Description
Bold, fast, and delicious—Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi is the ultimate easy dinner idea for busy weeknights. This Korean-inspired bowl delivers a sweet-savory punch of flavor using simple ingredients like ground beef, soy sauce, sesame oil, and fresh garlic. It’s perfect for quick lunches, meal prep, or satisfying your craving for Korean food at home. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner, budget-friendly meal, or healthy protein-packed bowl, this easy bulgogi recipe checks all the boxes. Serve it over rice, top with a jammy egg, and dig in!
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
1 tablespoon sesame oil
0.25 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional)
0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
2 cups cooked white rice (for serving)
2 soft-boiled eggs, halved (optional)
Instructions
1. In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and optional vinegar and red pepper flakes to make the bulgogi sauce.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the diced onions until translucent, about 2–3 minutes.
3. Add ground beef to the pan. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula, until fully browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
4. Pour the bulgogi sauce over the cooked beef. Stir to coat and simmer for 4–5 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding a bit more sugar or soy sauce as preferred.
6. While the beef simmers, cook white rice and soft-boil eggs if using.
7. Assemble bowls by layering rice, bulgogi beef, egg halves, and garnishes.
8. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds, then serve hot.
Notes
Use fresh garlic and ginger for authentic, vibrant flavor.
Don’t skip browning the beef—it adds richness and helps the sauce cling better.
This dish is perfect for meal prep; store in airtight containers and reheat easily throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: easy dinner, ground beef recipe, bulgogi, quick meal, Korean bowl