Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Print Version)

Savory ground beef with gochujang served over rice with fresh vegetables and kimchi for a quick, flavorful meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Bowl Components

09 - 4 cups cooked short-grain rice
10 - 1 cup shelled edamame, cooked
11 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
13 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until completely browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and evenly coat the beef.
04 - Remove from heat and stir in half of the sliced green onions.
05 - Divide cooked rice equally among 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with the seasoned beef mixture, edamame, cucumber slices, julienned carrot, and chopped kimchi.
06 - Sprinkle each bowl with remaining green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than takeout, and you control exactly how much heat and umami you want in every bite.
  • The combination of textures and temperatures actually makes you slow down and taste each component instead of rushing through dinner.
  • One bowl feeds you completely, no sides needed, which means less cleanup and more time for what matters.
02 -
  • Don't skip mincing your garlic and ginger fresh, I learned this the hard way when I used pre-minced and the bowl tasted like the jar instead of like Korea.
  • If your gochujang seems too thick to stir in smoothly, loosen it with a teaspoon of water first, this prevents lumps and helps it distribute evenly.
03 -
  • Make the beef mixture ahead of time and reheat it gently when you're ready to eat, the flavors actually deepen after a day in the fridge.
  • Keep all your vegetables prepped and separated in containers, then assembly becomes a five-minute task even on your most exhausted days.
Go Back