Easy Korean Beef Bowl (Printable)

Savory ground beef in spicy gochujang sauce over rice with fresh toppings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef & Sauce

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
03 - 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
04 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
05 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Rice Base

10 - 4 cups cooked white rice or cauliflower rice

→ Fresh Toppings

11 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
13 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
15 - 1 fresh red chili, sliced thin (optional)
16 - Kimchi for serving (optional)

# Step-by-step Directions:

01 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until fully browned and cooked through.
02 - Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef evenly.
04 - Taste the beef mixture and adjust seasoning as desired. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide cooked rice or cauliflower rice evenly among four bowls, approximately 1 cup per serving.
06 - Spoon Korean beef over rice in each bowl. Top with sliced cucumber, julienned carrot, sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and optional fresh chili or kimchi. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 25 minutes but tastes like you've put in serious effort.
  • The sauce clings to every bite, making even plain rice feel exciting.
  • You can adjust the heat to match your mood or who you're feeding.
02 -
  • Don't walk away once the beef is in the pan, because it cooks faster than you'd expect and you want to catch it at golden brown, not gray and dried out.
  • Taste the sauce while it's still cooking and adjust before you plate, because soy sauce doesn't mellow as it sits and you want the balance perfect from the first bite.
03 -
  • Don't mix your sauce ingredients separately, just add them straight to the pan once the beef is brown, it comes together faster and you wash fewer dishes.
  • Prep your vegetables while the beef cooks so everything is ready to assemble when the sauce finishes, keeping momentum and heat in your food.
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