Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Printable Version)

Savory gochujang beef over rice with fresh vegetables, kimchi, and sesame seeds

# What You Need:

→ For the Beef

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ For the Bowl

09 - 4 cups cooked short-grain rice (white or brown)
10 - 1 cup shelled edamame, cooked
11 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
13 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and ginger, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the beef evenly.
04 - Remove from heat and stir in half of the sliced green onions.
05 - Divide cooked rice evenly among 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned ground beef, edamame, cucumber slices, julienned carrot, and chopped kimchi.
06 - Sprinkle remaining green onions and toasted sesame seeds over each bowl. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent way more time cooking than you actually did, which is basically the dream.
  • Everything is customizable, so picky eaters and adventurous ones can build their own perfect bowl.
  • The gochujang sauce has enough depth that leftovers somehow taste even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't add the gochujang before the beef is browned or it'll burn and taste bitter—trust the order, it matters.
  • If your sauce looks too thick after cooking, a splash of water brings it back to glossy and pourable without diluting the flavor.
03 -
  • If gochujang tastes too intense, mix it with a bit of mayo or sour cream to mellow the heat while keeping the flavor intact.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes before using them—the flavor deepens and the smell alone will make people excited to eat.
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