Easy Ground Beef Rice Bowls- 20 Minute Meal
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Fast, flavorful, and family-approved – this Ground Beef Rice Bowl recipe is a weeknight dinner win!
If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe idea with ground beef, you’ve got to try these Ground Beef Rice Bowls. Made with just a few pantry staples and ready in under 20 minutes, this dish delivers bold, Korean-inspired savory flavor without a lot of work. It’s a budget-friendly ground beef recipe the whole fam will devour!
Ground beef recipes are a staple in our home because they are inexpensive, can feed a lot of people, and let’s face it, they are good! These Korean Flavord Beef Rice Bowls are a perfect example of a simple, inexpensive meal. I think sometimes we only want to make a good hamburger with ground beef, but it really can be used for so much more.
The best thing about these ground beef and rice bowl is the sauce. It is similar to my stir-fry sauce but with fewer ingredients and a delicious, savory flavor.
Recommended Equipment
- Enameled Cast Iron Skillet– this is the skillet I like to cook in daily. Any non-stick skillet will also work well for this recipe.
- Spatula for Cooking– I like to use a wooden spatula to help break up the ground beef and move it around the pan.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this easy ground beef and rice bowl recipe, you’ll need:
- Ground beef – lean works best, but any will work, soak up any excess grease with a paper towel as needed.
- Soy sauce-low sodium or regular
- Brown sugar
- Garlic – fresh minced for best flavor
- Ginger – fresh or ground
- Red pepper flakes – optional for a little heat
- Green onions – white parts for cooking, green for garnish
- Cooked rice – white, jasmine, or even coconut rice
- Sesame seeds – optional garnish
👉 Full ingredient measurements and printable recipe card are at the bottom of this post.
Why You’ll Love These Ground Beef Rice Bowls
- Ready in 20 minutes or less
- Made with simple, everyday ingredients
- Family-friendly and kid-approved
- Perfect for meal prep or quick weeknight dinners
- Great way to switch up your ground beef game!
How to Make Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
Let’s go through the simple steps to make this easy dinner come together in just a few minutes!
- Cook the Ground Beef– start by placing a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the ground beef with just the white part of the green onion, until the beef is cooked through and just a little crispy. Drain any excess grease from the pan by soaking it up with a paper towel, or use a spoon to scoop it out.
- Make the Sauce– gather up your ingredients for the sauce and whisk together. Pour the sauce over the cooked ground beef and cook and stir until the sauce thickens, this will only take a minute or two.
- Serve– serve the beef and sauce over cooked rice, or even try it over coconut rice for extra flavor. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
What to Serve with Beef Rice Bowls
We like to serve these ground beef and rice bowls with a simple cooked vegetable. A few of our favorites are:
Leftovers and Storage
Freezer: Freeze the cooked ground beef mixture for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in a skillet or microwave.
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
Yes! Just thaw your ground beef fully before cooking, it will brown more evenly.
✅ What kind of rice is best?
Jasmine or long grain white rice is classic, but coconut rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice all work great too!
✅ Can I prepare this meal ahead of time?
Yes! This is perfect for meal prep. Store cooked beef and rice separately in airtight containers for up to 3–4 days.
✅ Is this a family-friendly recipe?
Definitely! The sauce is slightly sweet and savory — just reduce or skip the red pepper flakes if your kids prefer less heat, or just add it to your own.
✅ Can I double this recipe?
For sure! This recipe scales easily. Just use a large skillet and double the sauce ingredients to coat the extra beef.
✅ What is the best ground beef for rice bowls?
Use 85/15 or 90/10 lean ground beef. It gives great flavor and you won’t need to drain off much grease.
✅ How can I make this dish healthier?
Swap white rice for brown rice or even cauliflower rice, use low-sodium soy sauce, and add steamed veggies like broccoli or zucchini right into the bowl.
Other Ground Beef Recipes to Try:
If you like this easy ground beef recipe, here are some of our other favorites you can add to your menu:
Ground Beef Rice Bowls Recipe
When you have finished feeding your fam this delicious dinner recipe, be sure to come back and leave me a review here! I can’t wait to hear how this recipe turned out for you!
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➡️ See this flavorful weeknight dinner come together step-by-step! Fast, simple, and packed with flavor your whole fam will love.
Ground Beef Rice Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 green onions
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon avocado oil. Cook and stir the sliced white part of the green onion and the ground beef until browned and crispy.
- Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Combine together the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, cornstarch and red pepper flakes. Pour over the ground beef and continue to cook and stir 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- Top with sliced green onion and serve over rice or noodles.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are just an estimate of the ingredients used.
- Add more veggies: you can easily add more veggies to this dish by mixing in sliced carrots, frozen peas, celery, or even small broccoli pieces.
Nutrition
Recipe post updated June 21, 2025, recipe remained the same just the post information was updated with additional information.
