Korean Beef Bulgogi Recipe - Thin strips of marinated beef cooked quickly over a hot sizzling grill or skillet is a delicious way to enjoy homemade Korean BBQ! Serve this easy beef recipe with rice and your favorite Korean side dishes for a meal the whole family will devour!
My family and I love going to Korean BBQ restaurants. We love gathering around the grill table and picking and choosing what we want to grill for our dinner. Bulgogi, which also means “fire meat” is the one we all love the most.
When I figured out that I could make a restaurant-style beef Bulgogi at home, it was a game-changer. It’s so easy!
Made with thin strips of juicy marinated beef cooked in minutes. Packed with so much flavor, this memorable dish will become a regular meal at your dinner table too!
It has a sweet and savory flavor and smokiness and char from the sizzling heat. The tender meat melts in your mouth and is crazy delicious.
The best part is, we can now have our own Korean BBQ right at home!
Jump to:
What is Bulgogi Beef?
As mentioned above, Bulgogi means “fire meat” so it’s essentially meat that is cooked over a fire. It’s one of the most popular foods to ever come out of Korean BBQ and it’s no surprise. It is AMAZING.
You can make it with other types of protein like pork or chicken, however, the most common and traditional version is with beef.
The meat is cut into thin strips and marinated in a sweet and savory mixture, but of course, there are different versions, depending on who’s making it. The 3 most important components of a really good Bulgogi recipe are a great cut of meat, a flavorful marinade, and the right cooking method.
This Korean beef Bulgogi recipe gives you all 3 and ranks right up there with the best beef Bulgogi I’ve ever had!
What’s in Beef Bulgogi?
- Beef: Pick a good cut of beef like a rib-eye or top sirloin. If not, you can actually make a shortcut version with ground beef, if you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly. You want to slice the beef to ⅛” thickness and then cut it into bite-size pieces. Keeping the meat semi-frozen makes slicing a lot easier.
- Marinade: Soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, minced garlic, sugar, chives, and water are what go into this flavorful marinade. Salty, umami, aromatic, nutty, sweet, and savory are all complex flavors that come together so beautifully.
- Avocado oil: For cooking!
How to Make Beef Bulgogi Recipe
Step 1: Combine all of the marinade ingredients except for the water in a large mixing bowl. Mix together until the sugar dissolves.
Step 2: Now, stir in the water. Place the beef into the bowl and stir the beef around until it is fully coated. Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge to marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Step 3: Remove the beef from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. In the meantime, heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 4: Using tongs, place the pieces of meat in the skillet in a single layer without overcrowding the pan. Sear for 1 minute or until no longer pink, then flip to the other side and sear for another 1 or 2 minutes.
Step 5: Garnish with extra sesame seeds and sliced green onion and serve immediately. Enjoy!
If you enjoy this easy bulgogi, you might also like our Egg Roll in a Bowl — another savory, fast dinner.
Can I Grill Bulgogi Instead of Pan-Frying It?
Yes! Bulgogi is actually amazing on the grill. The high heat gives the beef a slightly smoky flavor and beautiful caramelization from the marinade.
If grilling, thread the marinated beef onto skewers or use a grill pan or grill basket so the thin slices don’t fall through the grates. Cook over medium-high heat for just a few minutes per side — it cooks quickly!
Just be careful not to overcook it, since thinly sliced beef can dry out fast.
Cooking Tips
- Tender meat. The marinating helps tenderize the meat, but you still want to slice it against the grain to shorten the fibers. This will help make it even more tender.
- Add veggies. You can add thinly sliced carrots to the marinade as well. Or toss in some mushrooms as it cooks.
- Have a grill pan? Use it! A cast-iron grill pan is a great way to promote smokiness and char.
- Different sweetener. If you prefer to use puréed Asian pear in your marinade rather than white sugar, go for it. You can also use brown sugar instead.
- Spice. Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes for heat! Ginger is also a great way to add a kick to the flavor of the marinade.
For more quick weeknight dinners like this, check out our Easy Family Dinner Recipes roundup.
Recipe FAQs
At least 30 minutes, up to overnight for extra flavor.
Yes — add gochujang or red pepper flakes to the marinade.
Thinly sliced ribeye or sirloin works best for tenderness and flavor.
White rice, lettuce wraps, kimchi, and pickled veggies are traditional.
Yes — chicken bulgogi is delicious and also quick to cook.
Asian Recipe Ideas to Try
- Easy Chicken Chow Mein Recipe
- Smoked Salmon Sushi Balls
- Shrimp Spring Rolls
- Vietnamese Spring Roll Recipe
- The Best Beef Pho Soup
- Korean Noodles Stir Fry
- Braised Short Ribs
- Korean Funchoza Chicken Stir Fry with Noodles
Love bold, savory dinner ideas? Try our Smash Tacos or Honey Garlic Salmon for more family favorites.
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📖 Recipe
Korean Beef Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb beef rib-eye or top sirloin, sliced to ⅛ inch thick & cut into bite size pieces (semi-freezing the beef helps to cut it into thin strips)
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablepoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced or finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons chives sliced, plus more for garnish
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
Instructions
- Using a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients except beef and water. Mix until sugar dissolves.
- Pour in water and add beef, mix. Cover and marinate for at least 3 hours, best overnight.
- Heat oil in the skillet over medium/high heat, add beef pieces (be careful not to over-crowd), sear for 1-2 minute or until brown color, flip on the other side and sear for 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onion.
Video
Notes
- For the most tender beef, slice it very thin against the grain. Partially freezing the beef for 20–30 minutes makes slicing easier.
- Marinate for at least 30 minutes, but overnight gives the best flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan — cook in batches so the beef sears instead of steaming.
- Bulgogi cooks quickly, usually in 3–5 minutes total.
- You can grill the beef instead of pan-frying for a smoky Korean BBQ flavor.
- Serve with white rice, lettuce wraps, kimchi, or steamed vegetables.
Nutrition
Q. – Do YOU like this Bulgogi Recipe?
Let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!
Thank YOU for YOUR Comment, Share & Recipe Review!
Sherri
looks like a good recipe... couldn't help but notice this typo in your preamble:
"It has a sweet and savory flavor and smokiness and char from the sizzling heat. The tender meat metals in your mouth and is crazy delicious."
Munchkin Time
Omg, that doesn't sound right! I appreciate you Sherri for letting me know, it was supposed to be "melts" not "metals".... fixing it right of way!