Korean Beef Bulgogi Recipe (Quick & Easy)

This amazing Korean Beef Bulgogi is easier than you think and doesn’t need any fancy ingredients. It’s a quick dinner that creates the most melt-in-your-mouth, flavorful beef! Perfect for busy families, it’s ready in 45 minutes with only 10 minutes of actual prep and cook time.

We have a lot of beef recipes on the blog that make for fantastic dinner options. Check out Thai Basil Beef, Slow Cooker Korean Beef, One Pot Beef Stroganoff, Garlic Herb Butter Tenderloin.

Korean Beef Bulgogi

If you are looking to switch things up for dinner with a recipe that’s easier than it sounds, this Korean Beef Bulgogi is the way to go! This Korean BBQ beef features strips of flank steak marinated to tender perfection in a sweet and savory sauce. Everyone in your family will be raving about it!

When I wanted to make this at home, I expected a long, complicated recipe with tons of ingredients that are hard to find. Because well, the flavors are so complex and the beef is so insanely tender. But the good news is, this Korean beef bulgogi uses a lot of simple ingredients, most of which you’ll have in your pantry!

Bulgogi Marinade Ingredients

It all starts with the marinade. A lot of recipes ask you to marinate overnight but if you are using beef, 30 minutes is enough in my opinion. (This is what makes this bulgogi recipe so quick and easy!)

• Minced Pear: A staple in Korean cooking, pear is a great meat tenderizer and also adds flavor and sweetness. Normal pears work fine, but if you want a more traditional version of this dish, try using Asian pears! They have a little bit crunchier texture, more similar to an apple.
• Minced Garlic: To infuse the beef with tasty savory flavor.
• Grated Ginger: Keeps the flavor of the bulgogi light and bright.
• Soy Sauce: The foundation of the marinade. Use low-sodium soy sauce if you don’t want things to be too salty.
• Sesame Oil: Adds a nutty savory flavor and keeps things moist.
• Sriracha: For just a touch of heat. You could also sub this out for a little bit of gochujang (Korean chili paste).
• Lime Juice: The acidity helps to make the beef bulgogi extra tender!
• Brown Sugar: Adds a little sweetness to balance out the flavors.
• Seasonings: Onion powder and black pepper to enhance the overall flavor of the marinade.

Other Ingredients Needed:

• Flank Steak: Thinly sliced in strips that are about the same size so they cook evenly.
• Vegetable Oil: For cooking the beef bulgogi in.

Cooking Korean Beef Bulgogi

You can either cook this on a grill or on the stove. The slices of beef are really thin so they don’t take long at all to cook. (I’m talking sheer minutes here!) Make sure your grill or skillet is super hot and you have everything ready to go.

1. Prepare Marinade: In a large bowl, mix together the minced pear, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, brown sugar, onion powder, and black pepper.
2. Marinate in Fridge: Add the thin slices of beef to the marinade bowl, cover and allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
3. Cook in Skillet: Once the beef has marinated, heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil and some of the beef, in a single layer, on the hot skillet. Cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove the cooked beef and set it aside while cooking the rest of the beef.
4. Serve: Serve over rice, top with sesame seeds if desired, and enjoy!