Korean Beef Bowls

Instead of opting for takeout, make this delicious Korean bowl instead! It couldn't be easier to make, works with any ground meat, and uses up any vegetables you have on hand. It's the best easy meal for busy nights.

The key to making this recipe is the simple Korean-inspired sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and chili paste. It's sweet, savory, and slightly spicy. It's inspired by bulgogi sauce, which is typically used for Korean barbecue.

Love making healthy bowl recipes? Don't miss these Crispy Asian Rice Bowls, Teriyaki Chicken Bowls, and Asian Rice Bowls.

Your New Go-To Dinner Bowl

Here’s everything you need to know about why these bowls are always a hit:

• Ready in 20 minutes: These Korean Beef Bowls come together in less than 20 minutes! Perfect for busy nights when you need dinner fast but still want something delicious.
• Swap the protein or veggies: Swap out the ground beef for turkey, chicken, or even a plant-based meat option. You can also switch up the veggies based on what you have in the fridge. Use up whatever's on hand!
• Before you get started: Typically, this recipe would have gochujang, a fermented Korean chili paste, but since many people shared they couldn't find it, I used sambal olek instead. Swap in gochujang if you have it!

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make this recipe:

• Ground beef: Any ground beef works for this recipe, although I usually use 95% lean to keep things light and healthy. Swap in ground turkey, pork, or chicken. For more traditional Korean beef, use thinly sliced sirloin.
• Asian vegetables: Make this beef bowl with any vegetables you like. My favorites include cabbage, bean sprouts, bell peppers, green beans, spinach, scallions, mushrooms, carrots, and cucumbers. Both raw and cooked vegetables can be used.
• Soy sauce: Use regular, low sodium, or a soy sauce substitute like tamari or coconut aminos.
• Brown sugar: This sauce needs some sweetness. Brown or white sugar is commonly used, but you could swap in honey, agave, or Stevia to taste.
• Sesame oil: This adds a nice, nutty flavor to the sauce. Both regular and toasted sesame oil can be used. Toasted sesame oil has a stronger sesame flavor.
• Asian garlic chili paste: This sauce should have some heat. Use sambal olek, gochujang, Sriracha, or red pepper flakes. Adjust the mount to make the sauce as spicy as you like.
• Garlic and ginger: These two aromatics add so much flavor to the sauce. Fresh adds the most flavor.

How to Make Korean Beef

These bowls come together in 20 minutes and taste even better than takeout! Here's how to make them:

1. Cook the Vegetables

In a pan, cook the mixed vegetables with a little water until they're tender but still have a little crunch. Be careful not to overcook them!

Pro tip: If your veggies start sticking, just add a splash of water to prevent burning.

2. Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, chili paste, garlic, and ginger until smooth.

Pro tip: Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or spice level if needed to match your preference.

3. Cook the Ground Beef

In the same pan, cook the ground beef, breaking it up as you go, until it's browned and fully cooked.

4. Assemble the Bowls

Layer rice or greens in bowls, and top with the cooked beef, veggies, and any extra toppings you like.

How to Make Korean Beef Bowls (Build Your Own)

Let's talk about building the perfect Korean bowl! There are so many fun ways to build your own bowl.

• Rice bowls: This beef is great with Healthy Fried Rice for more flavor or Easy Sushi Rice to keep things simple!
• Low-carb options: Use greens, Spaghetti Squash, or Cauliflower Fried Rice for the base of the bowls for a lower-carb option.
• Change up the toppings: Add kimchi, sprouts, sesame seeds, green onions, pickled vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, daikon), shredded cabbage, broccoli, mushrooms, or bell peppers.
• Protein: Make these bowls with ground beef, thinly sliced sirloin, ground turkey, pork, chicken, or tofu.
• Add an egg: Don't be afraid to add a fried egg or soft-boiled egg for an authentic Korean touch like you would find with Bibimbap.
• Add fresh herbs: Finish this dish with some fresh basil, mint, or cilantro.
• Use fish sauce: For a more umami flavor, add a few dashes of fish sauce to the sauce.
• Add sauce: You could also add spicy mayo, extra hot sauce, or gochujang, or simply drizzle the whole dish with soy sauce or sesame oil.

Tips and Recipe Ideas

There are lots of ways to personalize and customize this recipe. Here are some things to consider:

• Thicker sauce: The sauce for the beef isn't super thick. Personally, I like this since I can spoon the extra sauce over the vegetables. However, if you want a thicker sauce, stir in a little cornstarch before adding it to the beef. This will thicken up the sauce nicely.
• Change up the vegetables: Any vegetable combination will work for this recipe. Usually, I opt for a bag of mixed Asian veggies, but you can choose any single vegetable or an assortment of your favorites. Consider using broccoli, green beans, bok choy, or cabbage.
• Change the spice level: If you don't like things spicy, leave out the Asian garlic chili paste and let people add their own afterward. You can also substitute the sambal olek for Sriracha or some red pepper flakes, depending on what you have on hand.
• Double the sauce: If you fall in love with the sauce, which you will, it can be used for marinating just about any type of meat. We use it all the time for chicken, steak, and pork. Make a double or triple batch to keep in the fridge.

Serving Korean Beef with Other Sides

Don't feel like making bowls? Here are some other fun ways to serve this recipe other than bowls:

• Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps: Pile the Korean ground beef into some lettuce wraps for a low-carb lunch or dinner!
• Noodles: Add some beef to noodles to make Asian Noodle Bowls! If you want to keep things lighter, you can also pair the beef with Asian Zucchini Noodles.
• Salad: Keep things light by pairing the beef with an Edamame Salad or Asian Kale Salad for a fresh twist!

Meal Prep, Storage, and Leftovers

This Korean Beef Bowl is great for meal prep, and the beef can be frozen for future meals.

• Meal Prep: Store the cooked rice, beef, and any cooked vegetables together in individual containers you can pop in the microwave to reheat. Keep any fresh vegetables packed separately and add them after reheating. This keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: The beef can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
• Sauce: The sauce can be made and kept in the fridge for up to 5-7 days. Use it to marinate proteins or drizzle on rice bowls.
• Leftovers: Make lettuce wraps, pair with rice or cauliflower rice, or mix with a salad for a light lunch or dinner!