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Easy Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowl (Quick 20-Minute Recipe)

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Inspired by the global Korean food wave — made simple for home cooks.

A bowl of easy Korean ground beef bulgogi served over rice with scallions and sesame seeds, a quick 20-minute high-protein Korean dinner.

The Korean Wave Has Reached Your Kitchen

Walk through any major city today and you’ll see it everywhere: Korean fried chicken shops, shelves stocked with gochujang and kimchi, and TikTok videos of sizzling Korean BBQ going viral overnight. Korean cuisine has officially gone mainstream.

Here’s the best part: you don’t need a tabletop grill or decades of culinary tradition to enjoy authentic Korean flavor at home.

This Korean Beef Bulgogi Bowl brings all the sweet-savory magic of classic bulgogi into your kitchen with fast, accessible ingredients — perfect for weeknights.

The Story Behind Bulgogi

Bulgogi — literally “fire meat” — is a centuries-old Korean dish made from thinly sliced beef marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, and sugar, then grilled over flame.

Every Korean family has its own version of bulgogi, passed down and tweaked through generations. It’s celebratory food, comfort food, and everyday food — all at once.

This recipe honors that heritage while making it more practical by using ground beef.

Why This Recipe Works (and Why It’s Trending)

This easy bulgogi bowl captures everything people crave in 2025:

  • Weeknight-friendly: Big flavor with minimal steps
  • High-protein: Lean ground sirloin supports fullness and energy
  • Fast: Cooks in 15–20 minutes (plus marinating)
  • Authentic flavor: Classic Korean marinade meets modern convenience

 

Nutrition Spotlight

This bowl supports steady energy, fullness, and metabolic balance — perfect for long days, workouts, and nourishing weeknight dinners.

⭐ Protein (lean ground beef) – Supports muscle repair, boosts metabolism, improves satiety, and stabilizes post-meal blood sugar.

⭐ Pair with fiber – Add cucumbers, kimchi, or roasted veggies for gut health, digestion, and longer-lasting fullness.

⭐ Healthy fats (sesame oil + sesame seeds) – Enhance absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and add antioxidant-rich sesame lignans.

⭐ Low-GI balance – The combination of protein + healthy fats + veggies reduces blood sugar spikes and supports sustained energy.

⭐ Nutrient synergy – Beef, onions, and sesame oil work together to enhance digestion and deepen flavor through aromatic compounds.

 

So Easy to Make

Ingredients:

ground beef
soy sauce
sugar
rice wine
garlic
sesame oil
sesame seeds
black pepper
onion
scallions
rice

Toppings (optional):
fried egg
kimchi or cucumber salad
extra sesame seeds

 

Instructions:

Marinate the beef (30 minutes–2 hours)
Mix ground beef with soy sauce, sugar, rice wine, garlic, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and black pepper.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (2 hours → deeper flavor).

Cook the beef (5 minutes)
Heat a skillet over medium-high. Add beef (no oil needed).
Let it sear for 2–3 minutes before stirring, then cook until mostly browned.

Add the onion (3–4 minutes)
Stir in diced onions and cook until soft and translucent.
This step creates a glossy, sweet-savory bulgogi sauce.

Simmer & concentrate (2–3 minutes)
Reduce heat to medium-low. Let the sauce thicken and coat the beef.

Finish & serve
Stir in half the scallions.
Serve over warm rice with a fried egg, kimchi, or cucumbers.
Garnish with remaining scallions and sesame seeds.

 

Variations & Tips

Swap the beef → ground turkey or chicken for lighter calories

Add gochujang for spicy bulgogi

Serve in lettuce wraps for low-carb

Make bulgogi tacos with kimchi slaw for a fusion twist

 

✅ Marinate at least 30 minutes for best flavor

✅ Don’t overcrowd the pan — browning makes the flavor

✅ Let the beef sizzle before stirring

✅ Fresh scallions + sesame seeds are non-negotiable

Meal Prep & Storage

Refrigerate up to 4 days in an airtight container

Freezer-friendly up to 2 months

Reheats beautifully

Ideal for meal prep bowls with rice + veggies

Because YOU Matter 💚

Korean cooking beautifully blends nourishment and joy — and you deserve both.

This bulgogi bowl brings comforting flavor, steady energy, and a moment of joy to your table. So, marinate the beef, heat your skillet, and enjoy your own Korean comfort-food moment.

Your energy matters. Your happiness matters. YOU matter. 💚

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A bowl of easy Korean ground beef bulgogi served over rice with scallions and sesame seeds, a quick 20-minute high-protein Korean dinner.

Easy Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowl (Quick 20-Minute Recipe)

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  • Author: Coco Park
  • Total Time: 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Description

A quick, 20-minute Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowl made with a classic sweet-savory marinade, lean ground beef, and fresh scallions. High protein, full of authentic Korean flavor, and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (90/10 lean)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (or replace 1 tablespoon with honey)
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine (mirin)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • Scallions, chopped (for topping)
For serving: cooked rice, fried egg (optional), kimchi or cucumber salad, extra sesame seeds  

Instructions

1️⃣ Marinate the beef (30 minutes–2 hours)
Mix ground beef with soy sauce, sugar, rice wine, garlic, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and black pepper.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (2 hours → deeper flavor).

2️⃣ Cook the beef (5 minutes)
Heat a skillet over medium-high. Add beef (no oil needed).
Let it sear for 2–3 minutes before stirring, then cook until mostly browned.

3️⃣ Add the onion (3–4 minutes)
Stir in diced onions and cook until soft and translucent.
This step creates a glossy, sweet-savory bulgogi sauce.

4️⃣ Simmer & concentrate (2–3 minutes)
Reduce heat to medium-low. Let the sauce thicken and coat the beef.

5️⃣ Finish & serve
Stir in half the scallions.
Serve over warm rice with a fried egg, kimchi, or cucumbers.
Garnish with remaining scallions and sesame seeds.

 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 285 kcal
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 640 mg
  • Fat: 17 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 24 g
  • Cholesterol: 77 mg

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Picture of Haesung Park

Hi, my name is Coco

Creating delicious recipes for optimal energy is my passion and life's mission.

Life moves fast. You need simple, nutrient-dense recipes to keep your energy up. I’m so glad you’re here to explore delicious, wholesome meals with me!
ABOUT COCO
HEALTH BENEFITS
BH
Brain Health
DF
Dairy Free
GF
Gluten Free
GH
Gut Health
HF
High Fiber
HP
High Protien
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Low Carb
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Vegeterian

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