Korean Bulgogi Rice Bowls

Flavorful ground beef infused with a sweet and savory Korean-inspired bulgogi sauce, served over quick-cooking rice with a crisp cucumber salad.
- Prep: 10 min
- Cook: 15 min
- Total: 25 min
- Servings: 6
- Cuisine: Korean
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: $3.15/serving
Dietary
- Dairy-Free
- Nut-Free
- Egg-Free
- High-Protein
Tags
- budget-friendly
- healthy
- quick
- savory
- stir-fry
Ingredients
- 1.5 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cup instant white rice
- 2.5 cup water
- 0.5 cup soy sauce
- 0.25 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 cucumber (medium, thinly sliced)
- 0.25 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- While the beef cooks, prepare the instant white rice according to package directions. Typically, this involves combining 2 cups instant white rice with 2 1/2 cups water in a saucepan, bringing it to a boil, then removing from heat, covering, and letting it stand for 5 minutes.
- For the bulgogi sauce, in a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 2 minced garlic cloves.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked ground beef and simmer for 3-5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the beef.
- Meanwhile, for the quick cucumber salad, combine 1 thinly sliced cucumber, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Toss gently.
- Serve the Korean bulgogi ground beef over the hot instant white rice, topped with a side of the quick cucumber salad.
Notes
For an extra garnish, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onions if desired.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 530
- Protein: 34.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fat: 20 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Sodium: 1250 mg
- Saturated Fat: 7.5 g
- Sugar: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg