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Korean Beef Bowls
4.8 from 93 votes

Korean Beef Bowls

Korean Beef Bowls feature ground beef cooked with a sauce made from honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, and ginger, served over rice. The meat is browned with garlic, green onions, and optional red pepper flakes for heat, then simmered briefly in the sweet-savory sauce. Toppings like toasted peanuts and sesame seeds add crunch and flavor contrast.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp dark brown sugar (light can be substituted)
  • 1 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp lime juice fresh
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 18 oz. ground beef 85% lean
  • 1/3 cup green onions white and light portion, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp garlic minced, fresh
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger peeled and minced
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water (optional)
  • green onion chopped green portion (green onions), chopped (peanuts), toasted (sesame seeds
  • unsalted peanuts
  • sesame seeds
  • 2 cups white rice or more as desired, cooked, or brown rice, or cauliflower "rice"

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a small mixing bowl whisk together honey, brown sugar, sesame oil, lime juice, soy sauce and water. Set aside.
  2. Preheat a 12-inch non-stick skillet over moderately high heat. Crumble beef into 1-inch chunks. Add oil to skillet and beef chunks (while leaving some space between them so they brown and don't steam).
  3. Let beef cook undisturbed for 2 1/2 - 3 minutes until nicely browned on bottom. Sprinkle in green onions (white/light portion), garlic, ginger and optional red pepper flakes.
  4. Toss and break up beef and continue to cook until beef if fully browned and cooked through, about 2 - 3 minutes longer. If there's excess fat you can dab some if up using a few balled up paper towels held by tongs.
  5. Pour in honey mixture and reduce heat to medium. If you want the sauce thickened add cornstarch/water mixture at this point. Simmer beef with sauce, stirring frequently for about 1 minute. Taste for more soy sauce or a little salt if needed.
  6. Serve warm over rice, sprinkle with green onions greens, peanuts or toasted sesame seeds. 

Notes

  • You can use 3 tablespoons of either honey or brown sugar alone as the sweetener instead of both combined.
  • The nutrition information accounts for the beef and rice only, excluding toppings and sides.