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This easy Korean ground beef recipe is one of our favorite ground beef recipes for busy nights. It’s sweet and savory, packed with flavor and on the table in just 20 minutes. Best of all, it uses simple pantry ingredients, is easy on the budget and freezes beautifully.
Have you seen the viral broth bowl trend? We turned this Korean beef into an incredible Korean Beef Broth Bowl!
There comes a point when you’re staring at that package of ground beef thinking, please, not another casserole or taco. This is the recipe I make when I want to turn ground beef into something completely different without making dinner complicated.
I grew up on the same plate every night—meat, veggie, carb—and now, as a mom, I do the exact same thing with a few upgrades to the classics my mom made. But just because it isn’t 1999 anymore doesn’t mean we’ve stopped needing quick, budget-friendly meals. This Korean ground beef is our fast, cheap recipe idea for nights when dinner just needs to happen.
Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Recipe
- 20-minute dinner: Ground beef cooks quickly, making this perfect for busy nights.
- Simple ingredients: The sauce is made with ingredients we almost always have on hand.
- Big flavor, little effort: Sweet, savory and just a little tangy with hardly any prep.
- Easy to customize: Make it less sweet, turn up the heat or load your bowl with veggies.
- Great for leftovers: The beef reheats and freezes incredibly well.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe keeps things simple, affordable, and full of flavor – exactly how we like our weeknight dinners. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground Beef: Ground chuck works too; use your favorite lean-to-fat ratio.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic gives the beef tons of flavor.
- Soy Sauce: The salty, savory base of the sauce. Low sodium works too.
- Orange Juice: Adds sweetness, acidity and bright citrus flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Creates the sweet-savory sauce. Use ¼ cup for a less-sweet version.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds sweetness with a mild kick of heat.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: A little goes a long way for deep, nutty flavor.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce so it clings to the beef.
- Green Onions: A fresh finish that cuts through the rich sauce.
How to Make Korean Ground Beef
This 20-minute ground beef recipe comes together in just four easy steps:
- Brown the beef: Cook the ground beef and garlic until browned; drain the grease.
- Whisk the sauce: Combine the soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil and cornstarch.
- Simmer: Pour the sauce over the beef and cook until slightly thickened.
- Serve: Spoon over rice and finish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Make It Your Way: Less Sweet or Spicier
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to adjust the sauce to your family’s tastes. The original recipe is on the sweeter side, which is exactly how my family loves it, but the sauce is easy to adjust.
How to Make It Less Sweet
For a more savory Korean ground beef, reduce the brown sugar from ½ cup to ¼ cup. You’ll still get sweetness from the orange juice and sweet chili sauce, but the savory soy and nutty sesame flavors will stand out more.
If you’re unsure, start with ¼ cup brown sugar, taste the sauce after it has simmered with the beef and add a little more if needed.
How to Make It Spicier
Want some heat? Add red pepper flakes, sriracha or gochujang to the sauce.
- Mild heat: Add ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
- Turn up the heat: Add sriracha or gochujang to taste.
For families with different spice preferences, keep the beef mild and put the hot sauce or red pepper flakes on the table so everyone can customize their own bowl.
What to Serve with Korean Ground Beef
Our favorite is steamed white rice, but there are plenty of ways to turn this into dinner:
- Rice: White rice, brown rice or cauliflower rice
- Noodles: Ramen, udon or rice noodles
- Vegetables: Steamed broccoli, snap peas, asparagus or our Asian cucumber salad
- Lettuce wraps: Spoon the beef into crisp lettuce leaves
- Bowl: Add a fried egg, cucumber, edamame or other favorite toppings
Storage Tips
Refrigerator: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
Freezer: Freeze cooked Korean ground beef in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.
Meal prep: You can also whisk together the sauce and freeze it separately. Thaw, brown the beef and add the prepared sauce.
Reheating: Microwave until hot or warm gently in a skillet. Add a splash of broth or water if the beef seems dry.
This is one of those ground beef recipes I come back to again and again because it saves dinner when I have absolutely no plan. Twenty minutes, one skillet and ingredients I usually already have in the kitchen—then everyone can build their own bowl exactly how they like it. Keep this one in your back pocket for those nights when dinner needs to be easy and everyone needs to actually eat it.
Bonus! It freezes amazingly well, so 9/10 when I make it, I double the recipe and freeze half for another day!
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes
- Quick and Easy Dinner Ground Beef Casserole
- The Best Sloppy Joes
- Family Ground Beef Stew
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Beef Burrito Bowls
- One Skillet Ground Beef Enchiladas
- Meatloaf
- All our Ground Beef Recipes
Watch How This Recipe is Made…
Easy Korean Ground Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Canola or Vegetable Oil
- 2 Pounds Ground Beef, or ground chuck
- 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
- ½ Cup Soy Sauce
- ½ Cup Orange Juice
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar, *reduce to ¼ cup for a less sweet sauce
- ¼ Cup Sweet Chili Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 2 Green Onions, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a cast iron pan over medium high heat.1 Tablespoon Canola or Vegetable Oil
- Add the ground beef and garlic. Using a meat chopper to break it up, cook until browned all the way through, about 3-5 minutes, then drain the grease.2 Pounds Ground Beef, 4 Cloves Garlic
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the ingredients for the sauce and whisk together until combined.½ Cup Soy Sauce, ½ Cup Orange Juice, ½ Cup Brown Sugar, ¼ Cup Sweet Chili Sauce , 2 teaspoons Toasted Sesame Oil, 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- Pour the sauce over the beef and simmer until thickened slightly.
- Serve over rice with steamed veggies and garnish with green onions.2 Green Onions
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this for my boyfriend but I put it on a tortilla with Mexican rice and cheese and he loved it
Thank you so much for the feedback! I’m so glad it was a hit!
I want to make this recipe, but I just realized I don’t have soy sauce like I thought. I am snowed in and cannot get to the store. What do you suggest as a substitution?
Hi Kelly! The best substitute for soy sauce is tamari or fish sauce. I hope this helps!
While I have not made this recipe yet I have read over it. I am confused as to what the green onions are used for . The recipe reads to slice onions and have extra for garnish. Is it supposed to be cooked with the ground beef ? And why would you use oil to cook your beef when there is plenty from the beef. To me this reads like a novice trying to write a recipe and not a professional. I will make it and comment after I’m done.
Hi Teri! The green onions are for garnish after the ground beef has been cooked. I’ve clarified that in the instructions. I apologize for the confusion! I’ve found that a little oil in the pan before cooking helps the meat and garlic to not stick and it helps evenly brown the beef. Looking forward to hear what you think when you make it!
I gave it a 2 star the day I made it, but I would say – it definitely tastes better after sitting for 24 hours, the flavor pops. So I have to upgrade to 4 star with caveat to let it rest overnight before eating it
Thanks Katharine! That’s a great tip for our readers!
I thought it would be so flavorful, and the final product was almost bland. I was disappointed. My 18 year old son said he would eat it again, but not regularly
Hi Katharine! So sorry for the disappointment! We’ve gotten almost nothing but rave reviews for this one.
second day – review changed – I’d delete this review if I knew how
Easy quick and really tasty. This is a keeper
Thank you so much Gaye!!
This was simple, quick and so delish! My whole family enjoyed it. Thanks!!
Yay! Thank you Gloria!
I am so happy I discovered this recipe. It’s delicious! I added some minced ginger root the first time I made it and loved it so much I made it again! This time, adding chopped mushrooms into the meat as well. So so good definitely going to continue to use this recipe as a foundation for further experimentations!
Thank you so much Fran! Love the addition of mushrooms to the meat! I’m trying that next time!
Just made this, but cut recipe in half for just 2 of us. It’s SOOO good!!! Garnished w toasted sesame seeds and more green onion. YUM
Sounds perfect! Thank you so much Lisa!
This recipe is perfect exactly as written. It is so good that I make a double batch and freeze some for later. That’s 4 lbs of ground beef! Quite an investment these days. Lol. But worth every penny. My family loves it. We eat it over rice. Thanks for the fabulous dinner idea!
Thank you so much Tammy! So glad you love this recipe as much as we do! Yes, the price of everything these days is so frustrating!!