Ground Beef Bulgogi

Korean Beef made with ground beef in a black bowl with sprinkles of gochugaru.

This easy Ground Beef Bulgogi is a quick, flavor-packed dinner perfect for busy weeknights. Made with simple ingredients, it delivers bold Korean-inspired flavor in under 30 minutes. Whether you're meal prepping or just need a fast, satisfying dinner, this sweet and savory beef is a go-to favorite.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American/Asian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Servings servings

Calories 518kcal

Author Heather

Ingredients

1 tablespoon cooking oil *I used avocado oil
1 1/3 pound ground beef *15-20% fat, 1 pound works well also
1 medium brown onion *about 1 1/2 cups chopped
8 garlic cloves *about 4 tablespoons crushed or minced, see Note #1 below
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger *see Note #2 below
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 small apple *seeds removed and chopped, see Note #3 below
1 cup chopped green onions *plus more for garnish

Optional Toppings

chopped green onions
sesame seeds
4 soft boiled eggs
microgreens
kimchi
gochugaru
drizzle toasted sesame oil

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Instructions

In a blender, combine the chopped apple, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
In a large bowl, add the ground beef, chopped brown onion, and crushed garlic. Pour the blended sauce over the top and stir everything together until well mixed.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once hot, add the beef mixture. Cook, stirring often, until most of the moisture evaporates and the beef starts to brown and sizzle, about 10 to 12 minutes. See Note #4 below.
Stir in the chopped green onions and turn off the heat. Serve over rice and garnish with your favorite toppings.

Notes

Note #1- Don’t skimp on the garlic. It’s what gives bulgogi its depth. It mellows as it cooks, balancing the soy sauce and sesame oil while enriching the beef.

Note #2- Ground ginger is a convenient, time-saving choice. For a brighter flavor, swap ground ginger for 2-3 teaspoons fresh grated ginger.

Note #3- Traditionally, Bulgogi uses Asian pear (or plum extract) for natural sweetness. Apple is an easy substitute and delivers the same effect but with an everyday ingredient. Fuji, gala or honeycrisp are the best choices for balancing flavor and texture.

Note #4- It’s normal for the beef to release liquid at first. Keep cooking and the liquid will reduce and the beef will caramelize.

Nutrition