This Korean Beef Stir Fry Bowl is so easy to make and has the best flavor! The flavorful ground beef, and tender crisp veggies are a perfect combination all coated in a spicy sweet sauce. Perfect served over rice or quinoa.
These Korean Ground Beef Bowls are a meal that my whole family loves, even my little kids. I just serve the veggies on the side, so they can choose which they want in their bowl, or sometimes they skip them and eat a side of carrots 😉
It’s a great 30 minute meal, so I can make this Korean ground beef recipe even on the busiest of days.
These bowls aren’t super spicy, but cut the crushed red pepper flakes in half, or skip them all together. The sauce is sweet, and savory, and has just a tiny kick of spice – the flavor is so good. Try it on chicken, or shrimp too.
Why Make Korean Ground Beef
- Quick and Easy – These bowls are ready in less than 30 minutes, and perfect for a busy night dinner.
- Irresistible Flavor Combo – The combination of the fresh veggies, and savory beef all coated in the best sauce! The flavor is out of this world.
- Super Customizable – Pick your favorite vegetables, and skip the ones you don’t like. Any thing from carrots, broccoli, snap peas, asparagus, zucchini, onions, bell pepper, mushrooms, bok choi, cabbage, water chestnuts, etc.
Ingredients Needed for Korean Beef Bowl Recipe
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Korean Beef Bowl Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- olive oil – to saute the vegetables
- yellow onion
- red bell pepper
- zucchini
- sugar snap peas
- carrots
- ground beef – I like using lean ground beef, to keep this light without losing any flavor. You could also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- minced garlic – adds a nice flavor, mince fresh garlic for the best flavor
- cooked rice – a classic base for these bowls, you can use brown rice, white rice, quinoa, or even cauliflower rice
- sliced green onion – to garnish
- sesame seeds – to garnish
Sauce Ingredients
- brown sugar – adds a nice sweetness to the sauce
- low-sodium soy sauce – I recommend reduced sodium so the dish isn’t too salty
- sesame oil – adds a nice nutty flavor to the sauce
- ground ginger – adds a nice classic stir fry flavor. You could also use 1 TBS of diced fresh ginger.
- crushed red pepper flakes – adds a pinch of heat. You can increase this for a spicier dish, or cut in half if you’re sensitive to spice.
- black pepper
- cornstarch – to thicken the sauce a little
How to make Korean Beef Stir Fry
- Cook the vegetables. Add olive oil to a skillet set to medium high heat. Add in the vegetables and saute for 2 to 3 minutes, or until crisp tender. Remove the veggies and set them on a plate for a few minutes, until needed.
- Cook the ground beef. Add the ground beef to the same skillet, with the garlic, and cook it, breaking it into pieces as you stir it, until the meat is no longer pink.
- Make the sauce. In a small bowl, add the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, ginger, red pepper flakes, black pepper. Whisk them together until combined. (You can also do this while the meat cooks.)
- Mix together. Add the veggies back in, and pour the sauce over the ground beef and let it cook for a few minutes, until the sauce starts to thicken. Serve the veggie and meat mixture over a bed of rice. Garnish individual bowls with green onions and sesame seeds.
Tips and Tricks:
- Cold Veggies – Instead of Stir Fry veggies try topping the bowls with chopped cucumber, shredded carrots, etc.
- Adjust the Spice – Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes and black pepper to your desired level of spiciness. Add a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce like chili garlic sauce, or sriracha to make it extra spicy, if desired.
- Customize – Add your favorite veggies to your stir fry, or remove the ones you don’t like to the stir fry mixture. This makes it a great dish even for picky eaters.
- Make into lettuce Wraps – Add a small spoonful of rice, and the veggie meat mixture into a piece of Romaine, or Butter Lettuce.
How to store leftovers?
Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store the veggie and beef mixture separate from the rice.
Reheat the leftovers in a large skillet over low heat on the stove. Or you can reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until warm.
Korean Stir Fry FAQs
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes, of course. Ground turkey, or ground chicken can be a great lighter substitute for beef in this recipe.
Is there a vegetarian version of this dish?
You can double the vegetables, and cook the garlic with them, or add in crumbled tofu or cooked lentils for a great vegetarian option.
These quick Korean beef bowls are a great addition to your dinner rotation. With bold flavors, quick preparation, and versatility its a dish the whole family will love.
Korean Beef Bowls
Ingredients
For the Stir Fry:
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 1/2 onion (diced)
- 1/2 red bell pepper (diced)
- 1/2 cup carrots (shredded or diced)
- 3/4 cup sugar snap peas
- 1/2 zucchini (sliced)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 TBS minced garlic
For the Sauce:
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 3/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 TBS sesame oil
- 1 TBS cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
For Serving:
- 3 cups hot cooked rice
- sliced green onions (to garnish)
- sesame seeds (to garnish)
Instructions
For the Stir Fry:
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add in the onion, bell pepper and carrots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
- Add in the sugar snap peas and zucchini and cook for another couple of minutes until all the veggies are crisp tender.
- Remove the vegetables from the pan, onto a plate and set them aside until needed.
- Add the ground beef and garlic to the same skillet and cook until the ground beef is cooked through.
- Drain out any grease.
For the Sauce:
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and whisk them together until combined.
- Add the veggies back into the skillet. Pour the sauce over the mixture, and stir everything together.
- Let the sauce come to a simmer for a few minutes until it starts to thicken, stirring often.
For Serving:
- Serve the veggie and meat stir fry over a bed of rice, if desired.
- Sprinkle individual bowls with green onions and sesame seeds.
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