Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Print-Friendly)

Savory ground beef served over jasmine or cauliflower rice, accented with tangy quick pickled vegetables.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
03 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
04 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
05 - 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon gochujang or sriracha, optional
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Rice Base

10 - 4 cups cooked jasmine rice or cauliflower rice

→ Quick Pickled Vegetables

11 - 1 cup julienned carrot
12 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
13 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced radish
14 - 1/2 cup rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon sugar
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

17 - Additional sliced green onions
18 - Extra sesame seeds

# How To Make It:

01 - In a bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, stirring until fully dissolved. Add julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and sliced radish, tossing to coat evenly. Allow to sit for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
02 - Prepare jasmine rice or cauliflower rice according to package instructions. Keep warm until assembly.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks until fully browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and gochujang if desired to the browned beef. Stir thoroughly and cook for 2 to 3 additional minutes until fragrant and sauce thickens slightly.
05 - Remove from heat and stir in sliced green onions and sesame seeds, combining gently.
06 - Divide warm rice or cauliflower rice among serving bowls. Top each portion with seasoned ground beef and a generous helping of pickled vegetables.
07 - Top each bowl with additional sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately while beef is warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, making weeknight victories feel effortless and genuinely delicious.
  • The tangy pickled vegetables cut through the savory beef in a way that feels bright and alive on your palate.
  • You can build it however you want—rice, cauliflower rice, tofu, chicken—and it tastes equally satisfying every time.
02 -
  • Drain your ground beef properly or you'll end up with a greasy bowl instead of a glistening, well-sauced one—those few extra seconds of tipping make a real difference.
  • Don't skip the pickling step even if you're rushed; those 15 minutes transform raw vegetables into something that tastes intentional and prepared, not like an afterthought.
03 -
  • Grate your ginger fresh and use minced garlic rather than paste or powder—the aromatic difference is noticeable and worth the extra minute of prep.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before using them; they'll taste nuttier and more vibrant scattered across the finished bowl.
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