• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Salt & Lavender logo
  • Recipes
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Beef

    Easy Beef Bowls

    Published: Mar 24, 2023 / Updated: May 24, 2023 / 180 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    These easy beef bowls are a quick and delicious Asian-inspired recipe that makes the perfect weeknight dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes!

    Try my Spicy Ground Chicken Stir Fry or Easy Beef Stir Fry next for more takeout-style favorites at home.

    a bowl of asian inspired ground beef over rice

    Why you'll love it

    Making Asian-style food is one of my favorite things to do, especially when it's this tasty and fast. What's not to love about tender beef and a sauce that includes fresh ginger and garlic, soy sauce, and a hint of brown sugar? One lovely reader said her only regret was not seeing this recipe sooner!

    These beef and rice bowls are Korean inspired, but I do use hoisin sauce, which is Chinese. While not an authentic Asian dish, this ground beef recipe is a totally simple and very satisfying way to enjoy an affordable protein that you'll put on repeat.

    What you'll need

    • Rice - I like jasmine rice best, but use your favorite
    • Ground beef - I prefer using lean (at least 90% lean) ground beef for this recipe because then you don't have to worry about draining the fat
    • Brown sugar - for a hint of sweetness to balance the sauce
    • Hoisin sauce - it's a dark sauce made with soybeans that has an irresistible flavor uniquely its own. It's sweeter and thicker than soy sauce, savory and tangy, and some have described it as Asian BBQ sauce! Find it in the Asian aisle at most major grocery stores.
    • Soy sauce - I use the regular kind, but use low sodium if that's a concern
    • Siracha - we're only using enough for a gentle warmth
    • Ginger - this gives a zesty, fragrant zing
    • Garlic - we're pretty generous, but feel free to add even more
    • Red pepper and scallions - for a pop of color and crunch
    ingredients for beef bowls in prep bowls

    Pro tip

    • To easily grate fresh ginger, store it in the freezer! It sounds unusual, but I've been doing it for years. Use a Microplane to zest it. You'll also never run out of fresh ginger or have it go bad in your fridge.

    How to make beef bowls

    This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    cooking ground beef in a skillet and adding in sauce ingredients

    Cook the rice. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef until cooked through. Take the pan off the burner, and stir in the sauce ingredients.

    adding red bell pepper to a skillet with seasoned ground beef

    Reduce the heat, then add the chopped red pepper and cook for a few more minutes until it's tender-crisp. Serve over the rice, garnish with scallions, and enjoy!

    Tools for this recipe

    Check out Natasha's favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

    • Mince the garlic effortlessly with one squeeze of a garlic press, and then store the remainder of the cloves in a garlic keeper that looks adorable on your counter.
    • I use this versatile Le Creuset skillet for everything from stir fries to stovetop chicken recipes.
    • A cooking spoon is what I use to break up the beef while it's cooking.

    Substitutions and variations

    • This is the type of recipe where you can definitely adjust the sauce ingredients to taste, so don't be shy! I love to add extra hoisin sauce to mine.
    • Some readers enjoy doubling the sauce completely if you're into lots of sauce! As written, it doesn't make tons.
    • I added a red pepper bell for color and a bit of freshness. If you don't like them, you could leave it out. It won't make or break the recipe.
    • You don't need to go out and buy sriracha sauce just for this recipe if you never use it, but I do like the flavor it adds. I didn't use a lot so as not to make it too spicy for most people, but you can always add more if you want to give this recipe more heat.
    a skillet with korean inspired ground beef

    What to serve with these ground beef bowls

    • You don't need to top them with sesame seeds like I did, but it adds a little additional contrast and texture. Fresh bean sprouts would be another great topping for some crunch.
    • If you're not into the rice, swap it out to make a beef noodle bowl. Try Udon, ramen noodles, or rice noodles.
    • Other options are serving it over cauliflower rice, quinoa, or with other veggies.

    Leftovers and storage

    • Store any leftovers for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. I'd make fresh rice when you eat it.
    • Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat, and you may want to add some extra hoisin sauce and/or sriracha because it tends to dry out a bit the longer you leave it.
    • You can freeze it for up to 3 months.

    More easy ground beef recipes

    • Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
    • Teriyaki Ground Beef
    • Ground Beef Stir Fry
    • Beef Ramen Noodles (Stir Fry)
    closeup of a beef bowl

    If you gave these easy Asian beef bowls a try, please leave a star rating and review below! Let me know if you have questions not answered in the post. You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you made it.

    a bowl of asian inspired ground beef over rice

    Easy Beef Bowls

    These easy beef bowls are a quick and delicious Asian-inspired recipe that makes the perfect weeknight dinner. Ready in about 30 minutes!
    4.91 from 60 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian American
    Servings 4
    Calories 371 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup uncooked rice I used white jasmine rice
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon (packed) brown sugar
    • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
    • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • Garnish (optional): scallions, sesame seeds

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the rice according to package directions. If you have a different amount you usually make for 4 people, just make your usual amount.
    • Meanwhile, add the beef to a skillet over medium-high heat and break it up with your spoon as you go along until it's cooked (approx. 8-10 minutes). If there's a lot of excess fat, drain most of it.
    • Take the pan off the heat and stir in the sauce ingredients (sugar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, ginger, and garlic).
    • Reduce the heat to medium and return the pan to the heat. Add the chopped red bell pepper. Cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, until the peppers are tender-crisp.
    • Serve the beef over the rice and garnish as desired.

    Notes

    • To easily grate fresh ginger, freeze a whole piece. It grates much easier and you'll always have some on-hand. This Microplane is the handy tool I use to grate/zest it.
    • If you don't have sriracha sauce, you can leave it out. If you love sriracha, don't hesitate to add more than 1 teaspoon!
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 29gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 801mgPotassium: 488mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Asian beef bowls, ground beef bowls, Korean beef bowls
    Author Natasha Bull

    This recipe was originally published on August 3, 2019. It's been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!

    « Creamy Cajun Chicken
    Easy Roasted Cauliflower »

    Loved this recipe? Share it:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Leigh says

      May 30, 2023 at 4:48 PM

      5 stars
      So good thanks for this easy recipe. I didn’t have hoisin sauce so I used an apple cinnamon bbq sauce and I doubled the sauce. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 31, 2023 at 11:22 AM

        So happy you were able to tweak it!

        Reply
    2. Jenn E says

      May 26, 2023 at 6:57 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was really good. I made some changes as I didn’t have brown sugar or bell pepper. My husband doesn’t like scallions or sesame seeds.

      I used regular white sugar and cooked carrots on the side and just threw them on top of the bowl with a drizzle of sauce that I saw was recommended to double so I did and it was a good suggestion. Even with my substitutions it was amazing! I didn’t have the ginger but I had powdered. 1/4 teaspoon was still too much it made it a little spicy I’d do even less than that but like I said it was still amazing

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 27, 2023 at 6:36 PM

        So glad you were able to tweak it!

        Reply
    3. Leah says

      May 21, 2023 at 5:44 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was super fast to make, clean up was minimal, and the best part is that we have enough for leftovers!

      I substituted the ground beef for ground turkey and it was delicious! My husband loved it because it was just the right amount of spicy and sweet and totally different from what we normally eat.

      10/10 would make again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 21, 2023 at 6:05 PM

        I'm thrilled to hear it! Thanks for your review, Leah! 😀

        Reply
    4. Christi Brown says

      May 8, 2023 at 4:58 PM

      5 stars
      We loved this dish! I had eyed it for a while and I’m so glad I finally made it. It was easy to make, requiring minimal prep work and cook time. But the flavors are anything but minimal. I also added some chopped carrots when I added the bell pepper because I had some on hand. Delicious!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 8, 2023 at 11:05 PM

        I'm thrilled it was a hit, Christi!

        Reply
    5. Amanda says

      May 1, 2023 at 6:42 AM

      4 stars
      Delicious and easy! I've made this several times now. Most recently, I used 1/2 a pound of ground beef, as it's a little too meaty for me as written. I kept everything else the same, and it turned out great! So easy and flavorful. I love the idea of adding cashews or matchstick carrots - will definitely try that next time!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 1, 2023 at 12:58 PM

        I'm so glad it's a new favorite for you, Amanda! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Audra says

      April 18, 2023 at 9:30 AM

      Really yummy, didn't seem saucy enough so we'll be doubling up the sauce ingredients next time.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 18, 2023 at 10:48 AM

        I'm so glad you liked it, Audra! Yes, there is a note in the blog post suggesting that as an option as I have received similar reader feedback, so you could definitely try that next time. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Rebecca Dankha says

      March 31, 2023 at 7:13 PM

      5 stars
      Love love love this recipe. It’s my go-to on a busy day. Even stores well in the freezer as a back up last minute dinner

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 31, 2023 at 8:01 PM

        🙂

        Reply
    8. Lori says

      March 22, 2023 at 6:49 PM

      5 stars
      My husband and I loved this meal! I added broccoli, carrots and red onions oh and some asparagus (but don’t tell my hubby, he doesn’t like it) lol

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 22, 2023 at 7:32 PM

        Haha excellent. I'm so glad you guys loved it!

        Reply
    9. Rachel says

      March 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is a home run! So delicious and comes together super quick. My kids (ages 10 & 8) love this meal. It’s also a great freezer meal! I like to double the beef/sauce portion and then freeze half of it. Then all you gotta do is reheat the beef, make some rice and slice some scallions and dinner’s made! I’m typically very truthful to recipes, but thought it could benefit from a bit of acid. One tablespoon of rice wine vinegar did the trick! Thank you for this recipe!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 17, 2023 at 11:33 AM

        I'm so glad you liked it, Rachel!! 🙂

        Reply
    10. georgia says

      February 11, 2023 at 5:14 PM

      5 stars
      Very very good., Cashews were a great add! Glad I found this recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 12, 2023 at 11:46 AM

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    11. Raija says

      January 16, 2023 at 5:22 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good and so easy! The sauce gives the meat amazing flavor, but I would recommend making some extra sauce to add on top of it to get more into the rice. I am not a big Asian food fan and I loved this dish!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 17, 2023 at 10:20 AM

        Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it, Raija!

        Reply
    12. Scott Eisenbraun says

      December 7, 2022 at 7:25 PM

      5 stars
      Wife and I made. Sliced a serano chili and stir fried for more heat. We added sesame oil at end. Delicious. Will make often. Quick and satisfying.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 8, 2022 at 10:43 AM

        Excellent!! Glad you two enjoyed the recipe, Scott! Thanks for your review. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Stacey says

      November 16, 2022 at 8:24 PM

      5 stars
      We loved these beef rice bowls! Would cashews be a good addition?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 16, 2022 at 8:42 PM

        So happy to hear it!! I think cashews would be delicious in here!

        Reply
    14. Beverly says

      November 10, 2022 at 4:47 PM

      5 stars
      Trying to use “pantry” items for my recipes. I was going to substitute roasted red peppers for the regular red pepper. Think that will work. Thank you for the recipe. Will fix it tomorrow night.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 11, 2022 at 9:27 AM

        Hi! It will definitely change the flavor, but as long as you enjoy the taste of roasted red peppers, I think it should be good!

        Reply
    15. Erin says

      September 15, 2022 at 6:35 PM

      Ok, I love this one! I've added my own twist by including 1-2 finely diced sweet potatoes and zucchini. So filling and delicious.

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        September 15, 2022 at 6:48 PM

        Great to hear, Erin! Love those additions! 🙂

        Reply
    16. Sharon says

      August 25, 2022 at 10:54 AM

      Could you use powdered ginger and if so, how much to substitute? I don't always have fresh on hand, although I love the trick of freezing it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 25, 2022 at 11:20 AM

        So, I would go very easy on powdered ginger. I find if you add too much it can really ruin a dish. I'd say 1/4 teaspoon or less to start with. Let me know if you try the freezing ginger trick - I love it! 😀

        Reply
    17. Anisha says

      April 6, 2022 at 7:46 PM

      5 stars
      Made this tonight and it was fantastic! Toddler approved by my 4 and 2 year old. I’m glad I made extra sauce as I wanted some more in my bowl. Next time I will double this and add some other veggies like carrots, broccoli or zucchini. So flavourful! No leftovers thanks for the help on a weeknight! Pro tip: make extra sauce in case you want more or for next time! It’s so good!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 7, 2022 at 9:45 AM

        That's awesome!!! Appreciate your review, Anisha! 😀

        Reply
    18. Billy says

      March 24, 2022 at 5:23 AM

      5 stars
      Quick easy and tasty I added chopped red chilli for extra heat .

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 24, 2022 at 9:46 AM

        Awesome!! 🙂

        Reply
    19. Jenny says

      March 21, 2022 at 8:57 PM

      This is a family favorite! It’s so easy and the flavors are excellent. Do yourself a favor and double it!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 21, 2022 at 9:09 PM

        That's so nice to hear your family enjoyed it, Jenny! 🙂

        Reply
    20. Maria says

      March 21, 2022 at 12:56 PM

      5 stars
      This looks yummy. I have a question regarding the ginger. You have to peel it prior to grating it, correct? Do you freeze it peeled already?

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 21, 2022 at 1:12 PM

        Hi Maria! We freeze it with the skin on. It protects it from getting freezer burn. You then grate the skin off the part of the ginger that you'd like to use. Takes a few seconds, then once you hit the inside, you just add that part to the recipe as needed. Enjoy!! 🙂

        Reply
    21. Taylor says

      March 20, 2022 at 6:03 PM

      5 stars
      This is one of our favourite recipes— it’s a weekly occurrence in our house!
      I double the sauce and sneak in more veg by adding sliced mushroom, celery and carrot.
      Thanks for posting it!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        March 20, 2022 at 6:33 PM

        I love that! So happy your home enjoys it, Taylor 🙂

        Reply
    22. Christine says

      March 8, 2022 at 12:31 PM

      5 stars
      MY ONLY REGRET WAS NOT SEEING THIS RECIPE SOONER! DELICIOUS , I USED ALL THE INGREDIENTS AND IT WAS PERFECTION. THIS WILL BE A NEW REGULAR MEAL IN OUR HOUSE 🏠

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 8, 2022 at 12:37 PM

        Fantastic!! 😀 Thanks, Christine!

        Reply
    23. Karen says

      February 10, 2022 at 5:28 PM

      I absolutely love this!!!! It is perfect for meal prepping! I doubled the sauce so it didn’t get dried out. Now I just have to get my kids to try it but I will definitely make this often.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 10, 2022 at 9:04 PM

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂

        Reply
    24. Nancy says

      February 9, 2022 at 3:51 PM

      5 stars
      This was so good. I added an onion and some broccoli. I will double the sauce next time. Grandson's approved.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 9, 2022 at 4:15 PM

        Fantastic!! 🙂 Thanks, Nancy!

        Reply
    25. Andrea says

      January 9, 2022 at 3:06 PM

      Can I substitute the brown sugar with something else like honey? Or omit it altogether?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 9, 2022 at 3:28 PM

        Hi! I think honey should be fine. You could omit it, but it'll then make a bit less sauce and of course be a bit less sweet. Hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂

        Reply
    26. Beverly Weisbaum says

      January 3, 2022 at 8:24 AM

      Can the beef part of this be frozen maybe divided into single serving sizes and then added to rice, etc?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 3, 2022 at 10:21 AM

        Hi! You could, but you may want to double the sauce if doing that. This dish doesn't have a ton of sauce to begin with, and I feel like by the time you thaw and re-heat, it may end up a bit dry.

        Reply
    27. Allie says

      December 10, 2021 at 7:09 PM

      This recipe is a favorite and often lands on our weekly rotation. When we are feeling extra fancy we put an over easy egg on top - it is delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 10, 2021 at 7:35 PM

        Love that idea!! 🙂

        Reply
    28. Ashley says

      December 7, 2021 at 11:51 AM

      Does the nutrition include the rice? Thank you! Great recipe

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 7, 2021 at 12:00 PM

        Yes it does. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it, Ashley!

        Reply
    29. Gina Gunn says

      December 2, 2021 at 1:44 PM

      I made this, but I substituted the beef with chicken. It was great. We had NO leftovers!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 2, 2021 at 2:48 PM

        Awesome!!

        Reply
    30. Kandace Furlong says

      August 2, 2021 at 4:44 PM

      5 stars
      My wife and I made this and WOW, not sure anything this easy has ever slapped that hard - this recipe is the online form of pure FIRE. I'm drooling, probably have to make it again tonight.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 2, 2021 at 7:15 PM

        Haha I love that. Thank you!!

        Reply
    31. Brenda Woods says

      May 27, 2021 at 6:32 PM

      5 stars
      Quickly became a family fav. Used a teason- ish of ginger paste instead of fresh. Also added crushed red chili flakes. Added scallion in with pepper adore to garnish. So easy and delish

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 27, 2021 at 9:22 PM

        Fantastic!! I'm so glad it's a hit in your home, Brenda!

        Reply
    32. Suzanne says

      May 19, 2021 at 9:52 AM

      5 stars
      I made this minus the ginger (I hate ginger) & I sautéed the whites of the green onions with the ingredients & garnished with the greens. It was awesome. I’ve tried a few bulgoggi recipes that disappointed but this beef bowl was more what I wanted for taste & it was a hit. We’ve made it twice in a few weeks. Easy & quick after a workday when you don’t feel like cooking. I can’t wait to try more recipes-it’s hard to find good ones that actually turn out well & so I’m excited about finding your site!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 19, 2021 at 10:14 AM

        I'm so happy you like it so much!! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comment. Let me know if you try anything else.

        Reply
    33. emily powers says

      May 3, 2021 at 8:54 AM

      5 stars
      This recipe was so delicious and my entire family loved it! I did add water chestnuts, shitake mushrooms and the white parts of the scallions to the beef and will probable make more sauce next time because it was sooooo good! Thanks for the recipe! This will be added as a regular to our rotation.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 3, 2021 at 11:04 AM

        That's awesome!! So glad you liked it. You're welcome! Your additions sound delish.

        Reply
    34. Monique says

      April 30, 2021 at 8:05 PM

      5 stars
      Definitely adding to weekly rotation! My kids and husband loved this recipe, as did I!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 1, 2021 at 10:13 AM

        Woo hoo!! Thank you 🙂

        Reply
        • Tara says

          May 13, 2023 at 9:22 AM

          5 stars
          This is my sons favorite dinner I’ve ever made . I also doubled the sauce and never have any leftovers. My family loves every single recipe I’ve gotten from your site. Thank you for all your delicious recipes.

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            May 13, 2023 at 9:42 AM

            Awww I love that, Tara!! 😀 That makes me so happy. You're very welcome!

            Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Natasha Bull, founder and author of Salt & Lavender, in the kitchen

    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

    FREE 10 Easy Chicken Recipes E-book

    ​

      ​

      BROWSE RECIPES:

      Footer

      • Contact
      • FAQ
      • Site Policies
      • For Bloggers
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter

      · Copyright © 2023 Salt & Lavender Inc ·