Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Printable version)
Sweet-spicy glazed ground beef over steamed rice with crisp vegetables and sesame toppings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or short-grain rice
→ Sauce
03 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
05 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
08 - 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, adjusted to taste
09 - 2 tsp rice vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste), optional
→ Toppings
11 - 2 green onions, sliced
12 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
13 - 1 carrot, julienned
14 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
15 - Kimchi, optional for serving
# Directions:
01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes, rice vinegar, and gochujang if using. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Pour the prepared sauce over the browned beef and stir well to combine. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and evenly coats the beef.
04 - Divide the cooked rice among 4 serving bowls. Spoon the saucy Korean ground beef mixture over each portion of rice.
05 - Top each bowl with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, julienned carrot, thinly sliced cucumber, and kimchi if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The sauce comes together with pantry staples you probably already have, making it a weeknight hero with zero grocery runs.
- It delivers that deep, restaurant quality Korean flavor in less time than it takes to queue at your local spot.
02 -
- Do not skip draining the excess fat after browning, or your sauce will turn oily and refuse to cling to the meat properly.
- Toasting your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before sprinkling them on top unlocks a dramatically deeper flavor.
03 -
- Let the beef sit undisturbed in the skillet for the first two minutes so a real crust develops before you start breaking it apart.
- Always cook your rice slightly ahead of time so it is ready and waiting the moment that glossy beef comes off the heat.