Super flavorful and simple to toss together, Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice is a staple weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
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. A garlicky, sesame oily, soy saucy mixture with a tinge of ginger and red pepper flakes flavors the beef to absolute perfection -- it's got all those tangy, robust tastes that you crave in Korean takeout. And! It comes together in 20 minutes (!), which is, like, way less time than it takes to call, order, and wait for food delivery. Next time you're in a pinch for an incredible and quick dinner -- this is your recipe.
How do you cook hamburger meat on the stove (aka ground beef)?
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-high heat, and add the beef to a pan. You can let it brown really nicely before starting to mix and crumble it. The solid crust it gets will bring out the flavor more and enhance the texture when it's all done cooking. Once it has that nice browned bottom, crumble it with a firm spatula or wooden spoon into small bits to let it cook down. Cook until there's no more pink in the meat and it's crumbled well, about 10 minutes.
Do you need oil to cook ground beef?
Ground beef is slightly heavier and more fatty than other types of meat, like ground chicken or turkey, so you may not need to oil the skillet before cooking. However, this recipe calls for lean ground beef, so a tablespoon of olive oil might be helpful to reduce sticking while you cook it.
What's a good substitute for soy sauce?
Soy sauce has a really great, salty, unique flavor, but if you're reducing soy in your diet, 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!).
Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
Description
Super flavorful and simple to toss together, Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice is a staple weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ 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.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: dinner
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground beef, rice bowl, 30 minute meal, dinner, easy dinner
Complete the meal with some of these sides:
- How to Cook Asparagus on the Stovetop
- Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower
- Zucchini and Fresh Corn Succotash
- Zucchini Side Dish
- Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad
- Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
- Easy Roasted Chickpeas
Other Ground Beef Recipe you'll love:
- Homemade Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Ground Beef Enchiladas
- Bop's Favorite Meatloaf Recipe
- Easy Homemade Meatballs Recipe
- Shepherd's Pie
- Easy Slow Cooker Chili
- Easy Taco Zucchini Boats
- Creamy Taco Pasta Salad
Super flavorful and simple to toss together, 15 minute Korean Beef and Rice Bowls are a staple weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Chris
Easy and tasty. Whole family said I can make this again…and they’re a bit fussy.
★★★★★
deb c
It hit the spot once again.....this is soooooooooo good!
★★★★★
deb c }i{
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!!!!
★★★★★