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Tasty Korean Beef Bowl

Featured in Quick Dishes For When You're Already Hungry.

A simple take on bulgogi, using seasoned ground beef and a sweet-savory sauce. Add a soft-boiled egg for a quick meal ready in 25 minutes.

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Clare Recipes
Updated on Fri, 21 Mar 2025 03:09:36 GMT
A rice bowl topped with savory beef, green onions, sesame, and halved soft-boiled eggs on the side. Pin it
A rice bowl topped with savory beef, green onions, sesame, and halved soft-boiled eggs on the side. | lilicooks.com

My family fell in love with this Ground Beef Bulgogi right away. Using ground beef instead of sliced meat helps me bring those amazing Korean flavors to our table in under 20 minutes. There's something magical about the mix of sweet-savory sauce and that runny egg yolk that makes every mouthful delicious.

Quick But Impressive

This streamlined take packs all the signature bulgogi taste while being super fast to throw together. When the flavorful sauce wraps around each bit of beef and the soft egg yolk mixes in, it creates an unbelievably good coating for your rice.

What You'll Need

  • Ground Beef: 1 pound at room temp for better cooking, preferably lean.
  • Bulgogi Sauce: Soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic minced up - giving you that perfect sweet-savory combo.
  • Scallions: Cut up fine to sprinkle on top for a fresh kick.
  • Sesame Seeds: Lightly toasted to add a nice nutty crunch.
  • Eggs: Gently boiled so they're soft inside, then cooled and peeled carefully.
  • Rice: Hot and fresh as the foundation for everything else.

Let's Cook

Build Your Bowl
Put everything on steaming rice and let the egg yolk work its magic.
Perfect Those Eggs
Cook them just enough to keep that golden runny center.
Add Flavor
Pour the tasty sauce in and let it all bubble together.
Cook Your Beef
Get it nice and brown, breaking it into tiny bits as you go.
Start with the Sauce
Stir everything until all the sugar melts away.

Egg Perfection

Getting those eggs just right comes down to good timing and the right temp. I've found that eggs that aren't super fresh actually work better for peeling. Don't skip dunking them in ice water after cooking if you want that yolk to stay perfectly runny.

A bowl of seasoned ground meat topped with green onions and sesame seeds, served with rice and two soft-boiled eggs. Pin it
A bowl of seasoned ground meat topped with green onions and sesame seeds, served with rice and two soft-boiled eggs. | lilicooks.com

Keep It Fresh

This bulgogi warms up wonderfully for grab-and-go lunches during your busy week. Just make sure to keep the meat separate from your rice and eggs. When lunchtime comes around, heat it up slowly so the meat stays nice and juicy.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can the sauce be prepped earlier?

Absolutely, make the sauce up to a week ahead and keep it in the fridge. Just give it a good shake before using.

→ Tips for perfect soft eggs?

Boil for exactly 6 minutes, then plunge into ice water. This keeps the yolk runny and whites firm.

→ What side dishes go with this?

Pair it with steamed or pickled veggies, kimchi, or just plain white rice for a complete meal.

→ Can I swap out the beef?

Totally! Ground turkey or chicken work beautifully since the sauce is so flavorful.

→ Is this dish spicy?

Not at all. If you like spice, add a pinch of gochugaru or a drizzle of sriracha.

Conclusion

Enjoy this quick and savory Korean-style beef dish that’s perfect for weeknights. Ground beef in a flavorful sauce comes together fast, making a delicious dinner served over rice in under half an hour.

Quick Korean Beef Bowl

Ground beef cooked in a sweet and rich sauce, finished with green onions, sesame seeds, and a soft-boiled egg. Served over fluffy rice.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
25 Minutes
By: Lily Chen

Category: 30-Minute Miracles

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (4 bowls)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 ½ small yellow onion, chopped.
02 1 teaspoon sesame seeds.
03 1 tablespoon scallion, sliced.
04 1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped.
05 1 teaspoon ginger, grated.
06 3 tablespoons brown sugar.
07 ½ cup soy sauce.
08 2 teaspoons sesame oil.
09 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar.
10 1 pound ground beef.
11 4 big eggs for soft boiling.

Instructions

Step 01

Stir together brown sugar, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, oil, and vinegar until smooth.

Step 02

Sauté beef and onion in a pan—give it about 5 minutes to lose that touch of pink.

Step 03

Pour the sauce over the cooked beef mixture, then let it all bubble together for 6-10 minutes.

Step 04

Let your eggs simmer for exactly 6 minutes, then dunk them in cold water and gently peel the shells.

Step 05

Layer the beef mix on top of rice, and finish with eggs, sesame seeds, and scallions.

Notes

  1. You can prep the sauce ahead of time.
  2. Don’t skip the cold water bath for eggs—it’s key to easy peeling.
  3. Tastes best when served with rice.

Tools You'll Need

  • Big frying pan.
  • Pot for boiling eggs.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains soy.
  • Contains eggs.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 340
  • Total Fat: 22 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 8 g
  • Protein: 28 g