Description
A spicy, savory, and sweet weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes. This easy recipe features ground beef tossed in a homemade gochujang sauce, served over rice with optional toppings like fried eggs and kimchi.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons Gochujang (Korean fermented chili paste)
- 1 pound (450g) Ground Beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce (low-sodium)
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Oil (toasted)
- 1 tablespoon Honey or Brown Sugar
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Ginger (grated)
- 2 cups Short-grain Japanese Rice (uncooked)
- 2 cups Water (for rice)
- 2 stalks Green Onions (sliced, for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds (toasted, for garnish)
- Optional: Fried Egg, Shredded Carrots, Cucumber Slices, Kimchi
Instructions
- Rinse 2 cups of short-grain rice under cold water until clear. Add to a pot with 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons gochujang, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon grated ginger until smooth.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked beef. Stir to coat and simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the meat. Add a splash of water if too thick.
- Divide the cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with the gochujang beef and desired toppings such as green onions, sesame seeds, fried eggs, carrots, cucumber, or kimchi.
Notes
Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes until golden for best flavor. Use low-sodium soy sauce to control salt levels. For a vegetarian version, substitute beef with crumbled tofu or tempeh. For low-carb, use cauliflower rice. The sauce can be adjusted by adding more honey for sweetness or water to dilute heat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl per person
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 620
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Korean, Gochujang, Ground Beef, Rice Bowls, Weeknight Dinner, Easy Recipe, Spicy, Asian, Meal Prep