Korean Beef Bulgogi is a super easy way to enjoy tasty Korean food at home. A quick and simple marinade for flank steak is all that’s needed to enjoy this delicious dish.
Bulgogi is perhaps the most well known Korean dish. Thin slices of beef steak are marinated in a delicious sauce consisting of soy, sesame, ginger, and garlic. It is commonly served over rice. Garnish with sliced green onions for both color and flavor. The flavor profile of bulgogi is familiar across many cultures which is why this dish has gained world wide popularity. It can be found on the streets of Seoul, of course, but it can also be found in restaurants from New York to Los Angeles, and a lot of places in between. This popular Korean dish is sure to become a family favorite. Not only is it super flavorful, it’s also really easy to make.
This is not an authentic Korean recipe, but rather an American version of this classic Korean dish. The Stay At Home Chef uses ingredients that are easily accessible for most people in the United States and Canada so that anyone can easily celebrate world cuisines even if their opportunities for travel or access to regional ingredients are limited.
What cuts of beef can I use for Korean beef bulgogi?
Bulgogi can be made using various cuts of beef steak. Common cuts include thinly sliced ribeye, sirloin, brisket, flank, or skirt steak. Even ground beef can be used for an inexpensive version.
For ground beef, instead of marinating, simply make the marinade and keep it separate. Once your ground beef is cooked through, drain it well, then add in the marinade as a sauce to flavor the ground beef.
What side dishes go well with bulgogi?
Bulgogi is commonly served with rice and kimchi, and would be well balanced with some steamed veggies on the side.
What is bulgogi sauce made of?
Bulgogi sauce is primarily soy sauce-based and is flavored with ginger, garlic, and sesame. Thin strips of beef are marinated in this mixture, then cooked quickly.
Oyster Sauce Substitute:
Oyster sauce brings a wonderfully sweet and salty flavor to this dish with a savory, tangy flavor. While we love the flavor it brings, you can always omit it if needed for allergy reasons or if you don’t have any on hand. If you want to create an oyster sauce substitute, replace the oyster sauce with soy sauce and add in 1/2 teaspoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other Korean and South-East Asia inspired recipes:
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Looks easy to cook. I’ll skip the oyster sauce though. My wife is allergic to it.
Delicious and easy to make. I followed the recipe exactly and my husband loved it. You make all your dishes look yummy and accessible to us home cooks. Thank you and keep up the good work!
You are awesome 👏 delicious recipe!
I just did this…. my whole family loved it. It was absolutely delicious. I didn’t add the ginger and I only marinade for 15 minutes…..it was just to die for…. I would give it 10 stars 🌟 if I could….
Love it
Made it for my husband and took in to work the next day.
Thanks
Yolanda
Look delicious, must try this next week.
My family loved this! I only had to make one small adjustment. Left out the oyster sauce because of seafood allergy. Can not wait to have leftovers for lunch!
Glad you shared this. I was not going to use oyster sauce either and hoped it would turn out! Thanks!
There is a vegetarian version of oyster sauce. It uses mushrooms instead of oyster. I love it…as a user of traditional oyster sauce before going vegetarian/plant based I can report that the substitute is spot on.
You can find Oyster Sauce that doesn’t actually have any seafood in it. Tastes the same with no complications!
I cooked this for dinner and was excellent and easy, I have to make it again, thanks for sharing 👍
Very good! Removed meat and sautéed green beans and asparagus tips instead of green onions .
Made these for the family last night, and it was a huge hit!!!