This is a quick and easy Keto Korean Ground Beef recipe that can be on the table in about 15 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight dinner and great as leftovers the next day, this savoury sweet ground beef is sure to become a family favourite!
Sometimes life gets pretty busy and the next thing you know, it is 5:30 pm, you are starving and you are too tired to make anything that requires more than 15 minutes and 1 dish to wash.
Well don't worry as I have got your keto back!
This 15 minute low carb recipe is the perfect keto dinner idea. Just like my Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies, Keto Pizza Bites Appetizer Recipe as well as this Quick 8-Ingredient Whole30 & Keto Chili, this Keto Korean Ground Beef recipe is an awesome weeknight low carb dinner recipe.
Ingredients
Only a short list of ingredients is needed for this keto dinner idea.
INGREDIENTS FOR KOREAN BEEF:
Ground Beef– Lean ground beef works best. By using lean ground beef, no draining is required.
Garlic– Fresh garlic tastes best. It should be added to the pan last and cooked with the beef for 30-60 seconds or just until it starts to become fragrant. Overcooking garlic can actually result in a bitter taste.
Toasted Sesame Oil– Toasted sesame oil is a finishing oil and should be added after cooking because it has a low smoke point. It adds a delicious nutty flavour to this weeknight low carb dinner. If you want to make homemade toasted sesame oil, check out this recipe by Wandercooks.
Sesame Seeds– This not only adds a little colour but also adds a little texture. If you do not have any sesame seeds, you can omit them altogether.
Green Onions– These are mild onions which are only added at the end of cooking for added colour and flavour. Spring onions can be substituted.
Soy Sauce– I used Haku Black Garlic Shoyu sauce. This type of soy sauce is known for it's complex aromas of earthy must and fermented soy beans along with hints of fig, raisin, molasses and garlic. It is my favourite but can be replaced with any good-quality soy sauce.
Sweetener – I used Lakanto Golden to add a touch of sweetness and a depth of flavour. You can use any sweetener of your choice and also change the quantity to suit your tastes.
Ginger– Minced ginger adds a delicious fresh flavour to the dish. If you do not have fresh ginger, you can replace it with ½ teaspoon of ground ginger.
Optional - Hot Sauce – You can use any type of hot sauce or Asian Chili garlic sauce. If you do not like any spice added to your food, omit the hot sauce or serve it on the side for those who enjoy a spicier dish.
*See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Keto Korean Ground Beef is seriously only a 15 minute low carb recipe. Here is how to make this weeknight low carb dinner:
Combine the keto Korean sauce ingredients and set them to the side
Add the beef to the hot skillet and leave it undisturbed for about 3 minutes to get a nice golden brown colour. Crumble the meat as it finishes browning. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
Add the sauce and simmer for 2 minutes stir constantly. Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Hint on How to Cook Ground Beef: Press the meat into the skillet and let it cook undisturbed for a 2-3 minutes. This allows for the Maillard reaction to begin and for your beef to get a nice golden caramelized crust. Then, flip the beef to cook the other side in the same manner.
Substitutions
Although I have only made the recipe following my instructions, I think the following substitutions could work.
- Whole30/Paleo - Instead of soy sauce, use coconut aminos. Use homemade date paste for the sweetener for Whole30 and use coconut sugar or honey for paleo.
- Ground Turkey - You could use ground turkey, chicken or bison instead of the beef
- Vegetarian - the beef can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian
Serving
This recipe can be served as a main meal, appetizer or family-style
- Main Meal - Crumble it on a salad, serve it on a bun as a sandwich or over some riced cauliflower
- Appetizer - use the Korean beef instead of hot dog in this Mini Corn Dog Bites and make Mini Korean Beef bites
- Family Style - Place the beef on a serving platter and use lettuce leaves or small low carb tortillas
Check out my Weeknight Keto Mongolian Chicken for a 15 minute low carb recipe using chicken instead.
Equipment
I used a large cast-iron skillet for this recipe. Not only does it create a nice crunchy browning of the beef but the skillet and can placed in the oven to stay hot. You can use any type of skillet for this recipe if you do not have a cast-iron skillet.
Storage
This Keto Korean Ground Beef recipe can be stored in the fridge for 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Top tip
Make sure to use room temperature beef to ensure even cooking. For super tender beef, add some baking soda and water to the beef. You can find more information on adding this extra step on my How to Make the BEST Taco Meat.
Easy Keto Korean Beef
This is a quick and easy Keto Korean Ground Beef recipe that can be on the table in about 15 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight dinner and great as leftovers the next day, this savoury sweet ground beef is sure to become a family favourite!
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb 85% lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 2 green onions chopped
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
For the Korean Sauce:
- ¼ cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- 2 tbsp -¼ cup brown sugar substitute (start with 2 tbsp and add additional sweetner after tasting)
- 1 tbsp minced ginger, fresh
- 1 tsp hot sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, 2 tablespoon brown sugar substitute, ginger, and hot sauce. Taste the sauce and add additional sweetener to suit your taste. Set aside.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high. Add beef. Let cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to brown. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Crumble the meat as it finishes browning. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
- Add the sauce and simmer for 2 minutes stir constantly. Remove from heat and sitr in sesame oil and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over riced cauliflower or in lettuce wraps.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Stove-top
- Cuisine: Korean, Weeknight
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 297
- Sugar: 1
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 22
Do I need to drain the beef?
No. Because we are using lean ground beef, you do not need to drain any fat from the skillet.
What is considered "lean" ground beef?
Lean ground beef is any beef that contains less than 85% fat
How do you know when the ground beef is cooked?
The ground beef will not longer be pink. Not adding the soy sauce initially helps to determine when the beef turns from pink to brown.
What if I do not want to make it very sweet?
I gave a value of 2 tbsp. to ¼ cup when it comes to adding sweetness to this dish. Using ¼ cup will make this dish quite sweet so make sure that you serve it alongside something tart like coleslaw.
Cat
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lola
Made this last night and the family loved it! Only used 2 tbsp of sweetener as we do not like overly sweet dishes. Thanks for the recipe!