion, or chopped parsley if desired.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
