Description
The Korean Ground Beef Bowl is a quick and flavorful dish that captures the bold essence of Korean cuisine—sweet, savory, and slightly spicy. Tender ground beef is cooked in a soy-garlic sauce and served over warm rice for a perfectly balanced, comforting meal. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s ideal for busy weeknights, meal prep, or anyone craving a taste of Korean-inspired flavor at home.
Ingredients
For the Beef Mixture
1 pound (450 g) ground beef (85–90% lean)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or sesame oil for richer flavor)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar (adjust to taste)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1–2 teaspoons sriracha or gochujang (optional, for heat)
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
½ teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
3 cups cooked jasmine rice (or short-grain white rice)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
2 green onions, sliced thin
Optional toppings: shredded carrots, sautéed spinach, cucumber ribbons, or a fried egg
Instructions
1. Prepare the Ingredients
Cook rice according to package directions. While it cooks, mince garlic, grate ginger, and slice green onions. Prepare any additional toppings.
2. Cook the Beef
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart until browned and slightly crispy. Drain excess fat, leaving just enough for moisture.
3. Add Aromatics
Add minced garlic and ginger. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly until fragrant.
4. Make the Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha or gochujang, and red pepper flakes. Pour the mixture over the beef and stir to coat evenly.
5. Simmer and Thicken
Reduce heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy.
6. Taste and Adjust
Taste the beef and adjust seasoning—add sugar for sweetness, soy sauce for saltiness, or chili flakes for heat.
7. Assemble the Bowls
Scoop rice into bowls, top with the saucy beef, and garnish with sesame seeds, green onions, and toppings. For a richer flavor, add a fried egg on top.
Notes
Use low-sodium soy sauce to control saltiness.
For deeper flavor, substitute gochujang (Korean chili paste) for sriracha.
Don’t overcook the beef after adding sauce; let it simmer gently.
Make it meal-prep friendly by storing rice and beef separately.
Garnish with fresh cucumbers or carrots for crunch and color.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet / Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Korean ground beef bowl, Korean beef rice bowl, easy weeknight meal, Asian ground beef recipe