Korean Beef Bowls

Add these versatile Korean beef bowls to your menu plan for a flavorful spin on taco night! Make rice bowls, tacos, lettuce wraps, or salads, and load them up with your favorite toppings.

My family LOVES tacos. I once made Slow Cooker Carnitas on Sunday night and we ate tacos for dinner for the WHOLE WEEK. (And lunches too, if I’m being honest!)

Part of the reason we love tacos so much is because everyone can pick out their own toppings. My daughter doesn’t have to pick out mushrooms and my son can add extra lettuce. I can put all the extra sour cream and Guacamole I want!

The only downside to tacos is that we sometimes get tired of carnitas or The Best Ground Beef Taco Meat or All Purpose Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken.

Sometimes I want something with more PIZZAZZ… something with a real big kick in the butt of flavor.

That’s when I make Korean beef bowls.

WHY MAKE KOREAN BEEF BOWLS

You’re going to want to add these Korean beef bowls to your next menu plan too.

• The family likes it? Check.
• Beyond delicious? Check.
• Easy to make? Check (thank you Instant Pot!)

Budget-friendly? Oh yes – let’s talk about that.

Aside from the fact that tacos eliminate my people grumbling about unwanted vegetables, tacos are friendly to my grocery budget because they are CHEAP!

The most expensive part of any taco (or bowl or salad or wrap) is always the meat, but because tortillas are only so big and most people want to load up on toppings anyway, you can make a lot of tacos without a lot of meat.

EASY KOREAN BEEF BOWL RECIPE

You may remember that I first introduced you to this flavor combo via my Instant Pot Korean Beef recipe. Friends – this is LIFE CHANGING.

I know tacos and bowls are all about the toppings, but when you start with super flavorful and incredibly moist shredded beef, YOU ALREADY HAVE A TON OF FLAVOR, and you haven’t even put anything on top yet.

That’s the perfect start to the ultimate taco bowl experience in my opinion.

You can add your standard toppings of course, but change just one thing and BOOM, you have a completely different flavor profile.

That’s where we stand with these Korean beef bowls. This isn’t an exact recipe per se, other than starting with Instant Pot Korean Beef. It’s really a template for building your own bowl – or taco, or wrap, or burrito – using what you already have on hand.

And maybe it’ll give you a small nudge to try something new to see if you like it (yep, looking at you, kimchi!).

HOW TO BUILD THE PERFECT KOREAN RICE BOWL

I’m not entirely sure I need to give instructions on this, but just in case you’re new to the taco/bowl/wrap/salad world:

1. Choose whether you’re going to make a Korean rice bowl, taco, salad, or wrap.

Remember, just because I am calling this a bowl and the pictures are of a bowl, doesn’t mean YOU have to make a bowl. You do you, friend.

2. Load up your Korean beef.

Be generous. You want that Korean (or wannabe Korean) flavor!

3. Toppings galore.

Don’t even pretend to be shy here. Go crazy.

4. Eat until you cannot eat anymore.

The end.

KOREAN BEEF BOWL RECIPE INGREDIENTS

Let’s break down the Korean beef bowl recipe (which is really more of a method than a recipe).

BOWL / SALAD / TACO / WRAP

Pick a base – you can make these tacos or wraps or even salads!

Bowl / Salad Options:

• Cooked White Rice (we like jasmine)
• Cooked Brown Rice (make it in the Instant Pot)
• Coconut Lime Rice
• Cauliflower Rice
• Rice Noodles (white or brown, or even spaghetti or fettuccine if that’s what you have)
• Shredded lettuce (romaine would hold up well)
• Cabbage (finely shredded)

Taco / Wrap Options:

• Corn Tortillas
• Flour Tortillas
• Cassava Flour Tortillas
• Or use large-leaf lettuce for a Korean beef lettuce wrap. Try iceberg lettuce (or butter lettuce if it’s in season)

INSTANT POT KOREAN BEEF

Remember that we made this beef in the Instant Pot. I highly recommend making this earlier in the week (maybe during weekend meal prep? Or while you’re already in the kitchen doing something else? Or even while you’re sleeping?! ← YES!)

While you’re at it, make a 2x or 3x or 4x batch and freeze it in smaller portions for later. Your future self will thank you.

My Korean beef recipe is fairly simple. You take a beef roast, and smother it in a sauce made with the usual Asian ingredients including soy sauce (or tamari sauce for gluten-free), garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, and voila! Korean Beef!

If a beef roast isn’t in your freezer or in line for your macro goals, you can use ground turkey or lean ground beef. Brown it in a large skillet and then add the sauce from the original recipe. Let it cook down and flavor your meat!

TOPPINGS FOR KOREAN BEEF RICE BOWLS

We all know the toppings are where the fun is!

Traditional Toppings:

• Sour Cream
• Guacamole (super simple or extra creamy)
• Salsa (try Homemade Red Salsa)
• Shredded Cheese
• Diced Tomatoes
• Shredded Lettuce
• Refried Beans (THE BEST Slow Cooker Refried Beans)
• Lime Wedges
• Pico de Gallo

Super Fun Non-Traditional Toppings:

• Kimchi (Kimchi is spicy pickled cabbage – it’s super tangy and SO GOOD!)
• Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
• Sliced/Diced Avocado
• Sliced Cucumbers
• Shredded Carrots
• Green Onions
• Poached or Fried Egg
• Cilantro
• Chopped Peanuts
• Sautéed Onions / Peppers / Mushrooms
• Pickled Jalapenos
• Grilled Corn (cut off the cob)
• Crumbled Queso Fresco
• Diced Onions
• Thinly Sliced Radishes
• Mango Salsa
• Red pepper flakes
• Sesame seeds

Must-Try Sauces:

• Sriracha Mayo (get my spicy mayo recipe in this post)
• Lime Crema
• SRIRACHA MAYO + LIME CREMA (YESSSSS!)
• Salsa Verde

KOREAN BEEF RECIPE TIPS

• This is the Instant Pot I use to make my Korean Beef and Brown Rice (and Whole Chicken and Oatmeal).
• I purposefully make extra beef and rice on an earlier night in the week when I have more time to spend in the kitchen – you can easily store both in airtight containers in the refrigerator for several days.
• Then on a busy night, when I want to avoid the drive-thru, I have an EASY weeknight meal! Just a little chop, chopping of toppings, and reheating beef and rice, and BAM! A delicious healthy dinner in no time.

MACRO-FRIENDLY KOREAN BEEF BOWLS

If you’re tracking your macros, something like Korean beef bowls or tacos is a perfect meal to add to your meal plan because it’s so adaptable! Choose your base and toppings to fit with what you need to add or lower in your day.

• Lower Carb Beef Rice Bowl. Use less rice and load up on the lower-carb veggies and toppings. Or use a low-carb rice like Cauliflower Rice as your base. You could also omit the rice altogether and have a Korean beef salad or lettuce wrap!
• Lower Fat Korean Beef Bowl. Skip the cheese and sour cream, and pick toppings like fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa verde for big flavor without much fat.
• High Protein Korean Beef Bowl. Obviously, you’ll get protein from the beef itself, but toppings like beans, cheese, and mushrooms will also boost your protein numbers. You can also serve your Korean beef over cooked quinoa instead of served over rice for a protein boost.

KOREN BEEF BOWLS FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS ASIAN-INSPIRED RECIPES

• Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
• Easy Weeknight Vegetable Stir-Fry
• Kung Pao Chicken with Vegetables
• Sweet and Sour Chicken
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry