Description
This Korean Beef Bowl is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. Ground beef is cooked with a savory and slightly sweet sauce made from brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a touch of red pepper flakes for mild heat. The beef is sautéed with garlic and finished with green onions and sesame seeds, served in a bowl for an easy, comforting meal with vibrant Korean flavors.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Beef Mixture
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 green onions (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, reduced sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, crushed red pepper flakes, and ground ginger until well combined, creating a sweet and savory sauce base.
- Cook the garlic and beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until fully browned, about 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep the dish light.
- Combine beef and sauce: Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture over the browned beef and add the sliced green onions. Stir everything well to combine and let the mixture simmer for about 2 minutes until heated through and flavors meld.
- Serve garnished: Immediately serve the Korean beef in bowls, garnished with additional green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for extra texture and visual appeal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, serve over steamed jasmine or brown rice.
- You can add steamed or stir-fried vegetables like broccoli or bell peppers for a balanced meal.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to your desired level of spiciness or omit for mild taste.
- This recipe can be doubled easily to feed more people.
- Using reduced sodium soy sauce helps control the salt level in the dish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
