The Easiest Korean Ground Beef Recipe

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.

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.

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:

1. Brown the beef: Cook the ground beef and garlic until browned; drain the grease.
2. Whisk the sauce: Combine the soy sauce, orange juice, brown sugar, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil and cornstarch.
3. Simmer: Pour the sauce over the beef and cook until slightly thickened.
4. 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…