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    Home » Meat Recipes » Easy Korean Beef

    Easy Korean Beef

    Last updated: May 10, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    This truly easy recipe for Korean beef is ready in just 30 minutes, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.

    There's no need to marinate the beef! Simply stir-fry, add the tasty sauce and serve.

    Korean beef served in a white bowl with chopsticks.

    I love the flavors of Korean cooking and make this recipe quite often, but not just because it's so tasty. It's also a truly easy recipe, one of the easiest and quickest in my repertoire. (Another good one, and a variation on this recipe, is Korean ground beef).

    I have several stir-fry recipes on this website (this steak stir fry is excellent), but most require prepping vegetables, which is fairly time-consuming. When pressed for time, I really appreciate how easy and quick this recipe is.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this Korean beef recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

    Soy sauce: I use reduced-sodium soy sauce in most of my recipes. Obviously, you can use a gluten-free alternative.

    Honey: Adds just a touch of sweetness. Even with the honey, a serving of this recipe only has 9 grams of carbs. But you can try using a sugar-free alternative if you wish.

    Cornstarch: Helps to thicken the sauce without adding too many carbs, since I only use 1 tablespoon.

    Spices: Crushed red peppers, garlic, and ginger.

    Avocado oil: I like using this neutral-tasting cooking oil that has a high smoke point.

    Top sirloin: You can splurge and use beef tenderloin, which is more tender but also more expensive. But top sirloin works just fine.

    For garnish: Green onions, sesame seeds, and sesame oil.

    Instructions

    As I said, making this Korean beef recipe is truly easy. Here are the basic steps. The detailed instructions are listed in the recipe card below.

    • You start by whisking together a tasty sauce made with soy sauce and honey.
    • Next, brown the beef in avocado oil, then add garlic and ginger.
    • Add the sauce and cook until it thickens.
    • Garnish the dish with green onions, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Then serve!
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for making Korean beef.

    Expert tip

    To make this recipe as easy as can be, I like to use pre-sliced top sirloin (sold in trays and marked as "beef for stir fry"). Of course, it's fine to simply buy top sirloin steaks and slice them yourself.

    Top sirloin is appropriate for this recipe because it's lean, and while it's not super tender, it's also not overly tough. So you can get away with not marinating it.

    You can splurge with tenderloin, which would be very tender, but also very expensive. I almost always go with top sirloin.

    Do make sure, however, that you're getting top sirloin. Bottom sirloin is tough and won't work in this recipe.

    Frequently asked questions

    Should I marinate the meat before cooking?

    No! There's no need to marinate it, as long as you use a tender cut such as top sirloin or tenderloin.

    Can I use sesame oil to cook the meat?

    It depends. Refined light sesame oil is fine to use in stir-fry recipes. But dark or toasted sesame oil is appropriate as a finishing oil, not as a cooking oil.

    Can I omit the honey?

    You could, but I do like the way it balances out the other flavors. Perhaps use just 1 tablespoon of it or use a sugar-free syrup.

    Variations

    I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

    • Make this dish spicy by increasing the amount of crushed red peppers you use.
    • Cook the dish in refined coconut oil or ghee instead of avocado oil.
    • Replace the green onions with chopped chives.

    Serving suggestions

    Traditionally, you would serve this dish on a bed of white rice. I serve it on top of cauliflower rice which also adds a vegetable to this dish. You can also mix it into cooked shirataki noodles.

    Storing leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.

    This is one of those dishes that actually keeps quite well. Just make sure you reheat it gently - you don't want to dry out the meat.

    Korean beef served in a white bowl with chopsticks.

    Related recipes

    • Easy Beef and Broccoli
    • Easy Beef Stroganoff
    • Steak Stir-Fry
    • Korean Ground Beef

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Korean beef.
    4.97 from 76 votes
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    Korean Beef

    This easy Korean beef is ready in about 30 minutes. There's no need to marinate the meatf! Simply stir-fry, add the tasty sauce and serve.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Korean
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 301kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    Sauce:

    • ⅓ cup reduced sodium soy sauce (or use a gluten-free alternative)
    • 2 tablespoons honey*
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • ½ teaspoon crushed red peppers

    Stir-fry:

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 2 lb. top sirloin cut into strips
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root

    Topping:

    • ¼ cup green onions green parts only, thinly sliced
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
    • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced beef. Stir-fry the beef until browned, about 3-4 minutes.
    • Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 more minute.
    • Add the soy sauce mixture. Reduce the heat to medium and stir-fry until the beef is well coated and the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes. 
    • Turn the heat off. Spoon the meat and the pan juices into plates or bowls. Top with the green onions and sesame seeds, drizzle with the sesame oil and serve.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    *You can try replacing the honey with a sugar-free liquid sweetener. I haven't tried it myself, though.
    To make this recipe as easy as can be, I like to use pre-sliced top sirloin (sold in trays and marked as "beef for stir fry"). Of course, it's fine to simply buy top sirloin steaks and slice them yourself.
    Top sirloin is appropriate for this recipe because it's lean, and while it's not super tender, it's also not overly tough. So you can get away with not marinating it.
    You can splurge with tenderloin, which would be very tender, but also very expensive. I almost always go with top sirloin.
    Do make sure, however, that you're getting top sirloin. Bottom sirloin is tough and won't work in this recipe.

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 610mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g
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    More Low-Carb Meat Recipes

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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