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Quick Weeknight Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowls

A white bowl filled with white rice topped generously with saucy Korean ground beef bulgogi and garnished with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
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Make authentic-tasting Korean ground beef bulgogi quickly for a weeknight meal. This recipe uses ground beef for fast cooking and serves it over rice with simple toppings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 4 cups cooked white or brown rice
  • For Serving: Sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, kimchi or quick slaw

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced ginger, minced garlic, rice vinegar, black pepper, and ground ginger to create the bulgogi sauce.
  2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break the meat apart with a spoon and cook until it is fully browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Pour the prepared bulgogi sauce over the cooked ground beef. Stir well to coat all the meat.
  5. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef.
  6. To assemble the bowls, divide the cooked rice among four bowls.
  7. Spoon the ground beef bulgogi mixture over the rice.
  8. Top each bowl with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and a side of kimchi or slaw.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free option, substitute tamari for the soy sauce.
  • If you prefer a lower sugar version, reduce the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons and add 1 tablespoon of water.
  • For meal prep, store the cooked beef and rice separately. Assemble just before eating.
  • To make a quick slaw, toss shredded cabbage with rice vinegar and a pinch of salt.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerykings.com/korean-ground-beef-bulgogi-bowls/