Korean BBQ Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
Korean BBQ Steak
- 16 oz sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized cubes, any cut of steak also works!
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1½ tbsp honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Optional Garnish:
- Steamed rice
- Sesame seeds
- Scallions
- ¼ cup Kimchi
- Fried egg
Instructions
- Place the cubed sirloin in a bowl and marinate with dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil for at least 15 minutes.
- Heat a pan over medium heat with a bit of oil. Add the beef and cook on all sides until browned.
- Increase the heat and continue cooking to develop a deeper sear and caramelization on the outside.
- Remove from the heat once the beef reaches your desired doneness.
- Serve over a fresh bowl of rice and optionally garnish with sesame seeds, scallions, kimchi, and a fried egg.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Table of Contents
- Korean BBQ Steak Recipe
- Introduction
- How This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe Builds Flavor
- Why The Marinade Is So Important For This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe
- Korean BBQ Steak Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Korean BBQ Steak
- What to Serve with Korean BBQ Steak
- How to Store Korean BBQ Steak
- Korean BBQ Steak Substitutions
- What to Make Next
Introduction
I feel like steak is one of those foods that people either overcomplicate or only make for special occasions, but this Korean BBQ Steak Recipe makes steak an everyday, achievable dish. This recipe takes those classic bulgogi flavors and turns it into a dish that has more texture and actually develops a sear. I’ve made and tested this to maximize the flavor to effort ratio, and this recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make but is extremely flavorful, making it perfect for those weeknights or weekend dinners when you want to treat yourself.
How This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe Builds Flavor
This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe gets most of its flavor from the marinade. Even though the beef isn’t marinated for a super long time, the combination of soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger is flavorful enough to give the beef a strong flavor base. Additionally, because the steak is cut into smaller piece, it absorbs the marinade faster, cooks more evenly, and also has more surface area to get a good sear and achieve those delicious charred bits on the edges.
Why The Marinade Is So Important For This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe
In any Korean BBQ dish, the marinade is often the most important part of the recipe, and thi sis no different for this Korean BBQ Steak Recipe. The light soy sauce adds the main source of saltiness while the dark soy sauce adds that signature deep color as well as umami. The honey brings sweetness and helps the beef caramelize. And finally, the garlic and ginger add their signature aromatic flavors, which are crucial in any good Korean BBQ recipe. As the steak cooks, the marinade will reduce and cling to the meat and char a bit, which gives the beef all that amazing flavor.
Korean BBQ Steak Recipe Ingredients
Sirloin steak – The main protein of the dish. Cutting it into smalls cubes helps it cook quickly and absorb all that amazing marinade.
Marinade (dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, sesame oil) – A balanced mix of sauces that seasons the beef, adds sweetness and umami, and creates a caramelized exterior when cooked.
Steamed rice + garnishes (sesame seeds, scallions, kimchi, fried egg) – The perfect way to serve this in my opinion. The rice absorbs the sauce, while the garnishes add texture, color, and additional layers of flavor.
How to Make Korean BBQ Steak
Place the cubed steak in a bowl and mix with dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. Let the steak marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Heat a pan over medium heat with oil and cook the steak until browned on all sides. Increase the heat and continue cooking to develop a deeper sear and caramelization.
Remove from heat and serve immediately over rice. Top with sesame seeds, scallions, kimchi, and a fried egg if desired.
What to Serve with Korean BBQ Steak
This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe is best served over a bowl of steamed white rice because it soaks up all that delicious sauce. If you want some more components in the meal like a traditional Korean BBQ meal, here are some of my go-to side dishes.
- Kimchi. A traditional Korean pickled cabbage that adds both acidity and spice, which balances the flavors of the beef.
- Pickled cucumbers. One of my favorite banchan dishes. It can be easily made with a splash of rice vinegar and a pinch of sugar and salt.
- Fried egg. Adds additional flavor as well as another layer of richness from the egg yolk.
How to Store Korean BBQ Steak
This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe is great for storing in the fridge and can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Depending on what I have planned for the week, I store the beef in a couple of different ways:
- Stored by itself. I usually store the steak separately to maintain the beef’s texture. When storing like this, I like to reheat the contents in a pan to revive that texture and flavor.
- On top of rice. I like to store this Korean BBQ Steak Recipe like this for my partner, who works in an office. Microwave your Tupperware it for 2 minutes on the high setting.
Korean BBQ Steak Substitutions
This Korean BBQ Steak Recipe is very flexible, and you can substitute some ingredients depending on what you have available. A few of my favorite substitutions are:
- Flank steak. A great substitute for sirloin steak and still stays tender when cut into cubes and seared.
- Brown sugar. Can be used instead of honey to get a slightly deeper caramelization of your beef.
- Chicken. Chicken thighs work great in case you want a leaner dish. My Korean BBQ Chicken Recipe does this exactly!
What to Make Next
Craving another beef dish? You’ll love my Korean Ground Beef!
Want another quick dish for those busy weeknights? Try my Garlic Pork Stir Fry!
Feeling like some noodles? Cook my Creamy Sesame Noodles!
