Korean Beef Bowl

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If you need a new recipe for your fast dinner rotation… here it is! This Korean beef bowl recipe checks all of the healthy dinner check boxes. It’s quick and easy to make (just 20 minutes!) and super flavorful, thanks to a mouthwatering sauce with garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, plus satisfying ground beef that gets a little crispy from the stir fry sauce. Then, it’s served over a bed of rice (in this case, cauliflower rice!) for a healthy meal.

Just like a burger in a bowl, simple egg roll in a bowl, and Asian chicken lettuce wraps, using ground beef helps this recipe come together fast. Many traditional Korean beef bowl recipes use added sugar, but this version is totally sugar-free!

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for a Korean ground beef bowl, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Cauliflower Rice:

• Olive Oil – For sauteing. Avocado oil, or any neutral, high-heat cooking oil, would work as well.
• Cauliflower – You can use frozen or fresh cauliflower to make the cauliflower rice. Or, use leftover cooked cauliflower rice if you have some.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

If you prefer to use regular rice for your Korean beef rice bowl, you can cook it using your favorite method and use that as the base instead of cooking cauliflower rice.

Beef & Stir Fry Sauce:

• Olive Oil – For sauteing.
• Ground Beef – I made this a Korean ground beef bowl, but you can really use any type of ground meat that you have or that is your favorite, including ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork. I used 85/15 ground beef, but you can also use 90/10 lean ground beef or 80/20 that’s higher in fat (you might have to drain it if using 80/20). Another option would be to use thinly sliced flank steak or skirt steak instead.
• Sea Salt
• Garlic – I used fresh garlic for the best flavor, but you can use 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for convenience.
• Coconut Aminos – Adds sweet and umami flavor to the sauce. This is a healthier soy sauce substitute, but feel free to use conventional low-sodium soy sauce instead.
• Beef Broth – Helps make the sauce. You can also use beef bone broth for an even richer sauce and more nutrition.
• Sesame Oil – Adds a nutty taste and aroma. I prefer toasted sesame oil, but regular also works.
• Ground Ginger – Ground ginger is convenient, but you can also use fresh if you have it. If you opt for fresh, use 1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger and saute it at the same time as the garlic.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – Red pepper flakes add a bit of heat, feel free to omit if you don’t like it spicy.

SAUCE VARIATION: Make the sauce sweeter!

If you like it sweet, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of sweetener to the sauce before adding it to the beef. You can use brown sugar (or a sugar-free brown sugar replacement), powdered sugar (or powdered sugar substitute), or even honey (or sugar-free honey) depending on the flavor you like and your dietary preferences.

Garnish:

• Green Onions – Adds a fresh flavor and an extra layer of texture.
• Sesame Seeds – A sprinkle of sesame seeds adds a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
• Cucumber – A sliced cucumber is totally optional, but I think it adds a delicious crunch to the dish. You can bulk up Korean beef bowls with veggies and add shredded carrots on top, too.

TOPPING VARIATION: Add a fried egg!

For an extra filling meal, finish the dish with a fried egg on top. Many versions of Korean beef bowls suggest a sunny side up egg, but cook yours however you like.

How To Make Korean Beef Bowls

This section shows how to make a healthy Korean beef bowl with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Cook the cauliflower rice. In a large wok (or large skillet) over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add cauliflower rice. Season with sea salt and black pepper, if desired. Saute until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.

TIP: Stir fry cauliflower rice over medium-high heat.

This ensures that it fries instead of steaming, reduces any cauliflower smell, and makes for a better flavor.

2. Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together coconut aminos, beef broth, sesame oil, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
3. Brown the beef. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook over medium-high heat, until browned.
4. Add garlic. Make a well in the beef and add the minced garlic. Saute until fragrant, then mix into the beef.
5. Add the sauce. Pour the sauce over the beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. After you add the Korean beef stir fry sauce to the pan, it will be liquid, but will thicken up and absorb into the meat if you simmer it for just a bit.

6. Assemble the Korean beef bowls. Divide the cauliflower rice among bowls. Top with ground beef. Garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and cucumber slices.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Store your Korean ground beef and rice bowl in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Meal prep: Ground beef recipes like this one are great for meal prep in advance! These glass meal prep containers are the perfect size.
• Reheat: When you’re ready to eat leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet, until hot.
• Freeze: If you want to freeze this easy Korean beef bowl, simply store the cauliflower rice and ground beef separately in the freezer for up to 4 months.

What To Serve With Korean Beef Bowls

This dish makes a one-pan meal, so you don’t have to make anything else for dinner. But if you want to add a little something, here are some great accompaniments to any Korean ground beef bowls meal:

• Vegetables – Veggies such as stir fry vegetables, fast sauteed broccoli, garlic roasted bok choy, or crispy roasted Brussels sprouts provide an extra layer of texture and flavor to your dinner.
• Asian Sides – Side dishes like sautéed mushrooms, pickled cucumbers (or smashed cucumber salad), or spicy kani salad perfectly balance the savory taste of this beef bowl.

More Healthy Asian Inspired Recipes

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4.88 from 118 votes

Korean Beef Bowl (Easy In 20 Minutes!)

You'll love this easy 20-minute Korean beef bowl recipe with ground beef, flavorful Asian sauce, cauliflower rice, cucumbers & green onions.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total: 20 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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Cauliflower Rice:

• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 lb Cauliflower (frozen or fresh riced in a food processor) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper (optional) ▢

Beef:

• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 lb Ground beef ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 4 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
• 1/4 cup Coconut aminos ▢
• 1/4 cup Beef broth ▢
• 2 tsp Sesame oil ▢
• 1/4 tsp Ground ginger ▢
• 1/4 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes ▢

Garnish:

• 1/4 cup Green onions (sliced) ▢
• 1 tsp Sesame seeds ▢
• 1 small Cucumber (~8 ounces, sliced, optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Heat 1 tablespoon (15 mL) olive oil in a large wok over medium-high heat. Add cauliflower rice. Season with sea salt and black pepper, if desired. Saute for 3-5 minutes, until cooked through.

2. Remove the cauliflower rice from heat, set aside, and cover to keep warm.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut aminos, beef broth, sesame oil, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes. Set the sauce aside.

4. Turn heat back to medium-high. Add another tablespoon (15 mL) olive oil to the wok. Add the ground beef and season with sea salt. Cook for about 8-10 minutes, breaking up with a spatula and stirring occasionally, until browned.

5. Make a well in the beef and add the minced garlic. Saute for about a minute, until fragrant, then mix into the beef.

6. Pour the sauce over the beef. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until the sauce is reduced and thickened. There won’t be much liquid left.

7. Divide the cauliflower rice among plates.Top with ground beef. Garnish with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and cucumber slices.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: ~1/3 cup ground beef + 1 cup cauliflower rice

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 381

Fat 26.5g

Protein 24.2g

Total Carbs 11.3g

Net Carbs 8.3g

Fiber 3g

Sugar 6g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Korean

Keywords: korean beef bowl, korean beef bowl recipe

Calories: 381 kcal

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