Description
This Korean Ground Beef Bowl recipe is a quick and flavorful meal that combines savory, sweet, and spicy elements in just 15 minutes. Ground beef is cooked and simmered in a soy-based sauce with garlic, ginger, and sriracha, then served over rice with fresh cucumbers, optional kimchi, and a tangy spicy mayo drizzle. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner packed with Korean-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 fat)
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Spicy Mayo
- ¼ cup kewpie mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce (or more to taste)
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
To Serve
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 Persian cucumbers (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup kimchi (optional)
- 3 green onions (thinly sliced)
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, grated ginger, and minced garlic until smooth and well combined.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 3 to 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat by blotting with a paper towel.
- Simmer with Sauce: Stir the prepared sauce into the browned beef. Allow it to simmer gently over the heat until the sauce is heated through, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and sprinkle in some of the sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.
- Make Spicy Mayo: In a separate small bowl, combine the kewpie mayonnaise, additional sriracha, and lime juice. Mix well until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Bowls: Divide the cooked rice into serving bowls. Top with the Korean ground beef, sliced Persian cucumbers, kimchi if using, and garnish with remaining green onions and sesame seeds. Drizzle generously with the prepared spicy mayo. Optionally, you can add quick-pickled carrots, daikon, Korean carrot salad, cucumber salad, or spicy cucumber salad for variation.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of sriracha to make the dish more or less spicy according to your preference.
- For a lighter version, use lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey.
- Kewpie mayonnaise adds a creamy, tangy flavor but can be replaced with regular mayo if unavailable.
- Kimchi is optional but adds an authentic Korean flavor and a probiotic boost.
- Be sure to drain excess fat after cooking the beef to avoid a greasy bowl.
- This dish pairs well with quick-pickled vegetables or a simple cucumber salad for added texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
Keywords: Korean ground beef, quick Korean recipe, spicy beef bowl, 15-minute dinner, easy weeknight meal
