• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RecipeTin Eats

Fast Prep, Big Flavours

  • My RecipeTin
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Category
    • Mains
      • Chicken
        • Chicken mince
      • Beef Recipes
        • Ground Beef (Mince)
      • Pork
      • Lamb
      • Turkey
      • Shrimp / Prawns
      • Salmon
      • Fish
      • Salad Meals
    • Quick and Easy
    • Soups
    • One Pot
    • Stews
    • Slow Cooker
    • Sides
      • All
      • Vegetables
      • Show Off Salads
      • Rice
      • Potato
    • Pasta
      • All
      • Pasta bakes
      • Pasta salads
    • Sweet
      • Cake recipes
      • Cupcakes & Muffins
      • Cookies
      • Puddings & Cosy Desserts
      • Bite Size
      • Pies
      • Slices & Bars
      • Frosting & Icing
    • Cuisine
      • Asian
        • All
        • Stir fries
        • Noodles
        • Soups
        • Chinese
        • Japanese
        • Korean
        • Thai
        • Vietnamese
      • French
      • Greek
      • Indian
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
      • Middle Eastern
      • South American
    • Dietary
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Calorie
      • Vegetarian
    • Other Categories
      • BBQ
      • Breakfast
      • Burgers
      • Cocktails
      • Party Foods
      • Rice Recipes
      • Roasts
      • Sandwiches & Sliders
  • ✨Special✨
  • Collections
  • About
    • Me
    • RecipeTin Meals
    • Free Recipe Books
    • Contact
    • eBooks
      • The Food Photography Book
      • Chicken Wings Cookbook
    • Food Bloggers Central
    • Nitty Gritty
      • Policy: Use of Recipes & Images
      • Privacy & Disclosure
Home Quick and Easy

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi – Korean BBQ Beef)

By:Nagi
Published:17 Aug '15Updated:19 Apr '21
105 Comments
Recipe v

This is an authentic recipe for Korean Beef Bulgogi. It’s easy and fast to make, and the ingredients are all from the supermarket. I think you will be surprised by two key ingredients in the marinade: grated apple and grated onion. This is quite unique to Korean cooking – and it makes an incredible base for this simple, tasty stir fry!

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi - Korean BBQ Beef) - easy to make with ingredients from the supermarket. Great marinade!

Korean Beef Bulgogi

When I think about food trends in recent years, one of the cuisines that comes to mind straight away is Korean food.

Legends like David Chang (of the world renowned Momofuku restaurants) and Roy Choi (LA Korean fusion food truck extraordinaire) have brought Korean food into the limelight. Whereas once you had to hunt to find great Korean restaurants in Sydney, now they are really common in the city and there are growing pockets throughout the suburbs with an increasing number of great Korean restaurants.

Korean food is now cool. It’s what sushi was 10 years ago!

I have always loved Korean food, from the moment I first tried it. But honestly, it wasn’t until perhaps about 5 years ago that I started making it myself at home. You will laugh when I tell you how I got onto Korean home cooking….

It was because of my Korean hairdresser. Truly! She’s a character. Even though I now live 30km/20 miles from her salon, I still make the trek there every 6 weeks not only because she knows what she’s doing, but also because she dictates recipes to me while she colours and snips away!

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi - Korean BBQ Beef) - easy to make with ingredients from the supermarket. Great marinade!

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi - Korean BBQ Beef) - easy to make with ingredients from the supermarket. Great marinade!

One such recipe she dictated to me was Bulgogi, which is otherwise known as Korean BBQ Beef. It is probably one of the more commonly known Korean dishes in Western countries. Marinated beef which is stir fried with onion and carrots. Then served either using lettuce wraps or on rice.

The recipe she dictated to me was a loose interpretation, along the lines of “throw in some garlic, grated apple and onion, splash of sesame oil” etc, but I still jotted it down. Then went in hunt of a full recipe to follow!

That’s when I first stumbled onto My Korean Kitchen, and food blog run by Sue who is a native Korean now living in Australia. For anyone interested in making real and fusion Korean food at home (note: it’s fusion that stays on the right side of the fusion line!), My Korean Kitchen is a fantastic blog to bookmark. Not only are her recipes delicious, they always work and she goes to great lengths to ensure she explains ingredients that might not be familiar to everyone.

So this Korean Beef Bowl (aka Korean BBQ Beef) I’m sharing today is very slightly adapted from her recipe for Bulgogi – Korean BBQ Beef. So you can have absolute confidence that this is the real deal!

The use of grated apple and onion in a marinade is quite uniquely Korean. It’s a fabulous way to get a bit of sweet and touch of tang from the apple and flavour from the onion into a Marinade. This exact Marinade is fantastic used with chicken, beef and pork for grilling on the BBQ. In fact, it features frequently at my fusion-Asian BBQ’s I put on!

Hope you give this a try! It really is fabulously delish! – Nagi x


More Korean Recipes

  • Spicy Korean Pork Stir Fry

  • Momofuku Marinated Beef Skirt Steak Ssam

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi - Korean BBQ Beef) - easy to make with ingredients from the supermarket. Great marinade!

Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi - Korean BBQ Beef) - easy to make with ingredients from the supermarket. Great marinade!

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi)

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 20 mins
Dinner, Stir Fry
Korean
4.97 from 27 votes
Servings2 -3
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 368
This is a very classic, traditional dish from Korea. It is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries as more and more people are discovering not only how delicious it is, but how easy it is to make with ingredients you can get from the supermarket! The beef has a lovely balance of sweet and salty. The use of grated apple and onion is classic Korean and it makes all the difference!

This recipe makes enough for 2 to 3 people, served with rice as a main.

Ingredients

Beef

  • 14 oz / 400 g thinly sliced beef , any good quality tender cut suitable for grilling (Note 1)
  • 1 scallion/shallot stem , green and white part separated, both finely sliced (Note 2)
  • 1/2 large onion (brown, yellow or white), peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 medium carrot , peeled, cut vertically then cut into thin slices on the diagonal
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil (I use peanut or vegetable oil)
  • 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

Marinade

  • 3 tbsp ordinary soy sauce (I use Kikkoman)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp mirin (Note 3)
  • 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp grated onion (brown, white or yellow)
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 3 tbsp grated red apple (not green - they are too tart) OR nashi pears
  • 1/2 tsp minced ginger
  • Black pepper

Instructions

  • Blot the beef dry using a paper towel then place into a bowl.
  • Mix together the Marinade ingredients in a small bowl, then add the beef. Stir gently to coat the beef, cover with cling wrap and set aside to marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight. Because the meat is thin, you still get good flavour even with 1 hour of marinating.
  • Heat the oil in a wok or large fry pan over high heat.
  • Add the onion and white part of the scallion/shallots. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Then add the beef, including the Marinade, and carrots. Cook for around 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the beef is just cooked.
  • Remove from heat, then toss through the sesame seeds.
  • Serve immediately with rice - or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice! Sprinkle with extra sesame seeds and the reserved green part of the scallions.

Recipe Notes:

1. As with all stir fries, this cooks very quickly so you need to use a decent cut of beef for it. Rump, flank, sirloin, t-bone and scotch fillet are excellent for this recipe.
Slice the beef against the grain. When you look at the beef, you will notice that the fibres are mostly going in one direction. Place the beef in front of you so the fibres are going left to right. Then cut through the fibres i.e. cut perpendicular to the direction of the fibres (see here for illustrative image). Cutting it this way makes the beef more tender!
Slow cooking cuts, like chuck, are not suitable unless you tenderise it (see How to tenderise beef the Chinese restaurant way)
You can actually find very thinly sliced frozen beef at Asian grocery stores. If you have one in your area, this is a fantastic tip! Note only is it cheaper, you save yourself the cutting time and it is super handy to have in your freezer for quick stir fries.
2. I separate the green and white part of the scallion because I cook the white part and use the green part as garnish.
3. Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine used for cooking. You can substitute with dry sherry or sake + 1/2 tsp of sugar. If you cannot have alcohol in your cooking, substitute with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar + 1/2 tsp sugar.
4. Adapted from this recipe: Bulgogi - Korean BBQ Beef by My Korean Kitchen. A wonderful blog for authentic Korean recipes and provides great information about Korean ingredients. It's run by Sue who is a Korean living in Australia which is great because it means I know I can get all the ingredients she uses!
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

The Spicy Side of Life: Korean recipes

Close up of Bibimbap Korean Rice Bowl with Bibimbap Sauce, ready to be eaten
Bibimbap! (Korean Rice Bowl)
Overhead photo of tray with freshly cooked Korean BBQ Marinated Beef Short ribs (Galbi)
Galbi – Korean BBQ Marinated Beef Short Ribs
Momofuku Bossam with sauces
Momofuku Bossam – Korean Slow Cooked Pork Roast
Kimchi Fried Rice in a skillet, freshly cooked
Kimchi Fried Rice
Momofuku Marinated Beef Skirt Steak Ssam
Spicy Korean Pork Stir Fry with chopsticks
Spicy Korean Pork Stir Fry
Close up of Bibimbap Korean Rice Bowl with Bibimbap Sauce, ready to be eaten
Korean Recipes

Korean Beef Bulgogi nutrition assuming this serves 3 and is made using Sirloin steak.

Korean Beef Bowl (Bulgogi) Nutrition

Previous Post
Bacon, Egg and Mushroom Tart
Next Post
One Skillet Baked Chicken Shawarma and Rice (Pilaf)

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

Read More

Free Recipe eBooks

Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks!

Related Posts

Overhead photo of chicken shawarma

Chicken Shawarma (Middle Eastern)

Close up of crispy toasted bread scooping up Baked Brie

Baked Brie

Overhead photo of Mexican Corn Salad

Mexican Corn Salad

More Quick and Easy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cooked this? Rate this recipe!




105 Comments

  1. SandraM says

    January 24, 2018 at 11:21 am

    5 stars
    Yum! Made this for dinner tonight. Loved the flavours of this marinade! Added extra carrots and had some broccoli stalks that I sliced up as well. (always gotta get more veggies in)😏
    Will definitely be making this again. Would be great with pork or chicken as well I think.
    So freaking good!

    Reply
  2. Lauren U says

    December 21, 2017 at 2:43 am

    Love Bulgogi after being introduced to it threw Korean friends! I have stew meat currently defrosting (1lb) and thinking to try this. Do you think meat will be tender enough cooked in skillet? Do you think I could /should try in IP or slow cooker? Would love your thoughts! Posters comments on the awesome flavor have me wary of adapting this too much 🙂

    Reply
  3. Steven says

    June 17, 2017 at 1:56 am

    5 stars
    Omg this was amazing. I used rice as you suggested which was delish. I also used lettuce to wrap the meat with a squirt of go ju sauce. Amazing. Love your recipes. Tonight I’m making your chicken lemon garlic crock pot recipe.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 19, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      That’s fantastic to hear Steven! Thanks for letting me know – N xx

      Reply
  4. Cat says

    April 8, 2017 at 11:33 am

    5 stars
    Made this tonight. Easy and delicious!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 10, 2017 at 6:00 pm

      Whoot! So pleased to hear that Cat, thank you for letting me know! N xx

      Reply
  5. judy says

    October 7, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    5 stars
    hi nagi: i have been using your recipes for months now and am finally giving you a HUGE THANK YOU and shout out! your recipes are deceptively simple in execution yet amazingly high in flavor. made the bulgogi tonight- my 12 yr old (very picky) says, “wow. this is tasty,” i make your flatbreads 1-2 times per week, your butter chicken is divine (and i cook a lot of indian), have made your desserts, salads, you name it! when i cook something new, hubby (also very picky) says, “is that a nagi recipe?!?!” i love the pics and stories of Dozer- what a gorgeous expressive companion! lots of applause to you and i am so happy i found your site! hugs, davis family

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 7, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Judy – your message made my night, thank you! I am so glad you and your family are enjoying my recipes!! Can’t tell you how cool it is to hear that your hubby asks if it’s a “Nagi” recipe – ha ha ha! N xx

      Reply
  6. Scotty says

    February 7, 2016 at 5:20 am

    5 stars
    Another cracker Nagi, so quick and dead easy to make delicious!

    Cheers Nagi

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      February 10, 2016 at 11:12 am

      Thank you Scotty! So glad you liked this!! 🙂 I was actually thinking about sharing another Korean recipe soon, saw this message from you and I think it’s prompted me! How about a Korean marinated chicken?? It’s dead easy too!

      Reply
  7. Nancy says

    January 5, 2016 at 9:36 pm

    5 stars
    Daughter really loves bulgogi. Used to buy bottled bulgogi marinade from Korean shops… But I love your marinade from scratch…. Be cooking this again….thanks a lot for sharing your recipe….

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      January 6, 2016 at 6:10 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this Nancy! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!!

      Reply
  8. Teresa says

    January 5, 2016 at 4:14 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you! Love it when I find a recipe that is a keeper. Will be part of my weekly dinner. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Simple and excellent flavor.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      January 6, 2016 at 6:09 pm

      So glad Teresa! Isn’t it exceptional? Sue – the blogger behind the site I got the recipe from – is a brilliant book. Knowns Korean food inside out!

      Reply
  9. Lisa says

    November 22, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Having just developed a kdrama obsession, I find myself drawn to all things Korean, including food. I made this for dinner tonight and it was utterly delicious! The combination of the grated apple and onion in the marinade is genius. This will be on our regular dinner rotation from now on. Thank you so much for sharing and giving such clear and concise instructions. Your photographs are beautiful too.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      November 24, 2015 at 7:20 am

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it Lisa! I have a bit of a Korean obsession too 🙂 And thank you for the compliments! N x

      Reply
  10. Bam's Kitchen says

    August 22, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    5 stars
    Tasty little dish… and mighty fine washed down with an Asahi beer if I do say myself!!! My Korean friends and I sometimes marinate our bulgogi beef with grated Asian pears, kiwis and even Sprite/7 up too. Have you ever tried this? Very delicious too. Beautiful photos Nagi! Looking forward to checking out My Korean Kitchen site. Just pinned! Take care and have a super weekend!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 23, 2015 at 6:33 am

      I heard about Kiwi – but not 7Up! Seriously? Do you have a recipe on your site?

      Reply
      • Bam's Kitchen says

        August 23, 2015 at 10:48 am

        Hi there Nagi! don’t you just love Korean foods as it has that delicious balance of savoury and sweet. I really need to renovate /take new photos for my BiBimBap recipe as it is over 3 years old but this recipe is really delicious and it uses both kiwi and Sprite (lemon/lime soda) in the mixture. http://bamskitchen.com/mains/beef/bibimbap-비빔밥/ Have a super weekend and please take care of yourself!

        Reply
  11. Debra Davidson says

    August 22, 2015 at 3:52 am

    4 stars
    I love your recipes and this one was a big hit with the family. Just one request from foolish people like me who don’t read through the recipe properly – could you mention the marinade time where you list prep time and cooking time. I missed this and thought it was a quick 20 minute dish – so we were REALLY hungry an hour and a half later by the time it was ready to eat! Worth the wait though …

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 22, 2015 at 6:04 am

      Hi Debra! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’m sorry you missed the marinade time 🙁 I will try to get the recipe template updated to include it as another section, or otherwise I will start including marinating time in the description. 🙂

      Reply
  12. Yvonne says

    August 21, 2015 at 9:10 am

    At least 25 years ago when I was living and working in DC there was a Korean carry-out around the corner. I had bulgogi once or twice a week. I haven’t had it since then. When I saw your recipe I had to try it! I just got up from the dinner table with a full tummy and a broad grin. I made your recipe tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was delicious! I followed your recipe with only one exception. I added a scant teaspoon of Thai chili paste. Yummy. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 22, 2015 at 5:47 am

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it Yvonne!! Made me smile reading how much you enjoyed it. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a message!! <3

      Reply
  13. Shinee says

    August 21, 2015 at 4:05 am

    Oh, I loose Bulgogi, too bad I don’t make it enough. Thanks for reminding of this delicious and easy dish. Will try this recipe soon. Beautiful job, Nagi!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 21, 2015 at 6:12 am

      Thanks Shinee!! I know, I must admit, I don’t make it as often as I should. I mean, it’s so easy and so delish!!

      Reply
  14. Ange @ LittleKitchenBlue says

    August 20, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    I am so excited to try this tonight….meat has been marinating since last night, its going to be sooo tender…I made my daugther eat an applie at 10pm just so I could pinch a chunck for the marinade. Oh and my daughter is 23, I did not wake a sleeping child for the sake of a marinade just saying 😉

    Oh and PS my hairdresser is Maltese….. 🙂

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 21, 2015 at 6:03 am

      I burst out into laughter – I have to admit, I did raise an eyebrow when I read that you made your daughter eat an apple at 10pm!! I mean, I would have been impressed with the commitment… 😉

      Maltese hairdressor? Bet you get some FAB recipes 🙂 Maltese food is delish!! (I have a strange number of Maltese in my life. Friend, best friend’s husband, sister’s boyfriend. Strange!)

      Reply
  15. Christine says

    August 20, 2015 at 4:58 am

    I need a hairdresser like that!!
    I had Korean BBQ for the first time about 4 months ago and I would eat it every day now if I could. And, apparently, I can!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 20, 2015 at 7:53 am

      It’s awesome, isn’t it? Now go find an ethnic hairdresser! Makes those monthly cuts SO much more interesting!!! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Rachel (Rachel's Kitchen NZ) says

    August 19, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Thanks for the info about My Korean Kitchen – I’m always looking for resources for Korean cooking and one close to home is even better. This looks fab and thanks again Nagi – even if it’s another blog to follow:-)

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 20, 2015 at 7:01 am

      I spied a chickpea curry on your blog. I wish I could send you photo of a big bowl of leftover chickpeas I cooked that I need to use up asap – and the wedge of pumpkin I have too!!

      Reply
  17. Sabrina says

    August 19, 2015 at 3:06 pm

    This sounds wonderful! I love the use of the apple in the marinade!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 20, 2015 at 7:00 am

      Thanks Sabrina!

      Reply
  18. Marlene says

    August 19, 2015 at 11:32 am

    Another great recipe, Nagi. I have family and grandkids visiting soon and this looks like it would appeal to all ages! Thanks for the links to Sue’s blog and your favorites as well. What a treasure you are!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 20, 2015 at 6:56 am

      oooh! Yes this is a great one for all ages, especially because there is no chili in it! I’m so glad you are enjoying my recipes! Thank you for reading! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says

    August 19, 2015 at 8:37 am

    5 stars
    This is making my mouth water. The apple really does surprise me – it’s amazing, though, how an unexpected ingredient can add so much depth of flavor. I must try this immediately…apples are just coming into season here.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      August 20, 2015 at 6:56 am

      Thanks Marissa!! The apple really is an incredible secret ingredient 🙂

      Reply
  20. Kevin | keviniscooking says

    August 19, 2015 at 6:22 am

    5 stars
    So I guess I’ll be ditching my Bulgogi post as this one ROCKS! I swear, I just made a version with flapsteak on the grill last night. Pout time….
    Seems like a bulgogi will someday come to my site. I made some a month ago, loved the marinade, but not the short ribs. Try, try again, right? Well I will see how my photos turn out and then decide if I post it. Beautiful shots here as usual Nagi.
    P.S. I had a visual with you getting your hair done taking notes as she spouted recipes. Nice chuckle, thanks! 😉

    Reply
Older Comments
Newer Comments

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

Free Recipe eBooks

Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks!

Meet Dozer

Official taste tester of RecipeTin Eats! Meet Dozer
As Featured On

What's for Dinner?

Close up of beef enchiladas in a baking dish, fresh out of the oven

Beef Enchiladas

Butter Chicken served over basmati rice in a bowl, ready to be served

Butter Chicken

Overhead photo of 2 black bowls with Chinese Chicken Salad with Asian Dressing, ready to be eaten

Chinese Chicken Salad

Salisbury Steak recipe in skillet.

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken - 7 ingredient magic. The coconut fragrance is heavenly! recipetineats.com

Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken

Fast prep. Big flavours!

Never miss a recipe

Back to Top
  • Related
  • RecipeTin Japan
  • Food Bloggers Center
  • Help
  • Contact Us
  • Image Use
  • Privacy Policy & Terms
Site Credits Maintained by Zao Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled © RecipeTin Eats 2022 · All Rights Reserved Back to Top