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Korean Beef and Rice Recipe

Name: Korean Beef and Rice Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 Tablespoon sesame oil; ½ cup brown sugar; ¼ cup soy sauce; ¼ teaspoon ground ginger; salt and pepper; 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ((more or less depending on how spicy you like it)); Rice (cooked); 1 bunch green onions (diced)

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Published: June 4, 2021Author: Camille Beckstrand

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Our Korean Beef and Rice is the easiest meal you'll make ALL week. It's ready in less than 20 minutes, and it tastes just as good as takeout! Using ground beef instead of sirloin slices, it's not only budget friendly, but KID friendly, too.

I will be the first to admit that I am a lazy cook.

I would much rather throw a couple of ingredients in my crock pot and let it do all the work than slave over my stove top at the end of the day to get dinner ready.

When I wake up in the morning, I take a few minutes to put some stuff in the slow cooker and bam! Dinner is done!

But what happens when you forget to throw those ingredients in the slow cooker?! And 5 pm rolls around and your kids are whining because they are hungry and you are tired after a long day . . . it’s like a mom’s worst nightmare!!!!

{Please tell me that I’m not the only one this happens to!}

Well, we had this exact situation at our house the other night . . . threw this recipe together. The ingredients were simple and I had all of them ready to go, so I decided to give it a whirl.

I am SO happy to report that this recipe was a huge hit with the entire family and it will become a regular meal in our monthly rotation.

“I have so much time!” -No mom ever

Let us give you your time back. With the Six Sisters’ Meal Plans, we do the dinner planning, grocery ordering, and then all you have to do is decide whether to pick them up or have them delivered.

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Looking for more easy skillet recipes? Check out our Chicken and Black Bean Enchilada Skillet, 20 Minute Skillet Lasagna, and our popular 20 Minute Skillet Pork Lo Mein!

How to make Korean Beef and Rice:

We love that this recipe is only a few ingredients – and it’s ready in 20 minutes!

Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown beef with garlic in the sesame oil. We love to brown ground beef using this tool.

Step 2: Drain most of the fat (don’t skip this part!) and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt and pepper and red peppers. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors.

Add sauce ingredients to skillet on stove

You can also use ground beef with a lower fat content, or use ground turkey to cut down on fat.

Step 3: Serve over steamed rice and top with green onions.

Korean Beef served over white rice in a white bowl

Add-ins or substitutions for this Korean Beef and Rice Recipe:

We love how easy this recipe is to make your own. You can take a look at some of the comments below to see how others have tweaked the recipe, or you can try some of our favorites:

Add in more veggies (we love green beans, kale, broccoli, or shredded carrots)
Substitute the sugar for honey if you’re wanting to cut back on added sugars
Serve over brown rice or quinoa
Use ground turkey or ground bison in place of ground beef
Use steak strips instead of ground beef
Serve with sesame seeds

Serves: 4