Korean Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
These Korean Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a quick, flavorful, and fresh meal made with savory garlic-ginger beef, gochujang, and crisp veggies, all wrapped in tender lettuce leaves. Perfect for a light dinner, meal prep, or a fun appetizer, they’re easy to customize and ready in 30 minutes!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 375kcal
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 onion finely diced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp gochujang Korean chili paste
- 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 cup kimchi chopped
- 1 cucumber julienned
- 1 large carrot julienned
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- Butter lettuce or Bibb lettuce leaves for wraps
- Additional sesame seeds for garnish
- Extra gochujang or Ssamjang Korean dipping sauce, for serving
Cook the Beef: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Cook for about 5-6 minutes or until browned.
Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic, diced onion, and ginger. Sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
Season the Beef: Add the soy sauce, gochujang, brown sugar (or honey), and rice vinegar to the beef mixture. Stir well to coat the beef evenly with the seasoning. Continue to cook for another 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Remove from heat and sprinkle sesame seeds over the beef.
Assemble the Wraps: Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large plate. Start by placing a spoonful of chopped kimchi on each lettuce leaf. Then add a portion of the seasoned beef mixture on top of the kimchi, followed by a few strips of cucumber, carrot, and a sprinkle of green onions. Add an extra dollop of gochujang or Ssamjang if desired.
Serve: Garnish with more sesame seeds if you like, and serve immediately. To eat, fold the lettuce wraps like a taco, and enjoy!
Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g