Get ready in 20 minutes! Korean beef bowl

These healthy Korean beef bowls and veggies are a quick and easy dinner made with lean beef, sweet and spicy Korean sauce and plenty of veggies!
296 Cal 17 grams of carbohydrates 10 grams of fat 35G protein 3
Korean Beef Bowl Recipe
Instead of choosing takeaway, make this delicious Korean bowl! It’s not too easy to make, use with any ground meat and consume any vegetables you have on hand. This is the best meal on a busy night.
The key to making this recipe is made from Korean-style sauces, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and chili sauce. Sweet, salty, slightly spicy. It is inspired by Bulgogi sauce, which is commonly used in Korean barbecue.
Love making healthy bowl recipes? Don’t miss these crispy Asian rice bowls, teriyaki chicken bowls and Asian rice bowls.
Your new dinner bowl
Here’s everything you need to know why these bowls are always popular:
- Get ready in 20 minutes: These Korean beef bowls come together in less than 20 minutes! Perfect for busy nights, you need a quick dinner but still want something delicious.
- Exchange protein or vegetables: Swap ground beef for Türkiye, chicken or even plant-based meat options. You can also switch vegetables based on the vegetables in the refrigerator. Use hands!
- Before starting: Usually, this recipe comes with a fermented Korean chili sauce Gochujang, but since many people share they can’t find it, I used Sambal Olek instead. If so, please exchange Gochujang!
Key ingredients and alternatives
Here is everything you need to make this recipe:
- Ground beef: Any ground beef works for this recipe, although I usually use 95% lean meat to keep it light and healthy. Exchange Türkiye, pork or chicken. For more traditional Korean beef, use thinly sliced beef lo.
- Asian Vegetables: Make this beef bowl with any vegetables you like. My favorites include cabbage, bean sprouts, pepper, mung beans, spinach, scallions, mushrooms, carrots and cucumbers. Raw and cooked vegetables can be used.
- soy sauce: Use conventional, low-sodium or soy sauce alternatives, such as tamari or coconut amino salt.
- brown sugar: This sauce requires some sweetness. Usually brown or white sugar is used, but you can try it in honey, agave or stevia.
- sesame oil: This adds a strong flavor to the sauce. Regular and toasted sesame oil can be used. Toasted sesame oil has a stronger sesame flavor.
- Asian Garlic Chili Sauce: This sauce should be a little hot. Use Sambal Olek, Gochujang, Sriracha or red pepper flakes. Adjust the mount so the sauce can be as good as you want.
- Garlic and Ginger: These two aromatics add a lot of flavor to the sauce. Fresh tastes the most.
How to make Korean beef
These bowls come together in 20 minutes and taste better than takeaway! Here’s how to make them:
1. Cook vegetables
In the pan, boil the mixed vegetables with a little water until they are tender but still a little crunched. Be careful not to cook them!
Expert tips: If your vegetables start to stick, just add water to prevent burning.
2. Making sauce
In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, chili sauce, garlic and ginger until smooth.
Expert tips: Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or spice level when needed to match your preferences.
3. Cooked beef
In the same pot, cook the beef beef and break it down until it turns brown and cooked.
4. Assembly bowl
Place the rice or vegetables in a bowl and top with cooked beef, vegetables and any extra toppings you like.
How to Make Korean Beef Bowls (Build Your Own Bowls)
Let’s talk about building the perfect Korean bowl! There are many interesting ways to build your own bowl.
- Rice bowl: This beef is great Healthy fried rice Have more flavor or Simple sushi rice Keep it simple!
- Low Carb Options: Use green Spaghetti Pumpkinor Cauliflower fried rice For the bottom of the bowl, for low carb.
- Change the topping: Add kimchi, sprouts, sesame seeds, green onions, pickled vegetables (cucumber, carrots, daikon), chopped cabbage, broccoli, mushrooms or pepper.
- protein: Make these bowls with ground beef, thinly sliced beef lo, Türkiye, pork, chicken or tofu.
- Add an egg: Don’t be afraid to find authentic Korean style on Bibimbap to add fried or boiled eggs.
- Add fresh herbs: Finish this dish with some fresh basil, mint or coriander.
- Use fish sauce: For a more umami flavor, add some small sauce to the sauce.
- Add the sauce: You can also add spicy mayonnaise, extra hot sauce or Gochujang, or drizzle the whole dish with soy sauce or sesame oil.
Tips and recipe ideas
There are many ways to personalize and customize this recipe. Here are some things to consider:
- Thicker sauce: The beef sauce is not strong. Personally, I like this because I can pour the excess sauce over the veggies. But if you want a thicker sauce, stir a little corn starch before adding it to the beef. This will add a thick sauce very well.
- Change the vegetables: Any vegetable combo works for this recipe. Usually, I choose a bag of Asian vegetables, but you can choose any one or a variety of favorites. Consider using broccoli, mung beans, Bok Choy or cabbage.
- Change spice level: If you don’t like spicy stuff, omit the Asian garlic chili sauce and let people add their own paste. You can also substitute Sriracha or some red pepper flakes based on what you have on hand.
- Double the sauce: If you fall in love with sauce, it can be used to marinate almost any type of meat. We have been using it for chicken, steak and pork. Perform double batches or triple batches to store in the refrigerator.
Serving Korean beef with other aspects
Don’t want to make a bowl? Apart from the bowl, here are some other interesting ways:
Meal preparation, storage and leftovers
This Korean beef bowl is perfect for dining and can freeze the beef in later meals.
- Preparation for meals: Place cooked rice, beef and any cooked vegetables in a single container that can be popped out in the microwave to reheat. Pack any fresh vegetables separately and add after reheating. This works well in the refrigerator for 4 days.
- refrigerator: The beef can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Sauce: The sauce can be made and kept in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Use it to marinate protein or drizzle on rice bowls.
- Leftovers: Make a lettuce wrap, pair it with rice or cauliflower rice, or mix it with a salad for lunch or dinner!
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the most common question for making these Korean bowls.
How can I make this dish vegetarian?
For the vegetarian version, you can replace ground beef with plant-based proteins (such as tofu or bean eh) or meat substitutes (such as meat substitutes). You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly based on what you are using.
How do I know when vegetables are cooked?
You want the vegetables to be tender. After cooking for about 3-4 minutes, they should be soft but still a little crunched. If they start overcooking, they will become mushy, so keep an eye on it!