Spicy Korean Beef Bowls with Kimchi Slaw: A Flavorful, Easy Week

If you love meals with big, bold flavors, these Spicy Korean Beef Bowls with Kimchi Slaw are destined to become your go-to dinner! This easy, one-bowl meal combines tender, spicy-sweet Korean beef with crisp, tangy kimchi slaw, all served over fluffy rice. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, equally great for meal prepping or impressing dinner guests. Thanks to a few clever shortcuts and pantry staples, you don’t need a culinary degree—or a long grocery list—to bring this restaurant-worthy dish home!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

There are a lot of reasons this recipe makes it to my kitchen table again and again:

• Quick & Efficient: Dinner on the table in under 40 minutes—yes, please!
• Flavor Blast: Sweet, spicy, tangy, and umami dance together in every bite.
• Balanced Nutrition: Lean protein, whole grains, and probiotics in one happy bowl.
• Adaptable: Vegan, vegetarian, or kid-friendly? No problem!
• Meal Prep Approved: Stores and reheats like a dream.

Ingredients

For the Spicy Korean Beef:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, adjust to heat preference)
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

For the Kimchi Slaw:

• 1 cup kimchi, chopped
• 2 cups shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix)
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup

For Serving:

• 2 cups cooked jasmine or short-grain rice
• Extra sesame seeds and green onions for garnish

How to Make (Step-by-Step)

1. Prepare Your Ingredients

• Dice the green onions and garlic. Grate the ginger and carrots. Chop kimchi and slice bell pepper. Having everything ready speeds things up!

2. Make the Kimchi Slaw

• In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped kimchi, shredded cabbage, grated carrot, red bell pepper, and green onion.
• Drizzle with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey. Toss it all gently until evenly coated. Set aside; the flavors will mingle while you make the beef.

3. Cook the Korean Beef

• Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add minced garlic and ginger, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Crumble in ground beef. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned—about 5-7 minutes.
• Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes, letting the sauce thicken and coat the beef.
• Add chopped green onions and half the sesame seeds, cooking 1 minute more.

4. Build Your Bowls

• Scoop hot rice into bowls.
• Top with spicy Korean beef.
• Add a generous heap of kimchi slaw on the side.
• Sprinkle remaining sesame seeds and fresh green onion on top.

5. Rest & Serve

• Let the bowls sit for 5 minutes. This lets the juices soak into the rice—trust me, it’s worth it!

Expert Tips

• Use Quality Beef: Lean ground beef tastes great and keeps things light.
• Gochujang Heat Levels: Adjust the amount according to your spice tolerance. For sensitive palates, start with less and add more at the end.
• Super Thin Veggies: Cut veggies as thin as possible for a slaw that picks up the dressing and pairs perfectly with tender beef.
• Make-Ahead Slaw: The slaw can be made up to a day ahead and stored in the fridge. It tastes even better as the flavors develop.

Recipe Variations

• Vegetarian: Swap beef for crumbled tofu or tempeh and use vegan gochujang and soy sauce alternatives.
• Low-Carb: Serve over cauliflower rice for a low-carb twist.
• Chicken or Turkey: Ground chicken or turkey works nicely as a substitute for beef.
• Add More Veggies: Toss in edamame, sliced snap peas, or thin cucumber ribbons.

Storage and Reheating

• Store leftover beef and rice together in airtight containers; keep the slaw separate to maintain its crunch.
• Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• For reheating, microwave the beef and rice until warm, then top with fresh or chilled slaw.

Serving Suggestions

• Garnish with a fried or soft-boiled egg for extra protein.
• Add sliced avocado for creamy freshness.
• Serve with extra kimchi, pickled radishes, or even a quick cucumber salad on the side.
• Make it “burrito style” by wrapping everything in a large tortilla.

Spicy Korean Beef Bowls with Kimchi Slaw: A Flavorful, Easy Week

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Author: thelunaskitchen Recipe Keys: Quick Meals

Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 20 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 40 mins Difficulty: Beginner Servings: 4 Calories: 490 kcal per serving Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Description

If you love meals with big, bold flavors, these Spicy Korean Beef Bowls with Kimchi Slaw are destined to become your go-to dinner! This easy, one-bowl meal combines tender, spicy-sweet Korean beef with crisp, tangy kimchi slaw, all served over fluffy rice. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, equally great for meal prepping or impressing dinner guests. Thanks to a few clever shortcuts and pantry staples, you don’t need a culinary degree—or a long grocery list—to bring this restaurant-worthy dish home!

Ingredients

Cook Mode Cooking Mode Disabled

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

For the Spicy Korean Beef

• 
  1 lb lean ground beef
• 
  2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 
  2 tbsp soy sauce (or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
• 
  1 tbsp brown sugar
• 
  1 tbsp sesame oil
• 
  3 garlic cloves, minced
• 
  1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 
  1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes ((optional, adjust to heat preference))
• 
  1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 
  2 green onions, chopped
• 
  1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

For the Kimchi Slaw

• 
  1 cup kimchi, chopped
• 
  2 cups shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix)
• 
  1 medium carrot, grated
• 
  ¹⁄₂ red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 
  2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 
  1 tbsp sesame oil
• 
  1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 
  1 green onion, sliced

For Serving

• 
  2 cups cooked jasmine or short-grain rice
• 
  Extra sesame seeds and green onions for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare Your Ingredients

   • Dice the green onions and garlic. Grate the ginger and carrots. Chop kimchi and slice bell pepper. Having everything ready speeds things up!
   

1. Make the Kimchi Slaw

   • In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped kimchi, shredded cabbage, grated carrot, red bell pepper, and green onion.

   • Drizzle with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey. Toss it all gently until evenly coated. Set aside; the flavors will mingle while you make the beef.

   

1. Cook the Korean Beef

   • Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

   • Add minced garlic and ginger, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.

   • Crumble in ground beef. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned—about 5-7 minutes.

   • Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar. Simmer for another 2-3 minutes, letting the sauce thicken and coat the beef.

   • Add chopped green onions and half the sesame seeds, cooking 1 minute more.

   

1. Build Your Bowls

   • Scoop hot rice into bowls.

   • Top with spicy Korean beef.

   • Add a generous heap of kimchi slaw on the side.

   • Sprinkle remaining sesame seeds and fresh green onion on top.

1. Rest & Serve

   • Let the bowls sit for 5 minutes. This lets the juices soak into the rice—trust me, it’s worth it!
   

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 490kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 25g39%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Cholesterol 65mg22%

Total Carbohydrate 42g15%

Dietary Fiber 4g16%

Sugars 9g

Protein 26g52%

---

Vitamin C 28 mg

Calcium 110 mg

Iron 3.1 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

• Can’t find gochujang? Substitute with a mix of sriracha and a little miso paste for a similar kick.
• For extra crunch in your slaw, toss in roasted peanuts or crispy wonton strips just before serving.

Keywords: Korean Beef Bowls,korean bowl,korean beef recipe,dinner recipes, easy dinner