Quick Savory Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowls
A fast and flavorful Korean-inspired ground beef bulgogi bowl recipe perfect for busy weeknights, featuring a sweet-savory marinade and simple ingredients.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola or avocado oil)
- Cooked white or brown rice, for serving
- Optional toppings: sesame seeds, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, kimchi
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: mince garlic, grate ginger, and slice green onions thinly.
- In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes until sugar dissolves.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until it starts to brown, about 4 minutes.
- Pour marinade over the beef and stir to coat. Continue cooking until beef is fully cooked and sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Stir in half of the sliced green onions.
- Serve the bulgogi beef over warm steamed rice. Garnish with remaining green onions and optional toppings like sesame seeds or crunchy veggies.
Notes
Use fresh garlic and ginger for best flavor. Don’t overcrowd the skillet to ensure good caramelization. Adjust sweetness and saltiness to taste. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days refrigerated; reheat gently with a splash of water or broth to maintain moisture. For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari. For paleo, use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Korean beef bowl, bulgogi, ground beef recipe, quick dinner, savory beef bowl, easy Korean recipe