These Easy Beef Bulgogi Bowls are a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner made with lean ground beef, roasted carrots and zucchini, and a savory-sweet bulgogi sauce. Served over rice and topped with a creamy, spicy sriracha mayo, this dish brings a comforting Korean-inspired meal to your table in under 30 minutes. It’s a healthy, delicious go-to option when time is short but taste still matters.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

2.5 tbsp olive oil, separated
2 large carrots, sliced
1 large zucchini, halved and sliced
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 lb lean ground beef
2 green onions, sliced (whites and greens separated)
Sesame seeds, for serving

Bulgogi Sauce:

5 tbsp low sodium soy sauce or tamari
2 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tbsp grated garlic
1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
½ tsp ground pepper
1 tsp toasted sesame oil

Spicy Sriracha Mayo:

2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp lime juice
2 tsp sriracha

Optional:

Cooked rice, for serving (white basmati or cauliflower rice)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Prepare the vegetables: Peel and slice carrots; slice zucchini into half moons. Toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 15–20 minutes until slightly browned.
While vegetables roast, whisk together all bulgogi sauce ingredients (except sesame oil) in a bowl and set aside.
In a separate small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and sriracha to make the spicy mayo. Set aside.
Heat a sauté pan over medium heat with ½ tbsp olive oil. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, for about 5 minutes until mostly browned.
Stir in the bulgogi sauce and most of the green onions (reserve some green tops for garnish). Cook 3–5 minutes until beef is fully cooked and sauce is mostly absorbed. Turn off heat and stir in sesame oil.
To serve, add rice to a bowl and top with bulgogi beef, roasted vegetables, reserved green onions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of spicy sriracha mayo.

Nutrients (Per Serving – Approximate)

Calories: Not specified (estimated ~500–600 depending on rice and mayo quantity)
Protein: Moderate to high (from lean beef)
Fat: Includes olive oil, beef, and mayo
Carbs: From rice, veggies, and sauce sugars
Note: For accurate values, use a nutrition calculator with your exact ingredients

What Makes This Dish Special

This isn’t just another rice bowl—it’s a complete, flavor-packed meal that combines convenience with authenticity. Ground beef makes the dish quicker and more affordable than traditional bulgogi made with marinated steak. Roasted carrots and zucchini add color, nutrients, and a subtle sweetness that balances the savory notes of the sauce. The rice forms a comforting base, while sesame seeds and green onions provide texture and freshness. The real magic, however, is in the bulgogi sauce and the sriracha mayo topping, which add layers of complexity that elevate the dish beyond everyday fare.

It’s everything you want from a home-cooked meal—fast, customizable, nutritious, and satisfying.

A Simplified Take on Traditional Bulgogi

In traditional Korean cuisine, bulgogi—translated as “fire meat”—is made from thinly sliced beef marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, and pear juice, then grilled to perfection. While incredibly flavorful, that method requires longer prep and access to specific cuts of meat. This recipe maintains the core taste elements of classic bulgogi but swaps the steak for lean ground beef, making it more approachable for everyday cooking.

Using ground beef not only speeds up the cooking time but also makes it easier to distribute the rich, caramelized sauce throughout the dish. The result? A meal that feels indulgent but comes together with pantry staples and simple cooking methods.

The Sauce: Sweet, Savory, and Addictively Delicious

The bulgogi sauce is truly the heart of this dish. A blend of soy sauce (or tamari for a gluten-free option), brown sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, and toasted sesame oil creates a luscious glaze that clings to the beef and enhances its savory qualities. The brown sugar provides sweetness and helps with caramelization, while the rice vinegar brightens up the flavor and keeps the dish from feeling too heavy.

A hint of pepper adds subtle warmth, and the sesame oil—added at the end—brings in a nutty aroma and traditional Korean depth. The beauty of this sauce is that it works wonderfully with ground meat, creating the illusion of a longer marinade while being ready in minutes.

The Perfect Pairing: Roasted Carrots and Zucchini

Rather than simply sautéing or steaming vegetables, this recipe calls for roasting carrots and zucchini, which intensifies their natural sweetness and gives them a slight crisp on the edges. The roasting process enhances the overall texture contrast in the bowl—tender meat, fluffy rice, and slightly caramelized vegetables. Roasting also allows you to cook the veggies hands-off while you prepare the beef, streamlining the cooking process.

The choice of carrots and zucchini isn’t just about convenience—they complement the bulgogi flavors beautifully. Carrots add subtle sweetness and crunch, while zucchini offers moisture and a mild earthiness that balances the dish.

Spicy Sriracha Mayo: The Finishing Touch

The drizzle of sriracha mayo on top is optional, but once you try it, you won’t want to leave it out. The combination of creamy mayo, tangy lime juice, and spicy sriracha offers a cooling-yet-spicy contrast to the rich beef and sweet vegetables. It adds that final restaurant-worthy element and brings a modern, fusion-inspired feel to the dish.

You can also adjust the spice level to suit your taste, making it perfect for families or anyone who enjoys a bit of heat without going overboard.

Versatility and Customization

One of the best things about these Bulgogi Bowls is how adaptable they are:

Rice options: Use white basmati, jasmine, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice for a low-carb version.
Protein swaps: Ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles can be substituted for beef with equally delicious results.
Vegetable variety: Swap or add in broccoli, mushrooms, bok choy, or bell peppers depending on what you have on hand.
Toppings: Add pickled radish, shredded cabbage, kimchi, or a fried egg for more texture and flavor.
Sauce variations: Amp up the garlic, add fresh ginger, or include a splash of mirin for deeper flavor.

Whether you’re keeping it classic or turning it into a clean-out-the-fridge meal, this recipe is built to accommodate your preferences.

Healthy and Balanced

Despite its indulgent taste, this dish can fit easily into a balanced diet. The use of lean ground beef helps reduce saturated fat while still providing a protein-rich main. The roasted vegetables offer fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making the bowl colorful and nutritious. The small amount of brown sugar in the sauce is offset by the bulk of vegetables and protein, and the portion size of the spicy mayo can be adjusted for those watching fat intake.

You get a solid dose of macronutrients—protein from beef, healthy fats from olive and sesame oils, and carbohydrates from rice and vegetables—all working together to keep you satisfied and energized.

Meal Prep Friendly

These Bulgogi Bowls are not just quick to prepare—they’re also perfect for meal prep. You can easily cook a large batch, portion it out into containers, and enjoy flavorful lunches or dinners throughout the week. The meat and vegetables reheat well, and the sauce holds its bold flavor even after refrigeration.

Just keep the sriracha mayo separate and add it fresh before serving to maintain the best texture and taste.

Tips for Success

To make your Easy Beef Bulgogi Bowls as delicious as possible, keep these tips in mind:

Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking the beef. You want it to brown, not steam.
Roast veggies in a single layer to ensure even caramelization.
Use freshly grated garlic for the sauce—it offers a more pungent and authentic flavor than pre-minced versions.
Add sesame oil last, after the heat is off. This preserves its aromatic quality.
Taste and adjust the sauce as needed—add a little more sugar for sweetness or soy sauce for extra depth.

Conclusion

Easy Beef Bulgogi Bowls are proof that quick meals don’t have to be bland or boring. With their bold, Korean-inspired flavors and balanced nutritional profile, these bowls check all the boxes for what makes a recipe great: fast prep, minimal ingredients, satisfying taste, and versatility.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, this dish is approachable and impressive. The marriage of savory bulgogi beef, roasted veggies, warm rice, and spicy mayo creates a layered eating experience that feels comforting and exciting at once. It’s the kind of meal that keeps you going back for another bite—and one you’ll want to make again and again.