20-Minute Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowls

These Korean-inspired ground beef rice bowls are sweet, savory, flavorful and incredibly easy to make.

It’s a 20-minute dinner that tastes like you spent way more time on it. Pile it over jasmine rice with cucumber, carrots and a drizzle of spicy mayo.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in about 20 minutes
• Takeout flavor at home
• Fresh, crunchy veggies in every bite
• Easy to make mild for kids

What You’ll Need

• Lean ground beef: 1 pound.
• Low-sodium soy sauce: 3 tablespoons.
• Brown sugar: 2 tablespoons for the sweet side of the sauce.
• Sesame oil: 1 tablespoon.
• Garlic and fresh ginger: 3 cloves minced garlic and 1 teaspoon grated ginger.
• Crushed red pepper flakes: ½ teaspoon, optional.
• For serving: Cooked jasmine rice, sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, green onions and sesame seeds.
• Spicy mayo (optional): Mayonnaise, sriracha, soy sauce and honey.

How to Make Korean Ground Beef Bowls

Step 1: Brown the beef

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease if needed.

Step 2: Add garlic and ginger

Add the garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds.

Step 3: Add the sauce

Whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. Pour it over the beef and simmer for 2–3 minutes.

Step 4: Make the spicy mayo

Mix together the mayo, sriracha, soy sauce and honey, if using.

Step 5: Build the bowls

Serve the beef over rice with cucumber and shredded carrots. Drizzle with spicy mayo and finish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Busy Mom Tips

• Use lean ground beef and add extra veggies to keep it filling without making it heavy.
• Skip the red pepper flakes and sriracha mayo for a kid-friendly version.
• Approximate macros per serving, including spicy mayo: 650 calories, 32g protein, 76g carbs, 25g fat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make Korean beef bowls kid-friendly?

Skip the red pepper flakes and the sriracha mayo. The sweet-savory beef is still full of flavor.

Can I use ground turkey?

Yes. Ground turkey works the same way, though lean ground beef is what this recipe was made with.

Can I meal prep these bowls?

Yes. Store the beef and rice together and keep the fresh veggies and spicy mayo separate until you’re ready to eat.

How to Store and Reheat

Refrigerate the beef and rice in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Reheat, then add fresh cucumber and carrots.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• One-Pan Cheesy Chicken and Rice
• Easy Ranch Chicken and Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
• Easy 5-Ingredient White Chicken Chili

Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowls

These Korean-inspired Ground Beef Rice Bowls are sweet, savory, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. A 20-minute dinner that tastes like you spent way more time on it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional

For serving:

• 4 cups cooked jasmine rice
• 1 cucumber thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• Green onions
• Sesame seeds

Optional spicy mayo:

• 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp sriracha
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp honey

Method

 

Directions

1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease if needed.
2. Add garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
4. Pour sauce over the beef and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
5. Mix together the spicy mayo ingredients, if using.
6. Serve beef over rice with cucumber and shredded carrots.
7. Drizzle with spicy mayo and finish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

HBM Tip: Use lean ground beef and serve with extra veggies to keep this bowl filling without making it heavy.

Approximate macros per serving, including spicy mayo:
650 calories | 32g protein | 76g carbs | 25g fat