Description
This Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi recipe offers a quick and flavorful take on the classic Korean dish, featuring tender ground beef simmered in a savory-sweet bulgogi sauce made from soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and aromatic garlic and green onions. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it can be served over rice, wrapped in lettuce, or enjoyed bowl style with vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
Bulgogi Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- ½ cup chopped green onions (plus more for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the bulgogi sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and black pepper in a bowl. In a small separate container, mix cornstarch with water to form a slurry, then whisk this slurry into the bulgogi sauce. Stir in minced garlic and chopped green onions until well combined.
- Brown the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks, until it is fully browned and cooked through.
- Drain excess liquid: Remove the beef from heat and carefully drain any excess liquid or fat from the skillet to prevent sogginess, then return the beef to the pan on the stovetop.
- Simmer with bulgogi sauce: Pour the prepared bulgogi sauce over the cooked beef and stir to coat evenly. Allow it to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and clings to the meat.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Garnish the bulgogi with additional chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve the dish hot over steamed rice, wrapped in lettuce leaves, or bowl style with cabbage or other vegetables of choice.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and draining needs.
- Adjust brown sugar amount to taste for a sweeter or less sweet sauce.
- Serve immediately for best texture; leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
- Try adding sliced mushrooms or shredded carrots to the beef while cooking for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
Keywords: Ground Beef Bulgogi, Korean Beef Recipe, Easy Bulgogi, Quick Korean Dinner, Stovetop Bulgogi, Soy Sauce Beef
