Korean Ground Beef Bowl

This Korean Ground Beef Bowl is an incredibly easy and flavor-packed meal that comes together in just 20 minutes. It is the perfect weeknight solution for busy families who want a delicious dinner with minimal effort and maximum taste.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

You will love this recipe because it uses simple pantry staples to create a high-quality meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant. With the perfect balance of sweet brown sugar and savory soy sauce, it is a hit with both kids and adults. Because it only takes one skillet and about 15 minutes of cook time, it is the ultimate “emergency” dinner for your busiest nights.

Ingredients for Korean Ground Beef Bowls

• 1 pound lean ground beef: We recommend using 90% lean to keep the dish light.
• 3 garlic cloves: Freshly minced for the best aromatic flavor.
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar: This provides the classic sweetness found in Korean beef.
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce: Adds the necessary saltiness and depth.
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil: Essential for that toasted, nutty finish.
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger: Adds a subtle warmth to the sauce.
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes: Provides a tiny bit of heat (adjust to your preference).
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper: For basic seasoning.
• 2 cups hot cooked rice: Use white, brown, or jasmine rice as your base.
• Garnish: Sliced green onions and sesame seeds for crunch and color.

How to Make a Korean Ground Beef Bowl

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and minced garlic over medium heat. Break the meat into crumbles as it cooks and continue until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
2. In a small separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and pepper.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked ground beef in the skillet. Stir well and let the mixture simmer for another minute or two to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
4. Serve the beef mixture over bowls of hot cooked rice. Garnish generously with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Expert Tips for the Best Results

To make this Korean Ground Beef Bowl even better, consider these professional tips:

First, ensure you drain the grease thoroughly after browning the meat so the sauce sticks to the beef rather than becoming oily. If you want to add more nutrition, this dish is excellent when served with steamed broccoli, shredded carrots, or snap peas stirred right into the skillet at the end. For those who enjoy meal prepping, this recipe holds up beautifully in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, making it a fantastic option for weekday lunches. Finally, if you prefer a crispier texture, let the beef sit undisturbed in the skillet for an extra minute after adding the sauce to allow the sugars to slightly caramelize.

Korean Ground Beef Bowl

This Korean Ground Beef Bowl is an incredibly easy and flavor-packed meal that comes together in just 20 minutes. It is the perfect weeknight solution for busy families who want a delicious dinner with minimal effort and maximum taste.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Korean

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound lean ground beef We recommend using 90% lean to keep the dish light.
• 3 garlic cloves Freshly minced for the best aromatic flavor.
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar This provides the classic sweetness found in Korean beef.
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce Adds the necessary saltiness and depth.
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil Essential for that toasted, nutty finish.
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger Adds a subtle warmth to the sauce.
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Provides a tiny bit of heat (adjust to your preference).
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper For basic seasoning.
• 2 cups hot cooked rice Use white, brown, or jasmine rice as your base.
• Sliced green onions Garnish
• Sesame seeds Garnish

Equipment

• Large Skillet
• Small Bowl
• Whisk

Method

 

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and minced garlic over medium heat. Break the meat into crumbles as it cooks and continue until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
   1 pound lean ground beef, 3 garlic cloves
2. In a small separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and pepper.
   1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked ground beef in the skillet. Stir well and let the mixture simmer for another minute or two to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
4. Serve the beef mixture over bowls of hot cooked rice. Garnish generously with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
   2 cups hot cooked rice, Sliced green onions, Sesame seeds

Notes

Expert Tips for the Best ResultsTo make this Korean Ground Beef Bowl even better, consider these professional tips:First, ensure you drain the grease thoroughly after browning the meat so the sauce sticks to the beef rather than becoming oily.If you want to add more nutrition, this dish is excellent when served with steamed broccoli, shredded carrots, or snap peas stirred right into the skillet at the end.For those who enjoy meal prepping, this recipe holds up beautifully in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, making it a fantastic option for weekday lunches.Finally, if you prefer a crispier texture, let the beef sit undisturbed in the skillet for an extra minute after adding the sauce to allow the sugars to slightly caramelize.

Frequently Asked Questions