This Easy Korean Beef is simple but delicious and comes together in less than 20 minutes. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli and you won’t believe how quick you’ll have yourself an affordable takeout alternative. 

If you’ve been following my blog for any length of time, you already know my love for easy weeknight meals. I’m a busy mom of three boys and even though two are in school, life can quickly become packed full. I try very hard to keep myself organized but we all have those hectic days that all we want at the end of the day is for dinner to magically appear on the table. 😉 That is why I have this Easy Korean Beef that only takes a few pantry ingredients and 20 minutes of your time!

I’m a big fan of Asian flavors and this dish won’t disappoint! As simple as it is, it’s very flavorful and I’m sure it will be in constant rotation at our house! For this recipe I use Jasmine rice as it has a faster cook time and works well with this fast cooking dish. But you can use whatever rice you have on hand or usually use.

This recipe is a twist on the traditional Korean dish, bulgogi. Bulgogi is made with thinly sliced beef that’s marinated overnight and cooked on a very hot grill. With this version, you get the same flavors by using ground beef which makes it a budget friendly dish in much less time. Win win!

Can I use something else other than ground beef?

Of course you can! You can substitute ground chicken or ground turkey. Both are great swaps for a lighter option.

Can this be used for meal prep?

This recipe is perfect for meal prep! Package it up in airtight glass containers with rice, the beef mixture, and some steamed vegetables and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze leftovers?

Place leftover beef in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator before reheating and serving over rice.

What should I serve the beef with?

• White Rice, Brown Rice or Quinoa. 
• Steamed or sautéed vegetables – we love broccoli with it!
• Garnish with some sliced green onions and extra sesame seeds

I hope you love this Easy Korean Beef as much as we do!

Yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
• 4 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Toasted sesame seeds, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, cornstarch and fresh ginger.
2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil and minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat.
3. Add the sauce to the ground beef and stir to combine and allow to simmer over medium heat about 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
4. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with cooked rice and steamed vegetables. Enjoy!