Description
Easy Bulgogi is a classic Korean BBQ beef dish featuring thinly sliced, tender marinated sirloin cooked in a sweet-savory sauce with garlic, sesame, and a hint of spice. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or impressive meal, this recipe combines bright flavors and caramelized meat for an authentic Korean experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade Ingredients
- 0.33 cup soy sauce
- 2 green onions, chopped (separate dark green parts from white and light green parts)
- 0.25 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 0.25 teaspoon Korean red pepper flakes
- 0.25 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 0.125 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon honey, or to taste
Main Ingredient
- 1.5 pounds beef sirloin steak, cut very thin using kitchen shears
Instructions
- Gather ingredients: Collect all the necessary ingredients as listed to ensure smooth preparation.
- Prepare the marinade: In a large glass or ceramic bowl, whisk together soy sauce, white and light green parts of the green onions, thinly sliced yellow onion, white sugar, minced garlic, toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, Korean red pepper flakes, fresh minced ginger, and ground black pepper until fully combined.
- Marinate the beef: Add the thinly sliced sirloin steak into the marinade bowl and toss thoroughly to ensure every piece is evenly coated. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld, or up to 1 day for deeper flavor infusion.
- Cook the bulgogi: Heat a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, transfer some marinated steak slices along with the marinade to the hot skillet. Stir and cook the meat, adding honey during cooking to help caramelize the beef, until the steak is fully cooked through and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes per batch.
- Finish and garnish: Once all the beef is cooked, garnish with the reserved dark green parts of the chopped green onions for a fresh pop of color and flavor. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Bulgogi, or Korean barbecued beef, is made with thin slices of tender marinated beef in a sweet-savory sauce that’s easy to prepare and deliciously flavorful.
- Using very thinly sliced sirloin ensures the beef cooks quickly and remains tender.
- Marinating longer enhances flavor — up to 1 day in the refrigerator is best.
- Serving suggestions: enjoy bulgogi with steamed rice, lettuce wraps, or kimchi for a complete Korean meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 4 oz cooked beef)
- Calories: 226 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 844 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg
