Name: Korean Beef and Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 works beautifully); 3 garlic cloves, minced (fresh is best for that punch of flavor); 1 tablespoon sesame oil (this is the secret ingredient—don’t skip it!); ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark both work); ¼ cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended so you can control the salt); ¼ teaspoon ground ginger (or use 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger); Salt and pepper, to taste; ½–1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (start with less if you’re not sure about spice); 2 cups cooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine all work); 1 bunch green onions, diced

Description

This Easy Korean Beef and Rice recipe is a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner made with ground beef, brown sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. It’s sweet, savory, and ready in just 20 minutes. Serve it over rice with green onions for a comforting, family-friendly meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

For the Korean Beef:

1 lb lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10 works beautifully)
3 garlic cloves, minced (fresh is best for that punch of flavor)
1 tablespoon sesame oil (this is the secret ingredient—don’t skip it!)
½ cup brown sugar (light or dark both work)
¼ cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended so you can control the salt)
¼ teaspoon ground ginger (or use 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger)
Salt and pepper, to taste
½–1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (start with less if you’re not sure about spice)

For Serving:

2 cups cooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine all work)
1 bunch green onions, diced

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat the Skillet and Add Sesame Oil

Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the sesame oil. Let it warm up for about 30 seconds—you’ll start to smell that gorgeous, nutty aroma. This is your flavor base, so don’t rush it.

Step 2: Brown the Beef and Garlic

Add the ground beef and minced garlic to the skillet. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break the beef into small, bite-sized crumbles as it cooks.

Stir occasionally and cook until the beef is fully browned with no pink remaining, about 5–7 minutes. The garlic will become fragrant and golden—that’s exactly what you want.

Step 3: Drain the Excess Fat

Once the beef is cooked through, carefully drain off most of the excess fat from the skillet. You can tilt the pan and use a spoon to scoop it out, or blot it with paper towels.

This step keeps your sauce from getting greasy and helps the sweet-savory glaze really shine.

Step 4: Add the Sauce Ingredients

Return the skillet to the heat and add the brown sugar, soy sauce, ground ginger, a pinch of salt and pepper, and the crushed red pepper flakes.

Stir everything together until the brown sugar dissolves into the sauce and coats the beef. Let it simmer gently for 3–4 minutes so all those flavors can meld together and the sauce thickens slightly. You’ll see it become glossy and gorgeous.

Step 5: Serve Over Rice and Garnish

Spoon the warm, seasoned beef over bowls of cooked rice. Top generously with the diced green onions for a pop of color and freshness.

Notes

Use cold rice if you have leftovers — it actually works even better because it’s less sticky and soaks up the sauce beautifully
Don’t overcrowd the pan — if your skillet is small, cook the beef in two batches so it browns instead of steams
Add veggies for extra nutrition — toss in shredded carrots, snap peas, or broccoli florets during the last few minutes of cooking
Double the sauce if you love it saucy — just keep the ratios the same (double everything)
Make it less sweet — cut the brown sugar down to ⅓ cup if you prefer a more savory profile

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Korean