Say goodbye to boring beef mince recipes….. these Asian Beef Bowls are super tasty, super easy and SUPER fast! Made with just a handful of staple Asian condiments, the ground beef can be switched with chicken, pork or even turkey.
Also, don’t miss the popular noodle version of this recipe – Asian Beef Ramen Noodles!
Super quick beef mince recipe!
This one is for all those nights when you peer into your fridge, find a packet of beef mince and are completely uninspired to make Spag Bol – yet again.
This is also one for all those nights when you’ve been baking, filming and photographing recipes all day, and you swear you don’t have the energy to make anything for dinner but your mother brain washed you so well, you feel guilty for even thinking about picking up the phone to order home delivery.
Oh wait. Is that just me? 😂
This is not a traditional Chinese or other Asian recipe, hence the obscure name “Asian Beef Bowls”.
However, if you have ever made a Chinese stir fry – or in fact, any Chinese recipe – you will likely instantly recognise all the ingredients in the sauce. No Western ingredients. This is made with 100% authentic Asian ingredients. And when you take the first bite, it will be so familiar to you.
Because the sauce is so similar to many stir fries, yet an exact replica of none!
Here’s what you need
And here’s how easy it is to make:
What to serve on the side
Serve this over rice or, for a healthy low carb option, Cauliflower Rice (77% fewer calories and 87% less carbs than rice).
For a side salad, here are a few suggestions.
Side Salads to accompany this dish
I love this recipe because it’s made with beef mince (ground beef) i.e. no meat slicing. Asian recipes made with beef mince aren’t that common, but there are a handful of terrific ones and they are worth knowing for the convenience of being able to make a quick meal when you’ve got a packet of mince on hand. Here’s a handful of my favourites:
- Easy Sichuan Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans
- Japanese Pork and Green Bean Stir Fry <<– On my mother’s website, RecipeTin Japan
- Larb Gai (Thai Lettuce Wraps) and San Choy Bau (Chinese Lettuce Wraps)
- Thai Chicken or Pork Stir Fry
- Chinese Pork Mince with Noodles “Chinese Bolognese”
Unlike most stir fries, this one doesn’t come with a ton of sauce. But it’s juicy and the beef has a ton of flavour in it so when it’s all mixed up with the rice, you certainly won’t feel like you’re missing sauce. Promise! ~ Nagi x ❤️
Watch how to make it
“Wow! Can’t believe something that was so quick to do was also so tasty.”
– Jacqui, January 2019
“This would have to be the tastiest easiest mince dish I have ever cooked in 15 minutes.”
– Wendy, 10 May 2017
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Asian Beef Bowls
Ingredients
Sauce:
- 1 tbsp Hoisin Sauce (or sub with Oyster)
- 2 tbsp Oyster Sauce (or sub with 1 1/2 tbsp Hoisin)
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (or Mirin, dry sherry, sake or any rice wine) (Note 1)
- 2 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce (Note 2)
- 2 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp white pepper (or sub with black)
Stir Fry:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 500 g /1 lb beef mince (ground beef) (lean is good)
- 1/2 cup shallots / scallions , sliced, plus more for garnish
Garnishes:
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Mix Sauce together in a bowl
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute or until onion starts browning.
- Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.
- Once the beef has all changed from red to brown, add Sauce. Cook for a further 2 minutes, or until Sauce has evaporated and beef is cooked. If you want the beef cooked more, add a splash of water and keep cooking (I don't do this).
- Stir through shallots, then serve over rice, garnished with more shallots and sesame seeds, if desired. Or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published May 2017, updated with new video, new photos, step photos, refreshed writing, and latest and greatest in Life of Dozer!
More quick 15 minute Asian meals
- Quick Asian Beef RAMEN Noodles and Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles – 15 minutes, made in one pot
- Chinese Chicken and Corn Soup with Egg Ribbons – so simple, this will blow your mind…
- Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans – flavour packed!
- Egg Fried Rice – it all comes down to the sauce…
- See 15 Minute Recipes
Life of Dozer
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Delicious and enjoyed by all the family! Substituted beef with kangaroo and served with a heap of veg. Super quick and easy.
Delish.. said I was gonna make it and yep 👍….
quick, tasty and versatile.. I added some mushroom and red capsicum to the onion.. only cause I like extra veg…
It’s so versatile Joanne, I always add extra veg 🙂
Read your opening comments and.. yep, I hear you… mince meat but no inclination to make spaghetti Bolognese again,,
Looking forward to making this..
I assume this is ok to freeze?
100% YES!
This recipe is my go to when I am tired and grumpy. Today was one of those days and dinner was delicious. Thank you.
I hope it cheered you up Kathy! N x
This too is the second time I have made this meal. I wanted something easy after a hectic Christmas. Such great flavours and so easy to prepare. I added capsicum, carrot and baby corn and served with brown rice. Yum!
Sounds great Kate! – N x
This is the second time making this in the last week and a half, the first time I added vegetables as I felt guilty not doing so but felt it took away the intensity of the flavors. This time I left them out and wow!!! The flavors are just amazing!!! Side vegetables next time, but seriously I could live on this dish and so could my kids..
I’m so glad you love it Amber!!
So fast and soooo good. I added a fried egg on top of each portion.
Great idea!!
Hi Nagi, this is our new favourite recipe I throw in some frozen steamed green veggies (nobody complains). Fantastic weeknight quick dinner.
Perfect Michelle!
My family absolutely love this meal and is often one that is so easily relied on to make a simple yet delicious dinner. We also like to use it as filling for San Choy Bow. Thanks so much Nagi xx
Great idea Ania!
Awesome quick meal. Added shirataki, chopped carrots and poblano pepper (left over in the fridge). Served on rice with stir fried veggies. So yum!
Sounds divine Michiyo!
I made this tonight and the only things I changed – I used 350g mince instead of 500g and I added a small squirt of Sriracha sauce plus I didn’t have any shallots. I like my dishes saucy. This was beautiful, so easy!!! You could add some green veggies – beans, broccoli or broccolini it would only add to the dish. I served over brown rice, I love how simple and easy this is!
I’m so glad you loved it Karen!!
This was a bowl of warming, delicious yum! This was my Thursday night answer to takeaway and, let me tell you, it certainly disappoint!
Wahoo! That’s great to hear Sarah!
I LOVE this recipe. I’ve made it many times. It’s my favorite goto recipe for when I’ve had a long day at work and looking for something fast, easy and delicious!
Perfect Sarah!
Which Chinese cooking wine do you mostly use for Chinese cooking?
I’ve made this recipe lots of times. Delicious! It is worth seeking out the Dark soy sauce. It does make a difference.
Super quick, easy and delicious – recipe is a winner with my family.
I’m so glad you loved it Claire – N x
Love this recipe! Very easy and tasty— clean up was also a breeze! We added some jicama, carrots, and a bit of leftover cabbage. Very flexible dish and can’t wait to make it again.
Yes perfect Jess!
Will using Tamari work in your recipes? Gluten free over here
Hi Telicia, sure will!
A nice, fast recipe with good flavour. My kids loved it but I added some sriracha for a little kick. I used green peppers instead of the onions since I’ve got lots from the garden. I also put it on bean vermicelli. Perhaps it detracted a little bit from what it should taste like?
Hi Gordon, I’m glad you enjoyed it even with the changes!
I made this recipe exactly as written a while ago. It was excellent. The sauce is absolutely delicious. I made it again yesterday using finely diced chicken instead of ground beef. And because the sauce is so good, I doubled the sauce. Just like the ground beef version, it was excellent!!
YESSSS! Sounds great Brian – N x