Quick Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowls
A fast and flavorful Korean-inspired ground beef rice bowl with a spicy, sweet, and savory sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or quick dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (preferably 80/20)
- 2 cups cooked white rice (short grain or jasmine)
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon (12g) brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced fresh
- 1 teaspoon (5g) ginger, minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil
- Green onions, sliced (half for cooking, half for garnish)
- Sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook 2 cups (about 360g) of white rice according to package instructions using a rice cooker or on the stove (about 15-20 minutes).
- In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons gochujang, 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, stirring constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the skillet. Break it into small crumbles with a spatula and cook for 5-7 minutes until fully browned and no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Pour the prepared gochujang sauce over the beef. Stir well to coat evenly and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in half of the sliced green onions and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Save the rest of the green onions for garnish.
- Assemble the bowls by spooning cooked rice into bowls, topping with the spicy ground beef mixture, and garnishing with remaining green onions and extra sesame seeds.
Notes
Use 80/20 ground beef for juiciness. Toast sesame seeds for added crunch and flavor. Adjust spice level by varying gochujang and red pepper flakes. Substitute tamari for soy sauce to make gluten-free. Ground turkey or chicken can be used as a lighter protein alternative. Add a splash of water if sauce is too thick. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Korean ground beef, quick dinner, spicy beef bowl, gochujang recipe, easy weeknight meal, Korean rice bowl