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:
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Japanese Pork and Green Bean Stir Fry <<– On my mother’s website, RecipeTin Japan
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Larb Gai (Thai Lettuce Wraps) and San Choy Bau (Chinese Lettuce Wraps)
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…
Life of Dozer
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I just made this as I have 10lbs ground beef to use. I cooked up 3lbs for this recipe using double the amount of sauce below. I don’t think I have the same soy sauce so that’s why I altered the amounts. Amazing!! I plan on freezing most of it
Again another yummy recipe. I snuck in some veggies with shredded carrots and frozen edamame in the last few minutes when I added the sauce. Served over rice. Super fast dinner. I can’t wait to make it again.
Nagi, your recipes never disappoint and this is no exception. A dish with so few (and simple) ingredients and the result is an amazing flavour bomb in a bowl. Thank you!
Another fantastic recipe! I’ve fallen madly in love with just about every single recipe I’ve made from this site. Can’t wait to get your cookbook too! I used regular soy sauce cause my local grocery store didn’t have the dark version and when served I topped my bowl with a couple drops of hot chili oil and wow
Great, easy recipe as always! I trust Nagi to deliver when I’m low on inspiration and motivation!! This was delicious and soo quick! I added some chilli oil and served with a salad/slaw thing with the RTE Asian Sesame Dressing. Dinner in 15 minutes!
This is one of my family’s favourite recipe. Big help for a working mum like me. Easy and yummy! Thank you.
I’ve shared this recipe with my sister and friend, too!
LOVED IT, I added Frozen peas for some vegetable servings and my toddler ate it all up! If she eats all of something I know it’s good!! Thank you
Yummy and so easy! I added red cabbage and mushrooms and served over rice. My 3 year old said ‘mmmm!!!’ So that’s a big seal of approval because he normally lives on air 😂 thanks Nagi! Love your recipes, you are my go to!
Hi Nagi my idol, I enjoyed this quick easy recipe ever. I think I Will try with ground chicken next time!
I stumbled across this recipe 2 years ago & it is now a family favourite here in Nz! I have a large family with a mixed aged of kids/teens so sometimes i add grated carrot or Mushrooms to the mince to make it stretch further. I also make it as a poke bowl sometimes- so i will add broccoli, kumara or whatever i have in the fridge to make it a healthy and filling dinner for the family!
Hi ..my great granddaughter wanted her fav chinese chicken but all I had was hamburger. Found this recipe..shes amazed! Her new fav beef dish..I’m eating it on lettuce wraps. Super delish. And quick!
Can I top this Asian beef bowl with a fried egg?
I enjoyed this quick easy recipe. I added a jalapeno, broccoli and green pepper and cilantro as a garnish and served it over rice noodles. It turned out Vietnamese-esque
That’s the great thing about bowls Darrah! You can make them into whatever variation you like!! N X
Great idea..Thanks for posting. ☺
Fast and tasty meal. Stir fried some bok choy, snow peas and yellow bell pepper first. Set veggies aside while making the meat, then added it back in to serve over rice. Will try with ground chicken next time!
Woo hoo! I am happy you liked it May! N x
Really simple and very tasty. I’ll be cooking this again.
Thank you.
This is my go-to quick stir fry dinner. I absolutely love it and recommend it to EVERYONE I know. Thanks Nagi!!
One of my faves! So tasty. I sub the rice with lettuce leaves and grated carrot. I also add cucumber and sriracha with a small amount of rice noodles. Delicious!
I am happy that you enjoyed it Miranda! N x
It’s delicious! I was afraid that the Dark Soy Sauce would be too stong, but the taste of sweetness is great! Would definitely make this again for the family!
This was so easy and delicious. I paired it with ramen noodles, broccoli, & jasmine rice with a poached egg. Thank you for sharing!
That was yummo Nagi! And my relatives enjoyed your coleslaw yesterday at the family reunion! Thanks.
I’m happy that you enjoyed it Ro! N x