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
-
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…
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Heather says
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.
June says
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!
kimchi says
It was delish! I will make it again.
Lauren says
Another winner Nagi!! Needed something quick and easy to make when my husband comes home late and this is delish! Thanks for another great recipe!
Hugs&kisses says
Hi Nagi, just found your site and this recipe. Had every single item except scallions. Threw in some shetaki mushrooms, bok choy and celery tops oh and some fresh grated ginger. My veggie drawers thanked you for lifting their load🤣. Worked very well and lived your suggestions on alternatives. I wish you and yours well.
Felicity says
Another family favourite. Don’t we all love it when there’s a meal everyone loves. I do add ginger to the sauce and chilli flakes. Serve on top of rice, poached egg, chilli oil and salad like cucumber & spring onion. Sometimes I do lettuce cups and serve with vermicelli rice noodles. Yum, no double yum.
Ann L says
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
Liz says
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!
Lydia says
Made it tonight! Added loads of ginger and a little chilli oil and it was absolutely splendid. Kids really liked it too!
Maristela Lima-Napier says
One of many family favourite from your amazing recipes. I am a counsellor for mind-counselling.co.uk in Edinburgh. I have directed so many of my clients to your website, the meals are uncomplicated and delicious. Thank you
Rachel says
OMG!!!!
This is soooooo good.
I made it for the first time last week and instantly fell in love with it so I’ve made it again tonight.
I don’t eat Oyster sauce so replaced it with Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce) and it’s tastes amazing.
Thank you Nagi for your brilliant recipes.
IRENE says
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!
Sandi says
This is my kind of recipe! – It is tasty, quick and easy on those nights you feel lazy or short on time. Budget friendly too! I sometimes add shredded cabbage or beans. My son has an obsession with Sweet Chilli Sauce at the moment. Tonight he added some to his meal, and everyone loved it! So I might start adding some during the cooking from now on!
Aleigha says
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
Elena says
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!
Blitzo says
Hi Nagi my idol, I enjoyed this quick easy recipe ever. I think I Will try with ground chicken next time!
Rena says
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!
Frankie L Flores says
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!
Diane says
Can I top this Asian beef bowl with a fried egg?
Penny says
I saw someone topped it with a poached egg so I was going to do a fried egg tonight. I think it will be amazing 😊
Rota says
Can you?
Darrah says
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
Frankie L Flores says
Great idea..Thanks for posting. ☺
Nagi says
That’s the great thing about bowls Darrah! You can make them into whatever variation you like!! N X