Here’s the easiest beef bulgogi recipe you’ll find.
If you’re unfamiliar with Korean food, beef bulgogi is a classic Korean recipe that serves as a great introduction to Korean food. Most of my non-Korean friends that eat meat enjoy it, and it’s usually their go-to item to order at restaurants. Would you believe me if I said it’s so easy to make at home and it will taste even better?
Neither of us loves spending a lot of time in the kitchen, so we definitely recommend this recipe for those who want to eat delicious food without the hassle.
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Last Updated: May 25, 2020
Korean Beef Bulgogi Recipe (Adapted from My Mom's Recipe)
This is probably one of our most used recipes at home. Most of the time, Jacob will marinate a large batch (4 lbs at a time) and then freeze it into smaller meal-sized portions. That way, anytime we’re craving bulgogi, we can just defrost it and have an easy meal.
Bulgogi Ingredients (for 3-4 servings)
- 1 lb beef rib-eye or tenderloin, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 medium-sized onion
- 2-3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon green onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons rice cooking wine
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup of Coca Cola
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- 5 baby carrots, thinly sliced (optional)
Directions
- Mix everything else but the beef in a bowl or tupperware to make the marinade.
- Add the beef and marinate for a few hours or overnight for best results.
- Grill, BBQ, or pan-fry until meat is cooked (approximately 30 minutes).
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve!
Chef's Notes and variations
- Instead of crushed pear, I used coke to tenderize the meat. It’s less healthy but was easier and tasted much better in my opinion. But if you want the healthier version use half a cup of crushed asian pear instead.
- Before you add the beef, taste the marinade to make sure it fits your tastes. Add more sugar or soy sauce to make it sweeter or saltier.
- We double or triple the recipe to make a large batch, so we can enjoy it anytime with little prep time involved! We just portion it out, and freeze, and thaw overnight when we’ll be eating it the next day.
- The quality of the meat is really important! We tried to make this with other types of beef, and it tasted pretty terrible.
- Asian stores have them pre-sliced, but if your beef doesn’t already come thinly sliced, ask the deli if they can thinly slice the meat. Should be about 1/8 inch.
- We ran out of regular onions in our pantry, so I also simplified the recipe even more by using five stems of green onions instead of both kinds, and it tasted great that way too.
- We used homemade soy sauce made by a friend of my mom’s. This takes about 6 months to make. If you’re interested in learning how go here. It certainly tastes amazing, but just for ease, I’m totally fine with buying the ones at the asian store.
Have you tried Beef Bulgogi before? Which restaurant had your favorite one?
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Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
The foodie in me is enjoying the sounds of this way too much! It looks SO good! I have never had Korean food before, but this sounds like a tasty introduction.
Thank you Katie! I hope you give it a try :)
Yum! I will definitely have to make this. I love bulgogi!!
I’m excited for you to try it! :) Actually if you visit again.. you can come over and I can make it for you first! :P
Okay!!! Maybe I will be able to come next time! I would love that! We have a bowling tournament and I’m not sure if we’re driving ourselves or with other people.
oh interesting! :) jacob loves bowling too actually. you’re in a league?
I’m not but Iman is! We’ll be at Samstown next Saturday (the 27th?)
We’re out of town again right now.. let me know the next time you’re back!
okay!!
That looks so good!
Thanks Paulina! :)
Ummm this looks AMAZING.
Thank you Sierra :D
Looks absolutely delicious.
Thanks Yvonne! :)
The picture looked amazing and pulled me into this post. Then I saw where there is Coca-Cola in the recipe. Uhm Hello?! Where have you been all of my life. Printing this recipe NOW :)
:) Awesome! Please tell me how it turns out. It’s my first time cooking with coke, and I love it.
I have never had it before! But now I will definitely have to make this and Its something different to order! Thanks so much!
Let me know what you think! :)
This looks absolutely delicious! I am going to cook this for my boyfriend and myself soon!
Thank you Nina! I’m excited for you to try it!
This looks so yummy!
Thanks Deidre!
How delicious! I have never tried Korean food before but this sounds absolutely delicious! I definitely need to try this out!
I hope you do Joanna! Thanks for stopping by! :)
This is one of our fav meals! We are def spoiled when my mom makes it, I’ve yet to try it myself. Thanks for the recipe!
you’re so welcome!! is your mom korean? :) there’s nothing better than a homecooked meal. Plus LA had such good pre marinated bulgogi.. but now that there isn’t too much in Las Vegas.. I gotta do it myself!
I LOOOOOOOVE bulgogi!
When I made it, I used kiwi and didn’t think to add Coke! Will definitely be making this again with aminos!
oh kiwi?? interesting! :) Try it with coke!! and let me know how it turns out!
Will do!!!!
omg this looks amazing! i love bulgogi but i’ve never made it. definitely will try it
Thanks Stephanie!! Let me know how you like it :)
I M a lover of all korean foods
:) What’s your fave kind?
This looks amazing!
Thanks Jemma!
This looks so yummy!! What a great tip on being able to freeze it!
Yeah.. that saves us SO MUCH TIME!! we have 6 meals ready in the freezer right now. Those types of recipes are always the best.
I don’t eat beef, but this looks like a great recipe that I could try for chicken, as well! <3
oh i’ve never tried it for chicken! let me know how it turns out if you try it with chicken!
That looks sooo yum! We have to try it. It will be our first time cooking Korean food! Can’t wait :)
it’s super easy! :) if I can do it.. I think anyone can! :D
So I’m really excited I saw this, I used to live on Korean food when I was in LA. You can’t get good Korean in Scotland and I never make it cause I’ve been worried it’ll be difficult but I’m making this for dinner 2moro night. I’m gonna read through your other food posts as well and see what else I can make :-)
korean food is so good in LA. it’s not great in las vegas either! let me know how it turns out! it’s super simple.
Yumm! My goodness that looks DELICIOUS!
thank you so much! :)
ooo I’ven ever had bulgogi before! Looks delicious!
you should try it!! even if you don’t make it yourself.. maybe there’s a korean restaurant around you?
yum! this looks good, and so easy! pinning for later :)
yay!! if you do make it, let me know how it turns out! i know everyone has a different palette. :)
Yum yum yum! I didn’t know how easy it was to make! Perfect.
Yup! Super easy! :) I’d love to hear your thoughts on how it turns out!
I am going to have to try this!
Let me know how it comes out!! :D
yum!! making me hungry! i should try to make this!
Buy the right kind of meat next time!! Makes a huge diff! :)
lol ok will do! i’ll go to the korean market when i come back. need to start cooking again!