Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Printable)

Savory ground beef with gochujang, fresh vegetables, and kimchi over rice

# Components:

→ Beef Seasoning

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

→ Bowl Assembly

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

# Method:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one skillet and less than half an hour, perfect for nights when youre too tired to think but still want real flavor.
  • The balance of spicy, sweet, tangy, and crunchy makes every bite feel complete and satisfying without needing a side dish.
  • You can swap proteins or pile on whatever vegetables are sitting in your fridge, and it still turns out vibrant and delicious.
02 -
  • Gochujang brands vary wildly in heat level, so taste a tiny bit before you add it and adjust the amount if youre sensitive to spice or feeding kids.
  • If you add the sesame seeds too early, they lose their crunch, so always sprinkle them on at the very end right before serving.
  • Let the beef rest in the skillet for a minute after you add the sauce so it has time to absorb all that flavor instead of just sitting in liquid.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for a minute before sprinkling them on, it brings out a deeper nutty flavor that store-bought toasted seeds sometimes lack.
  • If your kimchi is too sour, rinse it lightly under cold water and pat it dry, it tames the funk without losing the tangy crunch.
  • Use a rice cooker if you have one, because perfectly fluffy short-grain rice is the foundation of this bowl and worth the small investment.
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