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    Ground Beef Bulgogi

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    This Ground Beef Bulgogi is a fantastic 20 minute meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. The sweet and savory sauce makes this a favorite of kids and adults alike!

    If you love these flavors, be sure to check out our Korean Sloppy Joes!

    Table of Contents

    • What is Beef Bulgogi?
    • Ingredients in Ground Beef Bulgogi
    • How To Make Bulgogi with Ground Beef
    • Variations and Additions for Korean Ground Beef
    • Korean Ground Beef Bowls
    • Ground Beef Bulgogi
      • Ingredients 1x2x3x
      • Instructions
      • Notes

    What is Beef Bulgogi?

    Top down image of ground beef bulgogi in a white bowl.

    Beef Bulgogi is a Korean dish featuring thinly sliced and marinated beef. It traditionally uses a steak, like ribeye or flank, and a sweet and savory marinade featuring soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic.

    In this recipe, I’ve swapped the steak for ground beef to make an incredibly fast and affordable weeknight meal. When I say fast, I mean FAST. This meal can be on your table in about 20 minutes!

    If you’ve never tried bulgogi before, you’re in for a treat. This Ground Beef Bulgogi has amazing flavor. This sweet and savory sauce is so easy to make, but it really packs a flavor punch! With a hint of garlic and sesame, this sauce is a crowd pleaser. Even my picky kiddos gobbled it up!

    If you like heat, I’ve included instructions for spicing things up.

    Don't forget to try our other quick and easy Asian ground beef bowls, including Thai Basil Beef and Ground Beef and Broccoli.

    Ground beef bulgogi topped with sliced green onions in a white bowl.

    Ingredients in Ground Beef Bulgogi

    For ground beef bulgogi, we'll use the same ingredients as in the traditional marinade, but without the need to marinate the meat! It's a huge time saver for busy weeknights.

    Ingredients in Korean bulgogi on a white background-brown sugar, green onions, sesame seeds, sesame oil, garlic, and ground beef.

    For the sauce, you’ll need:

    • Soy sauce (I use low sodium)
    • Brown sugar
    • Sesame Oil
    • Toasted Sesame Seeds
    • Garlic

    Beyond that, you’ll just need some vegetable oil for cooking the beef and a few green onions for garnish.

    How To Make Bulgogi with Ground Beef

    This recipe comes together so quickly! I recommend getting a pot of rice started before you begin the bulgogi so they’ll be ready at the same time.

    1. Start by whisking together the sauce ingredients: soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and garlic.
      Seasoning sauce for bulgogi in a measuring cup with a whisk.
    2. Heat vegetable oil in a wok or stainless steel pan over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook until no pink remains, and the edges are starting to brown.
      Browned ground beef in a pan.
    3. Add the sauce and continue to saute until the sauce is reduced slightly and thoroughly coating the ground beef.
      Measuring cup pouring bulgogi sauce over ground beef.
    4. Remove from heat, and top with sliced green onions and additional sesame seeds.
      Ground beef with bulgogi sauce in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

    Variations and Additions for Korean Ground Beef

    • Want to make spicy beef bulgogi? Add a tablespoon of gochujang to your marinade. Gochujang is a Korean chili sauce with a sweet, hot, and smoky flavor. You can find it here or in most grocery stores, or you can use Sriracha if you prefer.
    • Prefer to use steak? Stir all the sauce ingredients together then add ¼ cup of water. Place thinly sliced steak (I prefer ribeye) in a bag with the marinade ingredients, and marinate at least 3 hours or overnight. Sear in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.
    • This ground beef bulgogi is great with a side of rice, but we also love to top it with an over easy fried egg or a sous vide poached egg. The yolk coats everything in its silky sauce and really brings everything together.
    Korean ground beef topped with green onions and sesame seeds.

    Korean Ground Beef Bowls

    You could also use this ground beef bulgogi as a base for Korean Bibimbap, which is a dish typically served with bulgogi, rice, and a variety of vegetables and sides. To make them, combine the bulgogi with rice, a poached or fried egg, and your favorite pickled or stir fried veggies. Here are a few great ones to try!

    • Quick Korean Pickles
    • Korean Cucumber Salad
    • Korean Seasoned Spinach
    • Asian Zucchini
    • Homemade Kimchi
    Ground beef bulgogi in a bowl with rice.
    A bowl of ground beef bulgogi on white rice.

    Ground Beef Bulgogi

    Ground beef subs in for steak in this quick and easy ground beef bulgogi. This 20 minute meal is a sweet and savory delight!
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    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 20 mins
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (for cooking)
    • 1 lb. ground beef
    • ¼ cup soy sauce (I use low sodium)
    • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds (plus more for serving)
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 green onions (sliced)

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains.
    • Meanwhile, in a bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, garlic, and brown sugar.
    • When the beef is cooked, add the soy sauce mixture and stir for a few minutes until beef is well coated and most of the liquid is absorbed.
    • Serve bulgogi over rice with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.

    Notes

    Leftover ground beef bulgogi will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, and reheats well on the stove top or in the microwave.
    For extra flavor and a silky sauce, top the bulgogi with a fried or poached egg.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Korean
    Keyword easy, ground beef, quick, sesame oil, soy sauce

    More Asian

    • Thai Basil Beef
    • Korean Sloppy Joes
    • 30 Minute Ground Beef and Broccoli

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