Description
Ground Beef Bulgogi is a quick and flavorful Korean-inspired dish featuring tender, savory ground beef marinated in a sweet and savory sauce with garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, this recipe pairs beautifully with steamed white rice and fresh vegetables for a balanced meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional for brightness)
- 1–2 teaspoons gochujang or red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
Garnishes and Serving
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Cooked white rice, for serving
- Steamed vegetables, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, black pepper, and rice vinegar (if using). This creates the flavorful marinade and sauce base.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and thoroughly cooked, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary to avoid greasiness.
- Add the sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked beef in the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer and thicken: Allow the beef and sauce mixture to simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and becomes fragrant.
- Optional spice: Stir in gochujang or red pepper flakes if you prefer a spicy kick.
- Add garnish: Remove the skillet from heat and mix in the sliced green onions and sesame seeds. These add freshness and texture.
- Serve: Serve the bulgogi hot over steamed white rice alongside steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Great for meal prep—store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Adjust the heat level by controlling the amount of gochujang or red pepper flakes.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce sodium content.
- If preferred, brown sugar can be substituted with honey or maple syrup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (without rice)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
