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–+ servings
A bowl of white rice topped with cooked ground beef, sliced green onions, julienned carrots, and sliced cucumbers, placed on a white surface with a beige and white cloth in the background.
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5 from 2 votes

Easy Korean Ground Beef Bowls (20-Minute Family Dinner)

These Korean ground beef bowls come together in 20 minutes with a savory soy and sesame sauce, served over seasoned rice with fresh carrots, cucumbers, and green onions.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: bowls, weeknight meals
Servings: 4
Author: Lyuda @ Grace-Filled Kitchen

Equipment

  • Skillet

Ingredients

For the Korean Beef:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon freshly minced ginger or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup beef bone broth optional, but will make it extra saucy
  • 1 tbsp corn starch
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional

For Serving:

  • 2 cups cooked rice fluffed with 1 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 carrot julienned or just use pre-shredded carrots
  • 2 small cucumbers sliced into half-moons
  • 1 avocado diced
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

Cook the beef

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 3–5 minutes, breaking it up as it browns. Drain any excess fat if needed.

Make the sauce

  • While the beef is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using).

Add the sauce

  • Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked beef and stir to combine. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes, until heated through and slightly thickened.

Assemble and serve

  • Divide the rice evenly among four bowls. Top with the Korean beef, then add the julienned carrots, sliced cucumbers, and diced avocado. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • Whisk the sauce while the beef cooks so everything is ready at the same time.
  • Pre-shredded carrots save prep time and work just as well as julienned.
  • The sesame oil and soy sauce stirred into the rice before serving makes a noticeable difference. Don't skip it.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and are excellent for meal prep throughout the week.