Who says we can’t have restaurant-quality dishes without the price tag? I’m happy when a recipe is easy and packs a punch just as good as takeout.
With this Korean Fried Rice recipe, you’ll get all the flavors of your favorite takeout spot while staying in the comfort of your kitchen.
Trust me, this is one of those meals where the whole family will be coming back for seconds!
If you’re craving that savory, flavorful takeout meal, instead of reaching for your phone, you could whip this up at home for less than $10.
Key Takeaways
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Main Ingredients: Ground beef, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, rice, broccoli, onions, and more
- Servings: 6
- Extras: You can serve this dish with tangy kimchi for a spicy kick, add a gooey fried egg, pair it with warm naan bread for a fusion twist, or even spoon it over udon noodles for added texture.
Korean Fried Rice with Beef
While the recipe looks like many steps, it’s actually pretty easy since most of it gets tossed into the pan.
The key to this recipe is to cook the beef separately from the rice and then combine it later.
The beef is simple enough. To get started, I brown the ground beef in a hot skillet with a bit of sesame oil and some fresh minced garlic.
While the meat starts browning, I grab the ingredients for the sauce—soy sauce, brown sugar, and a dash of crushed red peppers.
Once the beef is cooked through, I drain off the excess fat so the rice doesn’t feel too greasy. Meanwhile, the broccoli sits to the side, ready to be tossed in with the rice later.
In another pan, it’s time for the rice. I use leftover rice because it fries up better without getting mushy. A little sesame oil goes into the pan first, followed by finely chopped onions.
During this step, I’ll also throw in the bottoms of the green onions- the white and light green bottoms add more onion flavor, which I love!!
After the onions soften, I scramble an egg right into the same pan—no need for extra dishes! Once the egg is cooked, I toss in the rice, broccoli, and a bit of soy sauce, letting everything meld together.
The first time I made this, I used green beans instead of broccoli, which you can see in my picture above, but most times now, I do broccoli because most of us at home like it better!
You can add more veggies and swap them as you like, but if you add a lot more, I suggest making extra sauce to get everybody coated and juicy.
Now comes the magic moment—combining the flavorful beef and fried rice. I put it in and mix it all together to get everything saucy.
The finishing touch? A sprinkle of green onion slices to add a bit of freshness and color, plus you can add sesame seeds to get a little crunch and a stronger sesame taste without more oil.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ - ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- ½ - 1 tsp crushed red peppers
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- salt and pepper
- ½ bunch of green onions keep the whites/bottoms!
- 2 cups cooked rice
- ½ onion chopped
- ½ frozen bag broccoli
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 egg
- sesame seeds optional
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the hamburger with the garlic in 1 Tbsp of the sesame oil.
- Drain the fat and add everything else except the green onions.
- Simmer for a few minutes.
- In a separate pan, heat 1 Tbsp of the sesame oil over medium heat.
- Once hot, add the onions (both green and regular) and cook for 5-10 minutes until soft.
- Move the onions to one side of the pan and crack the egg into the pan.
- Scramble the egg into the pan, and mix it with the vegetables.
- Add the rice, broccoli and 1 Tbsp soy sauce and mix in with the vegetables.
- Add the beef and mix in the pan.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions & Side Dishes
Korean Fried Rice is a great dish that is worthy of any restaurant, and there are so many ways you can elevate it and switch things up for a new meal.
If you want to add a bit of spice and tang, try serving it with kimchi on the side or right on top—it complements the savory flavors of the beef beautifully.
Spoon the beef and rice over a bed of udon noodles instead of sticking with just rice, giving the dish a whole new texture and depth. I love the softness of udon noodles and how they soak up the sauce!
You can even try adding a fried egg with toasted sesame seeds on top to give it a “bibimbap” feel; a bit of yolk is so tasty and adds a hint of sweetness to the sauce.
You can also pair Korean beef and rice with naan bread for a fusion twist, using the bread to scoop up the savory beef and rice.
For a veggie boost, serve the dish with a side of stir-fried bok choy or even roasted Brussels sprouts, which will add a crunchy contrast to the soft rice and beef.
If your family loves soup, a light miso soup on the side can balance out the richness of the meal.
For something lighter, a simple cucumber salad with a vinegar-based dressing can cut through the heaviness of the beef.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of meat instead of ground beef?
Absolutely! You can easily swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or even pork if you prefer- or a mix if that sounds good to you.
Just keep in mind that the cooking time may vary slightly depending on the type of meat. I find ground chicken can take longer, and turkey can get tough quickly.
What if I don’t have leftover rice?
No worries! Just cook your rice ahead of time and let it cool before making Korean beef fried rice- definitely don’t use hot rice, as it can ruin the dish!!
If you’re in a rush, spread the freshly cooked rice out on a baking sheet to let it cool down faster, which will help it fry up without turning mushy.
Can I add other vegetables?
Definitely! This recipe is very adaptable, so feel free to add veggies like bell peppers, carrots, or even snap peas. Just chop them finely and cook them with the onions to soften them up.
What kind of soy sauce should I use?
I recommend using low-sodium soy sauce to keep the dish from becoming too salty. If you like a deeper flavor, you can mix in a little dark soy sauce as well.
I’ve also used liquid aminos as an alternative, since it’s less salty and is gluten-free if that’s something you need.
Can I make this dish spicy?
Yes! If you like heat, you can increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or even add a dash of sriracha to the beef for an extra kick.
Like I said in the serving suggestions, you can also get some kimchi from the store to pack on some heat, too!
Final Thoughts
Making this Korean Fried Rice recipe at home is a perfect way to get all the satisfaction of a restaurant-quality meal without the hefty price tag.
The steps are simple, the ingredients are budget-friendly, and best of all, you’ll be sitting down to a flavorful meal in no time.
Whether you’re looking to save money or just craving some homemade takeout-style food, this recipe hits the spot every single time!
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