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Sweet and Spicy Korean Ground Beef

A quick and flavorful Korean-inspired ground beef dish with a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main
Cuisine: Korean
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

Beef Base
  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 preferred
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
Sauce
  • 0.25 cup soy sauce low sodium
  • 0.33 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp gochujang
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 2 green onions sliced

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Wooden spoon
  • Mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef until fully cooked.
  2. Drain excess fat, leaving about one tablespoon in the pan.
  3. Add garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, gochujang, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
  5. Pour sauce over beef and stir to coat evenly.
  6. Simmer 5–7 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Stir in green onions and remove from heat.

Notes

Serve over rice, noodles, or lettuce wraps. Adjust spice to taste.