Korean Bulgogi Beef Is The One-Pan Dinner You Didn’t Know You Needed
It’s fast, it’s fresh, it’s loaded with savory-sweet, umami-rich flavors, and it’s what’s for dinner tonight. Bulgogi beef is the star of Korean BBQ, and one of my favorite things about it is just how easy it is to make. You’ll spend 10 minutes doing some quick prep, let your beef marinade for half an hour to soak up those beautiful flavors, then throw it in a hot pan for just 4 minutes.
The result is tender and slightly caramelised strips of beef that are delicious served over rice, wrapped in crisp lettuce, or stuffed into tacos for a fun fusion twist. This recipe is one to add to your regular dinner rotation!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Beef (rib-eye or sirloin)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Brown sugar or honey
- Rice vinegar
- Grated ginger
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste) or red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Green onions (for garnish)
How To Make Korean Bulgogi Beef
Please note that as always, I’ve included a printable recipe card for you that you’ll find at the bottom of this post!
Prepare the marinade:
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar (or honey), rice vinegar, mirin (if using), minced garlic, grated ginger, and gochujang (or red pepper flakes) to create a marinade.
Marinate the beef:
- Add the thinly sliced beef and onion to the marinade, ensuring it’s well-coated. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
Cook the beef:
- Heat a pan or grill over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated beef and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and cooked through.
Serve:
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve the bulgogi with steamed rice, lettuce wraps, or as part of a Korean BBQ spread.
Serving Suggestions for Korean Bulgogi Beef
Whether you’re keeping it classic with rice or getting creative with fusion-inspired dishes, here are some delicious ideas for serving your bulgogi:
1. Classic Bulgogi with Rice
- Serve your bulgogi over a bowl of steamed white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
- Drizzle with extra marinade or a side of soy sauce mixed with sesame oil for even more flavor.
2. Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps (Lower-Carb & Fresh!)
- Use crisp lettuce leaves like romaine, butter lettuce, or perilla leaves as a wrap.
- Add sliced cucumbers, kimchi, or shredded carrots for extra crunch and freshness.
- Top with a spoonful of gochujang or sriracha mayo for a spicy kick.
3. Korean BBQ-Style Platter (My Personal Favorite!)
- Serve bulgogi alongside a spread of classic Korean side dishes (banchan) like:
- Kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage)
- Pickled radish
- Korean-style potato salad
- Spicy cucumber salad (oi muchim)
- Stir-fried bean sprouts (kongnamul muchim)
- Add a fried egg on top!
4. Bulgogi Tacos (Korean-Mexican Fusion)
- Stuff bulgogi into warm corn or flour tortillas for a fun twist.
- Top with coleslaw, chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, and sriracha mayo.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice for brightness.
5. Bulgogi Bibimbap (Korean Rice Bowl)
- Serve bulgogi over a hot bowl of rice with sautéed veggies like spinach, carrots, mushrooms, and zucchini.
- Top with a fried or soft-boiled egg and drizzle with gochujang sauce.
6. Bulgogi Stir-Fry
- Toss cooked bulgogi into a stir-fry with bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions for a quick and easy meal.
- Serve over noodles or rice and garnish with extra sesame seeds.
7. Bulgogi Sliders or Sandwiches
- Make Korean-style sliders by serving bulgogi on Hawaiian rolls or burger buns with kimchi and spicy mayo.
- Or try a bulgogi cheesesteak by stuffing it into a toasted hoagie roll with melted cheese!
8. Bulgogi Fried Rice
- Chop up leftover bulgogi and stir-fry it with rice, eggs, soy sauce, and green onions for an easy bulgogi fried rice dish.
Korean Bulgogi Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef rib-eye or sirloin, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp gochujang or ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds for garnish
- 2 green onions sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
Prepare the marinade:
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar (or honey), rice vinegar, mirin (if using), minced garlic, grated ginger, and gochujang (or red pepper flakes) to create a marinade.
Marinate the beef:
- Add the thinly sliced beef and onion to the marinade, ensuring it’s well-coated. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours for deeper flavor.
Cook the beef:
- Heat a pan or grill over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated beef and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and cooked through.
Serve:
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve the bulgogi with steamed rice, lettuce wraps, or as part of a Korean BBQ spread.
Have you tried this dish? If so, I’d really appreciate it if you could take a quick minute to leave a review in the comments section below – I absolutely love hearing about the recipes you’ve been recreating in your own kitchen, and your feedback helps me to create more that you’ll love making! You can also tag me in your photos on Instagram @slimmingviolet.
