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    Home » Main Dish » Beef » Korean Ground Beef

    Korean Ground Beef

    Published: May 11, 2022 · Jill Baird · Leave a Comment

    ground beef recipe, Korean beef recipe

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    Jump to Recipe
    Korean beef recipe, a ground beef reciep
    Korean beef recipe served over rice

    This Korean Ground Beef recipe makes for a simple, delicious meal that the entire family will love.  Served in a bowl over your favorite rice, the sweet and spicy ground beef gets its characteristic flavor from a simple sauce made of brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger.

    Jump to:
    • Easy Korean Ground Beef Bowl
    • Ingredients in Korean Beef Recipe with Rice
    • How to Cook Korean Hamburger
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing and Reheating Korean Beef
    • Korean Ground Beef Recipe
    • More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes

    Easy Korean Ground Beef Bowl

    This Korean Ground Beef recipe is great for those busy weeknights when you need an easy meal on the table fast.  Instead of thinly sliced beef, this recipe uses budget-friendly ground beef as the protein without sacrificing any of the flavor.  It literally tastes like it came from your favorite Korean BBQ spot.

    The sweet and spicy sauce is simple, made from brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger.  It’s thickened slightly with a cornstarch slurry and seasoned with a little black pepper and red pepper flakes for heat.  I will typically serve Korean Ground Beef in a bowl over long grain white rice and garnish it with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.  

    If you want to go super healthy, you could serve over brown rice, cauliflower rice or even lettuce wraps instead.  And, if you love Korean recipes, give our equally simple Korean Beef Stir Fry recipe a try.

    Korean Ground Beef in a large skillet topped with green onions and sesame seeds. asian ground beef recipes.

    Ingredients in Korean Beef Recipe with Rice

    • Ground Beef - I suggest using either 15/85 or 10/90 ground beef as it will be less greasy.  Ground turkey makes a great, healthy substitute.
    • Black Pepper - ground black pepper.
    • Red Pepper Flakes - add a little more or less depending on how spicy you like it.
    • Garlic - fresh minced garlic.
    • Brown Sugar - this adds a bit of sweetness.  A touch of rice wine vinegar would taste great, too.
    • Soy Sauce - we generally recommend using a low sodium soy sauce.
    • Ginger - fresh ginger has a great flavor, but you can also substitute ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.
    • Cornstarch Slurry - cornstarch mixed with cold water is added to the sauce to thicken at the end.
    • Rice - serve over cooked white rice, or any kind of rice that you’d like.  You could also serve over your favorite noodles or even use lettuce wraps.
    • Toppings - sliced green onions and sesame seeds make for an easy and delicious garnish.
    Ingredients for making Asian-inspired ground beef in separate ramekins on a table. how to make korean beef recipe.

    How to Cook Korean Hamburger

    1. Cook the ground beef.  In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the ground beef and cook for about 3 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spoon.
    2. Cook with the sauce.  Add the pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until the beef has a little pink remaining, or about 1-2 minutes more.  Next, add the brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger.  Cook until all ingredients are bubbling and the beef is no longer pink.
    3. Thicken the sauce.  In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth, then add to the skillet and cook until the sauce is bubbly and thick.  Remove from heat.
    4. Serve.  Serve the Korean Ground Beef in a bowl over cooked rice, topped with green onions and sesame seeds.  Enjoy!
    A bowl of rice topped with Ground Beef Korean, ground beef recipes korean.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What temperature should you cook ground beef to?

    Ground beef is safest to eat when the temperature reaches 160 degrees F.  Since it’s difficult to take the temperature of ground beef, the best way to know is if no pink remains.

    What’s the best rice to use for Korean Ground Beef and rice?

    The short answer is that any kind of rice works great.  You can even use brown rice, wild rice or cauliflower rice in your Korean ground beef bowl.

    However, we usually like to serve ground beef and rice bowls with long grain white rice.  Jasmine rice is a great choice that has a mild sweetness and is slightly sticky.  This Coconut Rice would also be a great choice.

    Can you freeze cooked ground beef?

    Absolutely!  This is a great freezer meal choice.  Just make sure the beef is cooled completely, then freeze flat in freezer bags and store for up to 2 months.

    What should I serve with Korean Ground Beef?

    Serve with any of your favorite Asian-inspired sides, veggies, soups or salads.  Think recipes like egg drop soup, spring rolls or egg rolls.  Honestly, though, this ground beef bowl is a meal all on its own!

    Can you cook rice in an Instant Pot?

    You sure can!  You can reference the instructions from our Lemon Rice recipe here to see how.

    Storing and Reheating Korean Beef

    • Refrigerator: store leftover Korean Ground Beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Freezer: you can also freeze cooked Korean Ground Beef!  Make sure it is completely cooled, then transfer to freezer bags and freeze flat.  Store frozen for up to 2 months.
    • To reheat: you can reheat in the microwave, or else transfer to a saucepan and add a touch of water.  Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until warmed through and serve hot.
    ground beef recipe, Korean beef recipe
    Print

    Korean Ground Beef Recipe

    This Ground Beef korean recipe makes for a simple, delicious meal that the entire family will love.  Served in a bowl over your favorite rice, the sweet and spicy ground beef gets its characteristic flavor from a simple sauce made of brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Korean
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 494kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound Ground Beef 15/85 or 10/90 fat content
    • ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
    • 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced, or 2 teaspoons
    • 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
    • ¼ cup Soy Sauce low sodium
    • 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger minced, or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
    • 2 Tablespoons Water cold

    Garnish

    • 1 cup Cooked Rice
    • 2 Tablespoons Green Onions sliced thinly
    • 1 pinch Sesame Seeds

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the ground beef and cook for about 3 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spoon.
    • Add the pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until the beef has a little pink remaining, or about 1-2 minutes more.  Next, add the brown sugar, soy sauce and ginger.  Cook until all ingredients are bubbling.
    • In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth, then add to the skillet and cook until the sauce is bubbly and thick.  Remove from heat.
    • Serve the Korean Ground Beef in a bowl over cooked rice, topped with green onions and sesame seeds.  Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 891mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg

    More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes

    • Ground Beef Tacos
    • Old-Fashioned Meatloaf
    • Easy Chili
    • Meatball Pasta Bake
    • Spicy Italian Meatballs
    • More Beef Dinner Recipes
    • More Easy Weeknight Meals

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Pinterest pin for Korean Ground Beef.

    This Korean Ground Beef, served over a bed of rice, is an easy 15 minute meal idea that the entire family will love. It's made with sweet and spicy ground beef that is simmered in a simple sauce made from brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and ginger.

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