Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Printable)
Savory-sweet Korean-style ground beef over steamed rice with fresh vegetables and sesame. Ready in 25 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meat
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
→ Sauce
02 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
07 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
→ Vegetables & Garnish
09 - 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
10 - 1 medium carrot, julienned or shredded
11 - 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
→ Base
13 - 3 cups cooked white or brown rice
# How To Make:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar until well combined.
03 - Pour the sauce mixture over the browned beef in the skillet. Stir thoroughly and let it simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the beef to absorb the flavors. Adjust seasoning to taste.
04 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Spoon the saucy Korean beef over the rice in each bowl.
05 - Arrange the shredded carrot, sliced cucumber, and spring onions over the beef. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
06 - Serve immediately. Offer extra chili flakes or sriracha on the side for those who prefer more heat.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce is a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and a little heat that coats every crumb of beef like magic.
- It takes less time than ordering takeout and tastes infinitely better.
- Everyone at the table can customize their own bowl, which means fewer complaints and more happy eating.
02 -
- Do not walk away from the simmer because the sugar in the sauce can go from beautifully glazed to burnt in under a minute if the heat is too high.
- Drain the beef fat before adding the sauce or you will end up with a greasy puddle instead of that silky coating you want.
03 -
- Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan right before serving because the fresh warmth releases oils that make them taste exponentially more fragrant.
- Cook the rice a few hours ahead and spread it on a sheet pan to cool so it stays fluffy and separate rather than clumping into a sticky mass.