If you need a dinner that is fast, inexpensive, and a little different from the usual ground beef rotation, these Korean-Inspired Ground Beef Bowls are such a good one.
The ground beef cooks in a sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, garlic, and a little sesame oil. Then everything gets piled over warm rice with crunchy cucumber, shredded carrots, and green onions.
It’s simple, flavorful, and comes together in about 20 minutes, which makes it perfect for a busy weeknight.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These bowls are:
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Made with inexpensive ground beef
- Easy to customize
- Sweet and savory without being spicy
- Great for using pantry staples
- Family-friendly
- Perfect for meal prep or leftovers
I also love that the rice and vegetables help stretch just 1 pound of ground beef into a full family dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil, optional
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 2 green onions, sliced
How to Make Korean-Inspired Ground Beef Bowls
1. Cook the Rice
Prepare enough rice to make 3 cups cooked rice according to the package directions.
Keep it warm while you make the beef.
2. Brown the Ground Beef
Add 1 pound ground beef to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook for about 5–7 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks.
Once the beef is browned and cooked through, drain any excess grease if needed.
3. Add the Garlic
Add 3 cloves minced garlic to the skillet.
Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, just until fragrant.
4. Make the Sauce
In a small bowl, stir together:
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil, if using
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, if using
Pour the sauce over the cooked beef.
5. Finish the Beef
Reduce the heat to medium and cook for another 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the beef is coated and the sauce has slightly thickened.
6. Build the Bowls
Divide the 3 cups cooked rice between bowls.
Top with the Korean-inspired ground beef, sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, and green onions.
Serve warm.
Is This Recipe Spicy?
Not unless you want it to be.
The crushed red pepper flakes are completely optional, so you can leave them out for a mild, family-friendly dinner.
If anyone wants extra heat, add sriracha, chili crisp, or red pepper flakes to individual bowls.
Can I Leave Out the Sesame Oil?
Absolutely.
Sesame oil adds a little extra flavor, but the recipe will still taste good without it.
If you don’t already have sesame oil in the pantry and you’re trying to keep the grocery bill down, I wouldn’t buy a whole bottle just for this dinner.
Easy Ingredient Swaps
No cucumber? Skip it or use another crunchy vegetable.
No shredded carrots? Thinly slice or grate whole carrots.
Want more vegetables? Add steamed broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, or cabbage.
Want to stretch the beef further? Add extra rice and vegetables or stir a little finely chopped cabbage into the beef.
Don’t have ground beef? Ground turkey or ground chicken can work too.
Budget-Friendly Tips
This is one of my favorite types of dinner for stretching a package of ground beef.
Instead of needing two pounds of meat for the family, we’re using 1 pound of beef and turning it into a filling meal with inexpensive rice and vegetables.
Store-brand soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice all work perfectly here, too.
And if you’re following one of my weekly dinner plans, ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, rice, carrots, and green onions can easily be used in another meal later in the week.
What to Serve with Korean-Inspired Ground Beef Bowls
These bowls already make a pretty complete dinner, but you could also serve them with:
- Steamed broccoli
- Edamame
- Dumplings
- Egg rolls
- Roasted green beans
- Extra cucumber and carrots
- A simple cabbage slaw
Can I Make These Ahead?
Yes!
The beef mixture reheats really well, which makes this a good option for meal prep.
Store the cooked beef and rice in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator and keep the fresh vegetables separate until you’re ready to serve.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat the beef and rice until hot, then add the cucumber, carrots, and green onions after reheating so they stay fresh and crunchy.
Korean-Inspired Ground Beef Bowls
Description
These easy Korean-inspired ground beef bowls are made with a sweet and savory beef mixture, rice, cucumber, and carrots for a quick and budget-friendly family dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Cook enough rice to make 3 cups cooked rice according to package directions.
-
Brown 1 lb ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
-
Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for about 30 seconds.
-
Stir together ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp optional sesame oil, ½ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp optional red pepper flakes.
-
Pour the sauce over the beef and cook over medium heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently.
-
Divide 3 cups cooked rice between bowls.
-
Top with the beef mixture, 1 sliced cucumber, 1 cup shredded carrots, and 2 sliced green onions.
Note
Budget-Friendly Tips
This is one of my favorite types of dinner for stretching a package of ground beef.
Instead of needing two pounds of meat for the family, we’re using 1 pound of beef and turning it into a filling meal with inexpensive rice and vegetables.
Store-brand soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice all work perfectly here, too.
And if you’re following one of my weekly dinner plans, ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, rice, carrots, and green onions can easily be used in another meal later in the week.
What is the sauce over the beef in the picture? Thanks!
Hi! I used a Sriracha Aioli here. If you don’t have that on hand you can mix 1 cup mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons sriracha 🩷
What is the creamy looking sauce you are drizzling over it, Siracha aoli?
You got it! It’s a Sriracha aioli I found at a little shop in Galena, IL. If you don’t have any on hand, it can be easily made by mixing Sriracha and mayo which is exactly what I’ll be doing once I run out! Lol
Great! Thank you Taylor!
You’re so welcome! 🙂