Looking for a quick and easy Korean-inspired dish to satisfy your cravings? Look no further than this delicious and flavorful Ground Beef Bulgogi recipe.
This stir-fry dish is bursting with authentic Korean flavors and is made with a blend of savory and sweet sauces, garlic, onions, and tender ground beef.
Serve it with steamed rice and top it off with some sesame seeds and chopped green onions for a perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Whether you're a fan of Korean cuisine or just looking to try something new, this Ground Beef Bulgogi recipe will become a new favorite in your recipe collection.
Ingredients
Note: The full ingredients list is provided in the recipe card below.
For the Sauce:
- Hoisin Sauce: Adds a sweet and savory flavor to the sauce.
- Oyster Sauce: Adds a rich and savory flavor to the sauce.
- Shaoxing cooking wine, Mirin, or dry sherry: Adds a mild sweetness and depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Adds saltiness and depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Mushroom-flavored dark soy sauce: Adds a rich and deep umami flavor to the sauce.
- Light brown sugar or granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and balances out the salty and savory flavors of the sauce.
- Sesame oil: Adds a nutty and aromatic flavor to the sauce.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Add a bit of heat and spice to the sauce.
- Gochujang paste: Adds a slightly sweet and spicy flavor to the sauce.
For the Stir Fry:
- Extra virgin olive oil or canola oil: Used to stir-fry the ground beef and other ingredients in the pan.
- Garlic cloves, finely minced: Adds a strong and aromatic flavor to the dish.
- Onions, finely chopped or sliced: Add a sweet and savory flavor to the dish.
- Lean ground beef: The main protein in the dish.
- Green onions chopped: It Adds a fresh and slightly onion-like flavor to the dish.
- Thumb-sized fresh ginger, grated: Adds a spicy and slightly sweet flavor to the dish.
Garnishes:
- Sesame seeds: Add a nutty and crunchy texture to the dish.
How to Make Ground Beef Bulgogi
Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients and set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat to the center of the hot pan. Use a wooden spatula to break the meat into pieces. Let the meat brown without moving it for 4 to 5 minutes. Break the ground beef into smaller pieces with your spatula and continue cooking until the meat is cooked through. Add the garlic, minced ginger, and chopped onions and cook until tender.
Add sauce and cook the ground beef Bulgogi for 2 to 3 minutes or until the sauce has evaporated. Stir in the chopped green onions, then serve over rice, garnished with Ground Beef Bulgogi with more chopped green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. Enjoy!🥢😉
FAQ
Is Ground Beef Bulgogi Spicy?
The level of spiciness can be adjusted by varying the amount of red pepper flakes or Gochujang paste in the sauce. The recipe above includes 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon of Gochujang paste, which adds a mild to medium level of spiciness to the dish.
Can I make Ground Beef Bulgogi with ground pork or chicken instead of beef?
You can substitute ground beef with pork, chicken, or turkey.
Can I use regular soy sauce instead of low-sodium soy sauce?
You can use regular soy sauce, but remember that the dish may be too salty. If you use regular soy sauce, reduce the salt in the recipe to compensate.
Can I use a different type of oil for stir-frying?
You can use any neutral-tasting oil, such as vegetable or canola oil.
Can I use ground ginger instead of fresh ginger?
Fresh ginger is recommended for the best flavor, but you can use ground ginger if you still need fresh ginger on hand.
Related Recipes:
Recipe
Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon Hoisin Sauce
- 4 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing cooking wine , Mirin or
- dry sherry
- 4 ½ tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon mushroom-flavored dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon Gochujang paste
For the Stir Fry:
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or canola oil
- 5 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 2 onions , finely chopped or sliced
- 1000 g /2 lb lean ground beef
- ½ cup green onions , chopped
- 1 thumb-size fresh ginger , grated
Garnishes:
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients together and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat to the center of the hot pan. Use a wooden spatula to break the meat into pieces. Let the meat brown without moving it for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Break the ground beef into smaller pieces with your spatula and continue cooking until the meat is cooked through. Add the garlic, minced ginger, and chopped onions and cook until tender.
- Add Sauce and cook the Ground Beef Bulgogi for a further 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sauce has evaporated.
- Stir in the chopped green onions, then serve over rice, garnished Ground Beef Bulgogi with more chopped green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
Notes
If you want to make the entire dish ahead of time, you can cook the Ground Beef Bulgogi and store it in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to eat. When holding it in the refrigerator, let it cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container and refrigerating it for 3-4 days. When storing it in the freezer, let it cool down to room temperature before transferring it to a freezer-safe container and freezing it for 2-3 months. How to Freeze To freeze the Ground Beef Bulgogi, let it cool to room temperature before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. You can freeze or portion the entire dish into smaller containers for individual servings. To prevent freezer burn and ensure the best quality, remove as much air as possible from the container or bag before sealing it tightly. Label the container or bag with the dish's name and the date you froze it. When you're ready to use the frozen Ground Beef Bulgogi, transfer it to the fridge and let it thaw overnight. Alternatively, you can thaw it more quickly by placing the container or bag in a bowl of cold water. Once it's thawed, you can reheat it using the instructions in the previous answer. Note that frozen and thawed beef may have a slightly different texture than fresh beef, so the texture of the Ground Beef Bulgogi may change slightly after being frozen and thawed.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.