I love a good Asian bowl recipe. If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner, you should make these Crispy Beef Rice Bowls. It's so simple but so tasty. This Easy Beef Rice Bowl is perfect for busy nights, and it is also budget-friendly.
This easy beef rice bowl is my go-to favorite easy weeknight meal. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, truly an easy weeknight recipe.
Part of my ground beef recipes this healthy recipe is amazing just like my Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowl. Add a fried egg for some extra protein, or if you happen to have Mayak Eggs in your fridge, I would add that instead.
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3 Reasons to Love this Beef Rice Bowl
- Quick and Easy Preparation: This Easy Beef Rice Bowl is a breeze to prepare, taking just under 30 minutes from start to finish.
- It's all about the balance: The heart of this Asian bowl is the sauce. A blend of sweet Thai chili sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha creates a combination of sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy notes.
- Versatile: The beauty of this Beef Rice Bowl lies in its versatility. You can add things like a fried egg, charred vegetables, or chili oil to make it more delicious. It can go on top of noodles. The possibilities are endless with this one.
Ingredients for beef rice bowl
- Ground beef
- Red onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Sweet Thai chili sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Light soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Sriracha
- Neutral oil (grapeseed oil)
- Sesame oil
What to serve with beef rice bowl:
- Steamed or charred vegetables (I used french beans)
- White rice
- Fried Egg
- Chili crisp
See recipe card for quantities.
A LIST OF SUBSTITUTIONS ARE LOCATED BELOW INSTRUCTIONS
How to make beef rice bowl
Start by sauteeing the onion, garlic and ginger.
Add the ground beef and brown until you get crispy bits. The crispy bits mean flavor. Do not skip this step.
Add the sauces.
Toss until it is caramelized to perfection.
Step 1: Prepare the Beef
- In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the sliced red onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and ginger, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it's browned, CRISPY, and cooked through, usually around 5-7 minutes.
Step 2: Create the Flavorful Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sweet Thai chili sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked ground beef and stir well to ensure an even coating. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Add sesame oil at the last 1 minute of cooking.
- Let the beef get nice and crispy.
Step 3: Assemble Your Beef Bowls
- To serve, place a generous scoop of white rice in each bowl.
- Top the rice with the flavorful beef mixture.
- Add a fried egg on top for a creamy touch - optional but highly recommended.
- Garnish your Beef Rice Bowl with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions and chili oil.
- For an extra dose of veggies, serve steamed or charred vegetables like French beans on the side.
Substitutions
Here are some substitution options for each ingredient in this Asian Bowl recipe:
- Light Soy Sauce:
- Substitution: Coconut aminos, Tamari, or low-sodium soy sauce.
- Rice Vinegar:
- Substitution: Apple cider or white wine vinegar.
- Substitution: Apple cider or white wine vinegar.
- Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
- Substitution: Honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
- DIY sweet chili sauce: mixture of ketchup, sugar, and red pepper flakes
- Oyster Sauce:
- Substitution: You can buy vegan oyster sauce, its called Mushroom Sauce. It is delicious!
- Sriracha:
- Substitution: Any hot sauce or red chili flakes. Omit if you do not want any spice.
- Neutral Oil (Grapeseed Oil):
- Substitution: Canola, vegetable, or light olive oil.
- Sesame Oil:
- Substitution: Omit if you do not have it.
Variations for this Asian Bowl
- To make it more spicy, add chili flakes for heat.
- To make it more fancy because you’re feeling extra: top with crispy onions for crunch or chili crunch.
Equipment
- Wok or a large skillet
- Measuring spoons
- Knife
- Cutting board
How to reheat and store
Storing:
- Store your Crispy Beef: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Reheating:
- I would panfry it in a frying pan and add your rice after.
- For faster reheating, put everything in the microwave.
3 Top Tips for Success
- Crispy Beef: Searing the ground beef until you get a crispy bottom is crucial. You want the crispy bits of beef for more flavor. Then add the sauce.
- Mise en Place: Means “putting in place” - make sure all the ingredients are ready as this recipe comes together quickly.
- It's all about the sides: This dish is perfect with charred veggies, a salad like this Sesame Cucumber Salad, and a fried egg.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
What to serve this crispy beef rice bowl
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this ground beef rice bowl:
Crispy Beef Rice Bowl
I love a good rice bowl recipe. If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner, you should make these Crispy Beef Rice Bowls. So simple but so tasty. This Easy Beef Rice Bowl is perfect for busy nights, and it is also budget-friendly.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 sliced red onion
4 cloves of minced garlic
1” minced ginger
3 tablespoon sweet Thai chili sauce (sub: honey)
2 tablespoon of oyster sauce
2 tablespoon of light soy sauce
2 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoon sriracha
1 tablespoon of neutral oil (grapeseed oil)
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
Beef Bowl Ingredients:
Steamed or charred vegetables (I used french beans)
White rice
Fried Egg
Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Beef
- In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the sliced red onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and ginger, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it's browned and cooked through, usually around 5-7 minutes.
Step 2: Create the Flavorful Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sweet Thai chili sauce, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked ground beef and stir well to ensure even coating. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Add sesame oil at the last 1 minute of cooking.
- Let the beef get nice and crispy.
Step 3: Assemble Your Beef Bowls
- To serve, place a generous scoop of white rice in each bowl.
- Top the rice with the flavorful beef mixture.
- Add a fried egg on top for a creamy touch.
- Garnish your Beef Rice Bowl with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions for added flavor and visual appeal.
- For an extra dose of veggies, serve steamed or charred vegetables like French beans on the side.
Food safety
We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Lucas says
Starting my cooking journey with these, lets see how its goes hehe
Sage says
Delicious, will make again
Carmen Spillette says
THANK YOU!!!
Paolo says
GAINZ! 💪💪💪
Jane Anne says
So delicious! Wouldn’t change a thing!
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you so much!
Lourdes says
Simple and delicious. Fool-proof for all beginners. Will make again and again! 🙂
Carmen Spillette says
Thanks Lourdes
Sena B says
I just found my new favorite dish 😍 I'm in love with this crispy beef and don't forget the egg!!!
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you!!
Samantha Adams says
My whole family loved this crispy beef!! Made it twice already this week and my kids are in love with it!! The best crispy beef...
Carmen Spillette says
That is amazing to hear!
Dreck Williams says
The best crispy beef recipe I've found so far. Incredibly easy to make, even for a beginner like me 🙂
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you!
Rebekah S says
This is absolutely delicious crispy beef!!
Carmen Spillette says
Love this, thank you!
Ammie Wong says
Insanely Delicious!!!
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you!
Lisa Munoz says
There are no instructions for the sesame oil. Is that used in place of the neutral oil? It's mentioned all over the article but it's not mentioned in the instructions.
Carmen Spillette says
Hi Lisa, you add the sesame oil at the end. Thank you!