Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
on Jun 07, 2019, Updated Apr 26, 2024
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Super flavorful and simple to toss together, Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice is a staple weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
You know those nights where you’re so tired or cranky or hungry (or maybe the dreaded combination of all three) that all you want to do is call for takeout? I know those nights well, but we live far, far away from any great takeout, so I’ve had to improvise with this Korean beef recipe, and you guys, I think it might even be BETTER than takeout.
I know that’s a big promise, but hear me out, it’s got all those tangy, robust tastes that you crave in Korean Beef. The best part is it comes together in 20 minutes ,which is way less time than waiting for food delivery! Try pairing it with some yummy Instant Pot Brown Rice , or some Roasted Spring Vegetables .Next time you’re in a pinch for an incredible and quick dinner — this is your recipe.
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe:
- So quick! Twenty minutes!
- Delicious and a hit with the family
- Easy ingredients that you probably already have on hand
- Flexible and can be served in a variety of ways
Ingredients:
- Ground beef– the main ingredient
- Green Onion– adds so much flavor and texture
- Garlic– adds the flavor we all love
- Soy Sauce- adds the distict salty taste
- Sesame Oil- Brings the whole dish together
- Ginger and Red Pepper Flakes– Adds a kick of spice and flavor
- Rice– You can choose what kind!
- Sesame Seeds– For a subtle flavor and a little crunch
- Brown Sugar- marries well with the spice of the ginger and red pepper flakes
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ground beef is one of the easiest meats to cook on the stovetop. It’s nearly impossible to mess up! Turn your stove to medium to high heat, add the beef to a pan, and let it cook. Crumble it up and stir around as it browns with a firm spatula or wooden spoon. Cook until theres no more pink.
Ground beef is slightly heavier and more fatty than other types of meat, like ground chicken. Because of that, you may not need the oil in the skillet before cooking. However, this recipe for Korean Ground Beef calls for lean ground beef, so a tablespoon of olive oil might be helpful to reduce sticking while you cook it.
Soy sauce has a really great, salty, unique flavor. If you’d like to substitute it, coconut aminos are an awesome alternative to soy sauce. Coconut aminos can be found in the same section as soy sauce at the store and has a pretty similar flavor, although slightly sweeter (which is actually perfect for this recipe!)
More Beef Recipes to Consider:
Slow Cooker & Crock Pot
Mississippi Pot Roast
Easy Dinners
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Soups, Stews, & Chowders
Wendy’s Chili Recipe
Quick Dinner Ideas
Cheesy Gordita Crunch
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce, (use gluten free if needed)
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cups hot cooked rice
- Sliced green onion
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef. It’s okay to let it sit and brown really well before stirring it — the brown will make more flavor!
- When the beef is almost cooked through add the garlic. Cook until the ground beef is is no longer pink.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Add the sauce mixture to the ground beef, and cook for another minute.
- Remove the skillet from the stove. Serve the beef over hot cooked rice with chopped green onion and sesame seeds as garnish.
- This is a great dish to add some stir-fried vegetables to.
Easy and tasty. Whole family said I can make this again…and they’re a bit fussy.
It hit the spot once again…..this is soooooooooo good!
Perfect timing for this recipe! I didn’t know what to make tonight and I had all the ingredients on hand. Oh this one is a keeper! Its a quickie and a great way to cook with hamburger! I’m always looking for different flavored hamburger meals and now I have this one. I doubled the sauce because he thinks all things on rice should have more sauce or gravy. He gave it 5 stars too! You are awesome! Thanks for this!!!!