20 minutes is all that stands between you and this easy, delicious, flavorful ground beef bulgogi. This recipe is perfect for weeknights or any time you’re in need of a meal in a flash.
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Peace, family.
Weeknight dinner does not have to be a long, daunting process. Here, we take the familiar flavors of Korean Beef Bulgogi, and incorporate them into an easy-to-prepare bowl using ground beef. Serve with broccolini (air fried for us) and a soft boiled egg over steamed cauliflower rice and you’re done. It simply does not get any easier than this. If you’re not into the whole low-carb thing, that’s fine. Serve your beef with traditional fried rice or your favorite side. Broccolini not your thing? Maybe incorporate another green vegetable, like bok choy. The soft boiled egg? Optional! Throw in a fried egg, or nix it altogether. The beef is the star of the show, and you can use it to customize your bowl however you like. You won’t be disappointed.
What Ingredients Do I Need for Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowls?
- Sesame Oil – so much flavor!
- Lean Ground Beef
- White Onion
- Garlic Cloves
- Fresh Ginger
- Black Pepper
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – we opt for the low sodium variety so that there’s more control of how much salt goes into the dish.
- Swerve Brown Sugar Alternative – Traditional brown sugar or any other low-carb substitute may be used. Swerve is low-carb/keto friendly and does not impact your blood sugar.
- Liquid Smoke
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt – added salt is optional.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Sliced Green Onions
Is This Recipe Keto-Friendly?
But, of course darling. While this site has branched out into a wider variety of recipes, including those that are not low-carb, keto-friendly and low-carb recipes will always remain a staple of the blog. This recipe contains 4 net carbs per serving, based on 4 servings.
Instructions for Ground Beef Bulgogi
- In a skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium high heat, for just 1 to 2 minutes. It should begin to be fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and use a silicone spatula to break it up and disperse it evenly over the surface of the skillet.
- Once you notice the beef beginning to brown, toss in the diced onion, minced garlic, and freshly grated ginger. Stir with the silicone spatula and give these ingredients a few minutes to cook down.
- Next, stir in the black pepper, rice wine vinegar, low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, liquid smoke, and red pepper flakes ensuring that they are evenly distributed. In other words, not all clumped up in one place.
- Once the beef is fully cooked, give it a taste. It is here where you will decide if additional salt is needed. If so, stir in an additional ½ teaspoon and taste again.
- Toss the beef in toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onion as desired.
Toppings and Sides
Here are a few serving suggestions to round out your bowl:
- On a bed of fried rice or cauliflower rice
- Stir Fry Vegetables
- Broccolini
- Bok Choy
- Soft Boiled or Fried Egg
- Spicy Chili Crisp
- Pickled Carrots or Cucumbers
Try it out and let me know what you think! When you make it, be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram.
Peace,
Adri
Cant make this right now? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board for later!Connect with me via Pinterest while you’re there!
Ground Beef Bulgogi | Easy, Keto, Low-Carb
20 minutes is all that stands between you and this easy, delicious, flavorful ground beef bulgogi.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Sesame Oil
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 White Onion, diced
- 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Ginger, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper, cracked
- 3 tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
- ¼ cup + 1 teaspoon Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1/4 cup Swerve Brown Sugar Alternative (Traditional brown sugar or any other low-carb substitute may be used)
- 1 tablespoon Liquid Smoke
- 2 teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt, or to taste.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds, to taste
- Sliced Green Onions, to taste
Instructions
- To a skillet over medium high heat, add the sesame oil and allow to heat for 1-2 minutes before adding the ground beef.
- As the beef begins to brown, add the onion, garlic, and ginger, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
- Once the onion, garlic, and ginger cook down, add the black pepper, rice wine vinegar, low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar substitute, liquid smoke, and red pepper flakes. Stir well until the ingredients are well-combined and the beef is fully cooked.
- Taste and determine if additional salt is needed.
- Serve, tossed in toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Notes
Serving Suggestions:
- Cauliflower Rice
- Fried Rice
- Soft Boiled Egg or Fried Egg
- Roasted Broccolini
- Bok Choy
- Stir Fry
- Chili Crisps
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 295Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 150mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 33g
This was absolutely gorgeous, even my husband who is vegetarian was drooling just from the smell.. I made it so I could have a few portions for the week.. I had one portion and my son ate the rest.. Will definitely make again, thank you for the recipe.
One recommendation I have is to eliminate the extra sweetener. It’s unnecessary and makes the dish cloyingly sweet. imho. Without the extra sweetener, it’s a really nice, flavorful dish.
I thought the flavors were delicious, except I think it would be better with half the amount of liquid smoke. We ate this on top of roasted brussels sprouts and carrots. It was yummy!