Japanese BBQ Beef

A completed bowl of Japanese BBQ beef served over rice, topped with a drizzle of sriracha mayo, sesame seeds, and chopped scallions. The beef is deeply browned and caramelized, contrasting beautifully with the white rice and vibrant garnishes.
This Japanese BBQ Ground Beef Bowl is quick, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. Juicy ground beef is seared and coated in a savory-sweet sauce made with soy sauce, mirin, garlic, ginger, and honey and is a perfect dish for meal prep.
Watch me make Japanese BBQ Beef
Servings: 2 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients 

Beef & Sauce

  • 1 lb ground beef, see note 1
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Optional Garnishes

  • Sriracha mayo
  • Sesame seeds
  • Scallions
  • Cooked white rice

Instructions 

  • In a bowl, whisk together dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, mirin, garlic, ginger, honey, and black pepper.
  • Heat a lightly oiled pan and add the ground beef. Cook undisturbed for 4 minutes to develop a sear, then break apart and continue cooking until about 80% done.
  • Pour in the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring until the beef is fully coated and the sauce has thickened.
  • Serve the beef over fresh rice. Optionally garnish with sriracha mayo, sesame seeds, and scallions.

Notes

(1) I personally use 90/10 ground beef, but 80/20 works just as well, if not better!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 27gFat: 23g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Table of Contents

Why I Love Using Ground Beef For Japanese BBQ BEef

I personally love to make this Japanese BBQ Beef when I’m craving Japanese BBQ flavor but want something easier than firing up a grill. I also love to use ground beef because it’s cheaper and doesn’t require any cutting / prep work (lol). It captures the flavors of yakiniku with everyday pantry staples like soy sauce, honey, and garlic. The addition of mirin and ginger gives it that signature Japanese taste of sweet, savory, and slightly tangy depth. It’s incredibly rich and is perfect over a hot bowl of rice with a drizzle of sriracha mayo.

A close-up of a spoon lifting a bite of caramelized Japanese BBQ ground beef above a bowl of fluffy white rice. The beef is rich in color, glossy with sauce, and speckled with sesame seeds and scallions, showcasing its savory, umami-packed coating.
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The Ultimate Weeknight Ground Beef Recipe

This is one of my favorite go-to dishes when I want something cozy and comforting without the time commitment. Everything cooks in one pan, and the sauce comes together while the beef browns. Serve it over fresh rice with scallions, sesame seeds, or even an egg if you’re feeling fancy. It’s also ideal for meal prep! You can reheat it in minutes and it still tastes amazing. Whether you’re cooking for one or two, this recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimum effort.

What You’ll Need To Make Japanese BBQ Beef

Beef & Sauce

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp mirin
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Optional Garnish & Sides

  • Sriracha mayo
  • Sesame seeds
  • Scallions
  • Fresh rice

How to Make Japanese BBQ Beef

In a bowl, whisk together dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, mirin, garlic, ginger, honey, and black pepper

A golden stream of honey soy BBQ sauce is poured into a bowl containing minced garlic, grated ginger, and soy sauces. The mixture glistens with richness, ready to coat the beef with sweet and savory flavor.

Heat a lightly oiled pan and add the ground beef

A spatula presses down on a layer of raw ground beef in a hot skillet, beginning the browning process. The beef is vibrant red and sizzling, signaling the start of its transformation into a flavorful base for the BBQ dish.

Cook undisturbed for 4 minutes to develop a sear, then break apart and continue cooking until about 80% done

A rich, dark Japanese BBQ sauce is poured from a bowl onto partially cooked ground beef in a skillet. The sauce immediately begins to sizzle, enveloping the meat in a glossy coat of flavor.

Pour in the sauce and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring until the beef is fully coated and the sauce has thickened

Ground beef simmers in a skillet, coated in thick Japanese BBQ sauce. The meat bubbles gently in the pan, soaking up flavor as it reduces to a glossy, caramelized finish.

Serve the beef over fresh rice and top with optional garnishes like sriracha mayo, sesame seeds, and scallions

A hand drizzles sriracha mayo in a zigzag pattern over a bed of BBQ beef and white rice. The creamy sauce adds a spicy, tangy finish to the savory dish.

Tips and Variations

• Rice swap: Serve over short-grain white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. I sometimes like to mix both!

• Boost the veggies: Stir in sautéed onions, mushrooms, or spinach for added texture and volume!

• Other proteins: This sauce works great with ground chicken, turkey, or tofu!

• Meal prep: Make a double batch and portion into containers with rice and a veggie side. This dish reheats so well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of ground meat?

Yes! This works beautifully with ground chicken, turkey, or even plant-based alternatives like Impossible or tofu crumbles.

Is this dish spicy?

Not in this recipe, but you can easily add heat with sriracha, gochujang, or chili oil to taste.

Can I prep this ahead of time?

Absolutely! Store the cooked beef and rice in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish for around 2 minutes and it’ll be just as good!

What kind of rice works best?

Short-grain white rice is ideal, but jasmine, basmati, or even sticky rice work great too. For a healthier version, try brown rice or quinoa.

How can I make this gluten-free?

Just use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce and ensure all other ingredients (like mirin) are certified gluten-free.

Try These Next

Craving something spicy? Try my Spicy Beef Noodles with beef and peanut sauce.

Want a quick protein? My Soy Butter Chicken is perfect over rice or noodles.

In the mood for more takeout? Check out my Kung Pao Chicken!

About Mitchell Masuda

I'm a home (and self-taught) cook based in New York sharing easy, delicious, and approachable Asian food recipes!

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