Korean Beef Bulgogi Bowl Recipe

We have the most delicious recipe to share with you all! The best part is that our Korean Beef Bulgogi Bowl Recipe is super easy to prepare and you can enjoy it for dinner and then lunch the next day!

Meal prep is the way to go during the busy week. Our Korean Bulgogi Recipe is easy to make, highly adaptable and full of delicious flavor. It’s one of our favorite meal prep recipes!

What is Bulgogi?

Bulgogi is a Korean dish with thin slices of marinated sweet and salty beef. The bulgogi Korean BBQ marinade showcases the flavors of soy sauce, sesame oil along with garlic and the sweetness of brown sugar and Asian pear.

Bulgogi is popular because of the sweet and salty flavor comes through in every tender piece of beef.

The word bulgogi comes from the Korean dialect “bul” meaning fire and “gogi” meaning meat. This dish combines delicious meat and heat.

Beef Bulgogi Ingredients:

Beef Marinade for Bulgogi

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 Asian pear peeled, core removed and grated
• 2 scallions thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp garlic minced (approx 3-4 cloves)
• 1.5 lb beef sirloin, sliced thin

Beef Bulgogi Bowls Ingredients

• 3/4 cup rice or 1 cup if you want a higher proportion of rice
• 4 oz. cucumber cut julienne (thin batons)
• 1/2 tsp salt approx
• 4 oz. carrots peeled and cut julienne (thin batons)
• 4 oz. shiitake mushrooms stem removed and sliced

How to make Bulgogi with Beef

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, Asian pear, scallions, garlic, and ginger if using. Cut the beef into thin slices, trimming any fat as you go. Cut the slices into bite-sized pieces if too long then add to the marinade and mix. Leave to marinate a few hours or overnight.
2. I’d recommend cooking your sides first as the beef cooks quickly. Set the rice to cook, according to package instructions.
3. Sprinkle salt over the sliced cucumber and leave to sit for a few minutes. Then gently squeeze out excess water.
4. Warm a little oil in a medium skillet and add the carrots. Cook for a couple of minutes until they are just soft, then remove and set aside. Add the sliced mushroom, adding a little more oil if needed, and cook for a minute or two so they soften. Set aside.
5. When ready to cook beef, preheat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Take slices of the beef, shaking off excess marinade, and cook in a single layer in batches on the grill pan, turning as you see the first side is starting to cook them just a minute or two more on the other side. They will cook quickly, so watch closely. As each batch cooks set aside and keep it warm.
6. Put together the bowls with some rice, beef and some of each of the vegetables. Top with a pinch of sesame seeds, if desired. This dish is great enjoyed warm but is also good cold.

Our Korean BBQ dish is really easy to make and is easy to add a variety of vegetables as well, making it perfect for easy lunch ideas. The beef is simply sliced up and added to a simple Korean marinade, then it’s a quick cook the next day.

It’s great served with rice, and you can then add whatever vegetables you like alongside. Easy Meal Prep Recipes are key to enjoying dinner around the family table. It is one of our favorite family meal ideas because it is so customizable.

Tips for making Easy Beef Bulgogi

• If you will be reheating, don’t add the cucumber until after you have reheated the bowl. You want a nice crisp cucumber on top!
• Another way to help your meal prep, you can add the beef to the marinade, freeze it then when you defrost it the beef will take on the marinade as it defrosts.

Beef Bulgogi Recipe Options

While there’s a suggested combination below, here are a few ideas to change things up:

• Try noodles, quinoa or couscous instead of rice. While less traditional, I can also see a bowl of coconut rice working too.
• Add some gochujang sauce or other hot sauce if you like it a bit spicier.
• Switch up the sides – try some kimchi or wilted greens, sauteed eggplant or softened bean sprouts seasoned with a little sesame oil.
• Recipes with beef are a perfect way to incorporate high protein meals, you can leave out the rice and substitute with more veggies.

Meal Prep Ideas

Meal prep ideas for dinner are a great way to eat healthy meals for dinner at any time of the week. You’ll want to enjoy this recipe again and again.

• Stuffed Beef Roll
• Chicken Fajita Bowls
• Spinach Baked Ziti

What are some of your easy healthy meal prep ideas? We’d love to know your favorite Sunday Dinner Ideas and Healthy Food Recipes.

Beef bulgogi meal prep bowls

Make life easier with our Beef Bulgogi Meal Prep Bowls! Whether you’re looking to get ahead on weeknight dinners, or make lunches to take with you, nobody can deny meal prep recipes make life easier. Our Beef Bulgogi is easy to prepare, highly adaptable and full of delicious flavor.

4.25 from 4 votes

Print Pin Comment

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Korean

Keyword: Beef Bowls, beef bulgogi, Beef Bulgogi Bowls, Beef Bulgogi meal prep bowls, Healthy Bowls, Meal Prep Dinner

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 473kcal

Author: Caroline Williams

Ingredients

For beef – marinated ahead of time

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 Asian pear peeled, core removed and grated
• 2 scallions thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp garlic minced (approx 3-4 cloves)
• 1.5 lb beef sirloin tips

To serve

• 3/4 cup rice or 1 cup if you want a higher proportion of rice
• 4 oz. cucumber cut julienne (thin batons)
• 1/2 tsp salt approx
• 4 oz. carrots peeled and cut julienne (thin batons)
• 4 oz. shiitake mushrooms stems removed and sliced

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, Asian pear, scallions, garlic and ginger if using. Cut the beef into thin slices, trimming any fat as you go. Cut the slices into bite sized pieces if too long then add to the marinade and mix. Leave to marinade a few hours or overnight.
• I’d recommend cooking your sides first as the beef cooks quickly. Set the rice to cook, according to package instructions.
• Sprinkle salt over the sliced cucumber and leave to sit for a few minutes. Then gently squeeze out excess water.
• Warm a little oil in a medium skillet and add the carrots. Cook for a couple minutes until they are just soft, then remove and set aside. Add the sliced mushroom, adding a little more oil if needed, and cook for a minute or two so they soften. Set aside.
• When ready to cook beef, preheat a grill pan to a medium-high heat. Take slices of the beef, shaking off excess marinade, and cook in a single layer in batches on the grill pan, turning as you see the first side is starting to cook then just a minute or two more on the other side. They will cook quickly, so watch closely. As each batch cooks, set aside and keep it warm.
• Put together the bowls with some rice, beef and some of each of the vegetables. Top with a pinch of sesame seeds, if desired. This dish is great enjoyed warm but is also good cold.

Notes

1. We recommend using Certified Angus Beef® brand for best results
2. If you will be reheating, don’t add the cucumber until after you have reheated the rest.
3. Another way to help your meal prep, you can add the beef to the marinade, freeze it then when you defrost it the beef will take on the marinade as it defrosts.

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 1226mg | Potassium: 924mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 4815IU | Vitamin C: 5.3mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @familyfoodie or tag #SundaySupper!