Get authentic Korean BBQ flavor fast! This Spicy Beef Bulgogi (Fire Meat) recipe uses thinly sliced ribeye marinated in rich gochujang and gochugaru for a delicious sweet and spicy kick. It cooks up perfectly in a skillet in just 3-5 minutes! Read on for the delicious details!
Is there anyone who doesn't love bulgogi, the DIVINE Korean bbq dish?
Bulgogi translates "fire meat" (fire (bul) and meat (gogi)). Typically fine cuts of beef are marinated in an intoxicating mix of ingredients and then grilled to make this beloved Korean barbecue dish.
I absolutely love original beef bulgogi, as well as variations such as spicy dak bulgogi (chicken bulgogi), pork bulgogi, and this spicy beef bulgogi!
If you love spicy food and beef bulgogi, then you've GOT to try this delicious Korean Spicy Beef Bulgogi Recipe! It's super easy to make, especially on your stovetop!
So let me show you what you'll need to make this Korean bbq dish!
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🥘 Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients that you will need to make this delicious spicy beef bulgogi:
- Very thinly sliced rib eye steak - you can use other cuts of thinly sliced beef, however it's highly recommended to use ribeye for the best results. I'm thrilled that my local grocery store now sells pre-sliced ribeye meat (please see below). If you can find this it's great to use in this recipe and will save you time!
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- Gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- Soy sauce
- Water
- Sugar (can use brown sugar)
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Black pepper
- Sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions (garnish)
To make this dish spicy, we include spicy gochujang and gochugaru to the bulgogi marinade.
You should be able to find most of these ingredients at your local grocery stores, or at Asian grocery store. I've also linked to Amazon for a few of the ingredients if you'd like to order from there.
Please don't be intimidated by this long list of ingredients. Gathering and prepping these ingredients is easy and doesn't take long. 😊
🔪 Instructions
Slice your ribeye steak very very thinly. Save time by using thin pre-sliced meat!
Place the ribeye steak into a medium sized bowl. Add the marinade ingredients to the beef (you can also combine all the marinade ingredients in a separate bowl and then add it to the meat). Use your hands to work the marinade into the beef, making sure all the meat is coated by the marinade.
Cover the bowl, and then allow to rest at room temperature around 20-30 minutes.
Heat up the olive oil on medium heat in a large skillet or pan. Either a cast iron pan or a nonstick pan will work perfectly to cook your spicy bulgogi!
Once the oil is hot, add the marinated beef and stir fry for around 3-5 minutes until the meat is cooked. The time will vary according to how thinly sliced your ribeye is.
Place the cooked beef bulgogi on your serving tray, and then garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Suggestions For Serving
It's time to dig in to your spicy bulgogi!
You'll want to have some steamed white rice to go along with it, as well as some Korean side dishes such as cucumber kimchi and Korean spinach side dish. It's nice to combine all of these dishes to make a beef bulgogi rice bowl.
A delicious way to enjoy this bulgogi is in a lettuce wrap. Simply add some rice to a lettuce leaf, top with bulgogi and some ssamjang (Korean fermented soybean paste), open wide and stuff your mouth! 😆
I hope this easy bulgogi recipe will become one of your favorite Korean recipes!
FAQ
I highly recommend rib eye steak for the most tender and delicious bulgogi! However, you can by all means use other cuts such as sirloin steak or skirt steak but be sure it is sliced very very thinly for best results.
In the unlikely event you have leftover beef bulgogi, you can store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.
Adjust the amount of gochujang and gochugaru up for a spicier dish, and down for a less spicy bulgogi to suit your tastes!
Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:
- How To Cook Korean Short Ribs In The Oven
- Easy Air Fryer Korean Galbi Beef Short Ribs Recipe
- The 10 Best Side Dishes To Serve With Korean Short Ribs (Kalbi)! - of course these also pair perfectly with spicy bulgogi!
1,000 Foods To Eat Project
In conclusion, bulgogi is listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. I am working my way through the foods listed in this book. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. Bulgogi is food #84 in my project! Please visit the 1,000 Foods To Eat Project page to see some other MUST TRY foods of the world that you may love to try!
Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.
Cheers!
Grace
Easy Korean Spicy Beef Bulgogi Recipe For Stovetop
Equipment
- 1 Large pan or skillet I have used both a cast iron pan and nonstick pan successfully with this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ribeye steak sliced very thinly; save time by buying a package of thinly pre-sliced ribeye steak
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Marinade
- 2 tablespoon gochujang Korean red pepper paste
- 1 tablespoon gochugaru Korean red pepper powder
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon sugar can use brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon ginger minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 ts black pepper
- 1 ts sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds
Garnish
- 2 each green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Slice your ribeye steak very very thinly. Save time by using thin pre-sliced meat!
- Place the ribeye steak into a medium sized bowl. Add the marinade ingredients to the beef (you can also combine all the marinade ingredients in a separate bowl and then add it to the meat). Use your hands to work the marinade into the beef, making sure all the meat is coated by the marinade.
- Cover the bowl, and then allow to rest at room temperature around 20-30 minutes.
- Heat up the olive oil on medium heat in a large skillet or pan. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated meat and stir fry for around 3-5 minutes until the meat is cooked. The time will vary according to how thinly sliced your ribeye is.
- Place the cooked beef bulgogi on your serving tray, and then garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Grace
This bulgogi is so easy to make and tastes like what you would get at your fave Korean restaurant! Delicious!