Korean Ground Beef

Name: Korean Ground Beef Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce (or a gluten-free alternative); 1 tablespoon honey (or a liquid sugar-free sweetener); 1 teaspoon cornstarch; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons avocado oil; 1 lb. lean ground beef ((85/15)); 1 tablespoon fresh garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root (minced); 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1/4 cup green onions (green parts only, thinly sliced )

Last updated: May 17, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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One of my favorite ground beef recipes, this flavorful Korean ground beef is served over cauliflower rice.

Ready in just 20 minutes, it's a truly easy recipe that makes a delicious and complete meal.

Korean ground beef served in a bowl with chopsticks.

I really like ground beef. It's cheap, readily available, and very versatile. When you buy vacuum-sealed packages, it lasts for quite a while too. It also freezes easily and thaws well.

So I always have a few packages in the fridge or in the freezer. I mostly use them for easy everyday recipes such as grilled hamburgers, meatballs in tomato sauce, cheeseburger casserole, and keto meatloaf.

But when I want to make something special and especially flavorful, I make Korean ground beef.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Storing Leftovers
More Ground Beef Recipes
Recipe Card

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty ground beef recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Soy sauce: I use reduced-sodium soy sauce in most of my recipes. I find that traditional soy sauce is too salty. Obviously, you can use a gluten-free alternative.
Honey: Just 1 tablespoon is needed to balance out the tang of the soy sauce. You can use a sugar-free syrup if you'd like.
Cornstarch: To slightly thicken the sauce. I only use 1 teaspoon.
Red pepper flakes: They don't make the dish very spicy. They merely add a hint of spice.
Avocado oil: This oil has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point, making it an ideal cooking oil.
Ground beef: I use a lean mixture - 85% lean and 15% fat.
Minced garlic and ginger: You can mince them yourself or use the stuff that comes in a jar. Freshly minced is naturally more flavorful.
To finish the dish: I use a drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of sliced green onions.

Instructions

Making this Korean ground beef recipe is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

Your very first step is to prepare the sauce. Simply whisk together the soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. (Photo 1).
Now, cook the meat in some oil until no longer pink, breaking it up into crumbles as you cook. (Photo 2).
Next, drain the beef, return it to the skillet, and add the garlic and the ginger.
Stir the sauce into the beef. Cook until heated through and the sauce thickens. (Photo 3).
Off heat, drizzle the dish with sesame oil, sprinkle it with sliced green onions, and serve. (Photos 4-6).

A six-photo collage showing the steps for making Korean ground beef.

Expert Tips

I highly recommend using lean ground beef in this recipe (85% lean and 15% fat). Don't go any leaner than that or it will be too dry and not as flavorful.
Sesame oil is a must. It greatly enhances the dish, so please don't skip it.

Recipe FAQs

How authentic is this recipe?

It's more of an interpretation of the classic recipe. Truth be told, I've never seen ground beef in a Korean barbecue restaurant.

But this recipe does feature a wonderful combination of Korean-inspired flavors and textures. And the sauce mixes really well into the crumbly meat. This means you don't need to marinate the beef prior to cooking.

How do I defrost ground beef?

According to the USDA, the best way to thaw ground beef is overnight in the refrigerator.

How do you make ground beef taste good?

Use spices! It's actually easy to flavor this meat because of its crumbly texture - the seasonings you add easily mix in.

In this particular recipe, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce add wonderful flavor. In other recipes (such as these spicy meatballs), I use spices such as chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano.