Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi
This Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi is a quick, weeknight-friendly take on classic Korean-style bulgogi, made with ground beef, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, all served over warm rice with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp neutral cooking oil (such as canola or vegetable oil)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups cooked white rice, for serving
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, packed light brown sugar, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, toasted sesame oil, crushed red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Set the bulgogi sauce aside.
- Heat the neutral cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
- Add the lean ground beef to the hot skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the beef is no longer pink and is starting to brown in spots.
- Drain off any excess fat from the skillet if necessary, then return the skillet with the cooked ground beef to the stove over medium heat.
- Pour the reserved bulgogi sauce over the cooked ground beef and stir well to coat all of the meat evenly.
- Let the beef simmer in the sauce for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and clings to the ground beef.
- Taste the Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi and adjust the seasoning with a little more freshly ground black pepper if desired.
- To serve, spoon the Easy Ground Beef Bulgogi over bowls of warm cooked white rice.
- Top each serving with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds before serving.