Korean BBQ Beef (Bulgogi) Recipe: Sweet and Savory Marinade

Delicious Korean BBQ Beef (bulgogi) made quickly with an easy homemade Korean BBQ Sauce and ground beef. Serve it over rice, in lettuce wraps, or as flavorful tacos—great for weeknight dinners and meal prep.

Recipe sponsored by California Beef Council.

This Korean BBQ Beef is one of those versatile recipes that makes dinner simple and keeps lunches interesting all week. The dish comes together in under 30 minutes and uses a flavorful Korean-style barbecue sauce that pairs beautifully with ground beef. Whether you serve it over steamed rice, tuck it into warm corn tortillas, or wrap it in crisp lettuce leaves, it’s reliably satisfying and quick to prepare.

If you’re meal-prepping for the week, this recipe is ideal: prepare a batch on Sunday or any evening and portion it into bowls, wraps, or taco containers for easy grab-and-go meals. The homemade sauce is the heart of the dish—sweet, savory, and slightly tangy with a subtle chili kick—so even a simple cut of beef tastes special.

How to make Korean BBQ Beef

Start by preparing the sauce. In a saucepan combine brown sugar, soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free), mirin, water, rice wine vinegar, chili paste, sesame oil, black pepper, grated ginger, and crushed garlic. Bring the mixture to a boil, then whisk together cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Add the slurry to the boiling sauce, reduce the heat, and simmer until it thickens slightly—about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

To cook the beef, warm a teaspoon of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic for about a minute, then add the ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess fat, then pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and simmer for 2–3 minutes so the beef absorbs the flavors. Stir in thinly sliced green onions just before serving.

For extra depth, stir in 3 tablespoons of Korean BBQ seasoning along with the sauce before simmering.

What kind of beef is used for Korean BBQ?

Traditional bulgogi uses thinly sliced ribeye for its tenderness and rich flavor, but thin ribeye can be hard to find or a little pricey. Ground beef is a convenient, economical alternative that works wonderfully with the sweet-savory sauce. If you prefer sliced beef, choose a tender cut such as ribeye or sirloin and slice it thinly against the grain. The sauce is the star here, so whichever cut of beef you use will taste great when combined with it.

What to serve with Korean BBQ

Korean BBQ Beef pairs perfectly with steamed white or brown rice, kimchi, and a simple cucumber salad. It’s also delicious in bowls with fresh or pickled vegetables, inside warm tortillas as tacos, or wrapped in butter or iceberg lettuce for a lighter option. Try pairing it with kimchi fried rice, roasted Asian-style vegetables, or a quick Asian slaw to round out the meal.

How to make Korean BBQ bowls

Build a bowl with a base of rice or quinoa, add a generous portion of the Korean BBQ Beef, then top with fresh vegetables and garnishes. Popular bowl toppings include shredded carrots, sugar snap peas, sliced cucumbers, kimchi, bell peppers, broccoli, jalapeños, and extra scallions. These bowls keep well in the fridge and are easy to reheat for lunches.

How to make Korean BBQ tacos

Warm corn tortillas and fill them with the saucy Korean BBQ Beef. Top with shredded carrots, diced scallions, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, or a crunchy Asian slaw for texture. These tacos are a fantastic twist on street-style tacos with an Asian flair.

How to make Korean BBQ lettuce wraps

For a lighter, low-carb option, spoon the beef into butter lettuce or crisp iceberg leaves. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, scallions, and a squeeze of lime or rice vinegar if desired. These wraps are quick to assemble and make a fun interactive meal for family and guests.

This Korean BBQ Beef is versatile, family-friendly, and great for making ahead. I rotate through bowls, tacos, and lettuce wraps depending on the day, and it always gets rave reviews. Try it for your next meal prep session and see how many ways you can enjoy it all week.

Korean BBQ Beef — Recipe Details

Ingredients

Korean BBQ Sauce

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup soy sauce (tamari for gluten-free)
• 1/4 cup mirin
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili paste
• 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water (for slurry)

Korean BBQ Beef

• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

Sauce

1. In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, mirin, water, rice wine vinegar, chili paste, sesame oil, black pepper, ginger, and crushed garlic. Bring to a boil and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Whisk the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl to create a slurry.
3. Slowly add the slurry to the boiling sauce while whisking. Reduce heat to medium and cook 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.

Beef

1. Heat 1 teaspoon sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
3. Pour the prepared Korean BBQ sauce over the beef and simmer for 2–3 minutes so the beef absorbs the flavors.
4. Stir in the sliced green onions and serve immediately over rice, in bowls, in tortillas as tacos, or wrapped in lettuce.

Notes

Most sauce ingredients can be found in the Asian section of well-stocked grocery stores. Mirin adds a mild sweetness and is common in many Korean-style sauces; substitute a little extra water and a pinch of sugar if needed. For gluten-free, use tamari in place of soy sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 552 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Protein: 29 g
• Fat: 32 g (Saturated Fat: 12 g)
• Cholesterol: 107 mg
• Sodium: 1807 mg
• Potassium: 538 mg
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 30 g
• Vitamin A: 40 mg; Vitamin C: 2 mg
• Calcium: 63 mg; Iron: 4 mg

Which way will you try first—bowls, tacos, or lettuce wraps? This flexible Korean BBQ Beef is perfect for adapting to your tastes and making mealtime easy and delicious all week long.