Ground Beef Bulgogi

Are you craving the flavors of a traditional Bulgogi but need it on a family-friendly budget? Look no further than this Ground Beef Bulgogi. It has all the amazing flavors of a typical Bulgogi with budget-friendly swaps that will make this dish a family favorite.

Traditional Bulgogi is made with thinly sliced beef, usually a brisket, sirloin, or ribeye, and cooked quickly over high heat, like a grill or stir-fry. While this is great for a special occasion, it may not be practical for many families on a budget or for feeding a larger family.

We love taking traditional meals like this and swapping out family and budget-friendly ingredients to make an elevated freezer meal recipe everyone will love. Inside our Freezer Meals 101 Club, we teach you all the tips and tricks we’ve learned from transforming everyday recipes into delicious freezer-friendly meals. Join us today.

Ground Beef Bulgogi Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef, browned and cooled
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil

For the Day of Cooking:

• green onions, sliced
• sesame seeds
• 4 soft-boiled eggs 

Assembly Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a large freezer bag.
2. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.
2. Heat in skillet.
3. If desired, top with green onions, sesame seeds, and soft-boiled eggs.
4. Serve over rice.

To make a vegetarian option of this dish, substitute the ground beef with vegetarian ground “beef” crumbles. Brown them according to the package directions and cool before adding to the freezer bag as directed above.

How to Serve this Dish

To serve this dish, cook some white rice according to the directions and serve it over rice with green onions, sesame seeds, and soft-boiled eggs.

For other options, use cooked brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.

Great Ways to Use Leftovers

You can use the leftover ground beef bulgogi for some different lunch options the next day. Wash some butter lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves and use them to make lettuce wraps, topping the beef with shredded carrots and cucumbers.

Use flour tortillas for a Korean-style fusion taco night and add slaw and a drizzle of sriracha mayo.

You can also serve over ramen, udon, or rice noodles with sautéed vegetables or make a Korean-style stir-fry noodle bowl with bulgogi mixed right into the noodles.

For more recipes like this one, check out our No Peek Beef Tips, Big Mac Salad, or our Chipotle Black Bean Burgers.