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:
-
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)
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
Project Manager Dozer, reporting for duty!!!
Lyn Greer says
Love the chicken chow mein recipe, easy , so does my husband
Nagi says
I’m so glad! Thank you for letting me know Lyn! N x
Serena says
Nagi, how can I thank you enough? Your recipes are so tasty, easy enough for family food, and the kids love them. These beef bowls are a fave, but also your chili con carne, pad see ew, chili mac, garlic chicken, and chicken pasta bake. Also carrot soup. Everything I’ve tried is great and I now have a new repertoire. And as the proud owner of a naughty 2 year old male Golden, the Life of Dozer is the icing on the cake. Thanks!!
Nagi says
I swear, all Goldies are naughty… in a cute fun way! 😂 Glad you are enjoying my recipes Serena, thank you for letting me know! N x
Julia says
This was so so good. I licked the frypan after we were done.
Seraphina says
This was really good! So easy and tasty, I had it with steamed broccoli and rice for 4 days in a row and can still have it. Definitely one I will repeat in future, maybe the very near future.. Thanks Nagi!
Nagi says
I love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed this Seraphina! N x
Lara says
Hey Nagi,
This recipe rocks, made it a few times now and just loving it!!!
But what am I telling you that you already don’t know :))
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lara says
It didn’t have enough stars, I think it should have 10, but I clicked on 5 and it didn’t apply for some reason 🙁
Nagi says
Got the 5 stars Lara!!! Really glad you enjoyed this one, thanks for sharing your feedback! N xx
Tommy says
Tried this dish today and tasted fantastic! Really tasty on a bed of white rice.
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Tommy! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you for letting me know! N x
Frances says
I freakin’ love this! 😁
Nagi says
🙌🏻 🙌🏻 LOVE hearing that! Thanks for letting me know Frances! N x
tunadip says
Hey Nagi! I made this for dinner just tonight – and the family loved it! And even requested for me to repeat it some time this week. heehee.. At first I thought it might be a tad too salty, but not at all! Thanks again!
Pia says
Sooo good! I had 3 bowls 😅
Amy says
Made this today for something quick for myself and my 2year old as the husband was
Working late. Added steamed brocolli and carrot, she devoured this (so did I). Leftovers for lunch tomorrow yay!
Nagi says
I’m so pleased you enjoyed this Amy! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback! N x ❤️
Martin Connolly says
I cooked this tonight and it was very simple and oh so tasty! I also added some vegetables after browning the meat. Nagi, I have now cooked several of your recipes and never been disappointed. You are my go-to culinary guru these days! It is great to follow someone who creates recipes with everydsy ingredients for us not-so-cheffy cooks . Thank you for sharing your talent.
Regards Martin
Nagi says
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed this Martin, thanks for letting me know! N x
Lara says
Simple, Quick and Delish!!!!
Cooked tonight, had to modify a bit as suggested, didn’t have rice wine and added celery and carrot, OMG!!!
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Vida says
I just made this the other day and it is delicious!! I love that it is so quick to put together with a few simple ingredients yet so flavorful. Will be one of my go-to recipes for sure!
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Vida! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it! N x
Huey Yen says
I am currently living abroad and I was looking for simple recipes. I tried this earlier and it tasted so good! This is really easy-to-make and delicious! Thank you for sharing this ◡̈
Nagi says
I LOVE HEARING THAT!! *Sorry for shouting* 😂
RUSDAN LEE says
Hi Nagi. I tried your receipe and indeed its delicious. I add some scramble egg inside just because i am lazy and just everything in and in came out great!
Nagi says
LOVE hearing that Rusdan!!! So glad you enjoyed it! N x
Jayne says
So quick, easy, delicious & sooo not spag bol…..just what I was after!
Nagi says
Ha ha ha! I know exactly what you mean! 😂
John Dunne says
Hi Nagi, made this tonight and it was tasty and easy.
I added two chopped up dried chilies to the onion and garlic segment as we like a bit of heat and it worked a treat. Love your work, and thanks for the recipe.
Murray says
Hi Nagi. Fabulous dish. I’ve just put a little twist by adding some chopped up omelette and some blanched carrots and capsicum. Truly special dish and so quick!!! Thank you
Nagi says
Love hearing that Murray! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know – N x ❤️
Rod says
My wife and I love this dish. It’s so easy and fast, too. I, also, couldn’t find dark soy sauce in our local store or in a big chain supermarket, so I had to use the common type. This is a dish we will enjoy regularly. Thanks much.
Nagi says
That’s wonderful to hear Rod! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x ❤️
Jamieanne says
Another dinner winner! This was so easy and so delicious! I’m disappointed to discover my only local supermarket stopped selling dark soy sauce, so I had to substitute with normal soy sauce, but it was still amazing! Thank you, Nagi!