Foods I never need to add to my grocery list because they end up in my cart each week no matter what:
- Applesauce. Because kids.
- Wine. See above.
- Eggs. Egg Salad for president.
- Applegate Farms Salami. Can’t stop / won’t stop.
- Ground beef.
Even if I don’t have a concrete plan in mind for using ground beef, I buy it anyway. It’s an inexpensive protein option, super versatile, and most importantly, Lincoln loves it. And if you have a toddler then you know you gotta ride that “foods we don’t complain about eating” train as far as humanly possible before its inevitable derailment.
While ground beef is spaghetti-bound at least once a week, I also frequently use it to make Skillet Tater Tot Casserole, Taco Chili, and Incredible Italian Meatballs (here are all my ground beef recipes in case you need some inspiration!) My newest creation though, Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps, is rising to the top of my ground beef faves list!
Watch How to Make It!
What is Korean Beef?
If you’ve never tasted the flavors of Bulgogi, a Korean beef dish that inspired these lettuce wraps, you’re in for a real treat. Thinly sliced beef is flavored with soy sauce (we’re going with gluten-free Tamari here,) sugar, sesame, garlic, and green onion then grilled or stir fried. The beef has that savory/sweet flavor that keeps you going back for bite after bite.
Well, I decided to make this traditional dish weeknight friendly by using ground beef instead of sliced steak! All you do is brown ground beef with green onions and garlic then simmer for a minute with a 5 ingredient sauce. Scoop over fresh lettuce cups filled with cooked rice for a 3-bite taco-type dish. 15 minutes + fridge and pantry staples = total home run!
Kid Friendly and Low Carb Options
To make this meal toddler-friendly, I turned the Korean ground beef into Korean Beef Bowls by scooping the meat mixture over rice. If you want to go the low carb route, you could swap the white rice for cauliflower rice which I think would be super tasty sauteed in either sesame or garlic-flavored wok oil. Or scoop the meat mixture into lettuce cups as shown, minus the rice. Whichever way you go, this gluten-free dinner recipe couldn’t be easier nor more delicious. Go give it a try!
How to Make Korean Ground Beef
Start by heating 2 teaspoons sesame oil in a large, 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1lb ground beef, the chopped white and light green parts of 2 green onions, and a dash of white pepper (or black pepper if that’s all you have on hand) then saute until cooked through. Add 2 cloves minced garlic then saute for 30 seconds.
Next, drizzle in a mixture of 1/4 cup LOW-SODIUM gluten-free Tamari, 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar (could sub in white sugar or honey,) 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (or more or less), 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds then saute for 1 more minute.
That’s all she wrote! Scoop white rice into lettuce cups then top with the green parts of the chopped green onions, plus more toasted sesame seeds, and dive in. I hope you love this craveable, seriously simple weeknight dinner recipe! Enjoy!
More Quick and Easy Ground Beef Recipes
- Cheeseburger Quesadillas
- Beef Taco Bowls
- Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper
- OMG-Good Goulash
- Beef and Veggie Enchilada Skillet
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
Description
Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are ready in just 15 minutes! This easy, gluten-free dinner recipe is made from kitchen staples and is even better than take-out.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1/4 cup LOW SODIUM gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using traditional soy sauce)
- 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar or white sugar or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (or more or less)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, plus more for garnish
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1lb lean ground beef
- 2 green onions, chopped - white and light green parts, and dark parts divided
- white pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 head butter or Boston Bibb lettuce, leaves separated
Directions
- Add rice and 1-1/2 cups water to a small saucepan then bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low then cover and simmer for 10 minutes (water should just barely be at a simmer.) Remove pan from heat then let sit for 5 minutes before removing the lid and fluffing with a fork. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, whisk together gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce, coconut sugar, chili garlic sauce, ground ginger, and sesame seeds in a small dish then set aside.
- Heat sesame oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and white and light green parts of green onions then season with white pepper and cook through. Add garlic then saute for 30 seconds. Pour in sauce then saute for 1 more minute.
- Scoop cooked rice into lettuce leaves then top with Korean beef mixture, green parts of green onions, and extra toasted sesame seeds if desired.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Made these for dinner tonight. Delicious! Will definitely add to our usual rotation. Loved the sauce on the beef. For simplicity, I also used frozen brown rice.
[…] Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are ready in just 15 minutes! This easy, gluten-free dinner recipe is made from kitchen staples and is completely craveable. […]
Ahhh! The organic ground beef by me is $13/lb!
I’ve made this recipe twice this week! Easy to make and so delicious!! thank you!
[…] Cookie Bites via Cotter Crunch Grain-Free Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches via The Roasted Root 15-Minute Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps via Iowa Girl […]
I’m a new mama and trying to get dinner on the table with a newborn is no easy feat. This was an exception! No fuss, but totally delicious. Made me feel like I’ve totally got this motherhood thing in the bag. ? Thanks for a great recipe!
[…] Slow Cooker Balsamic Roast Beef 15 Minute Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps Chicken Sausage and Vegetable Foil Packets Crockpot Sesame Chicken Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken and […]
Kristin – My hubby prefers beef and I prefer chicken – what do you think about using chicken in this recipe?
I think ground chicken would be absolutely delicious – it would taste just like sesame chicken!
I had ground beef and garlic chili sauce in my fridge, so I was looking for recipes that used the two. Found this recipe and decided to make it. It was super easy and quick, and packed with flavor. Thank you!!
You got it, Stella – thanks so much for coming back to leave feedback!
Hi. I love your blog (I’ve been reading and making things from it for years)! Thanks doenthis recipe – I made it tonight and my 6 year old said that it was the best dinner ever. I added chopped mushrooms and used thin rice noodles vs the rice (we had rice yesterday) and loved it. It’s totally gonna make it into our meal rotation – especially i during the hot Texas summer.
Love it and think you’re all kinds of awesome (and I’m not GF but I strive to health up recipes – like you’ve always done).
Oh I’m so glad to hear it!! I love the addition of mushrooms too – I do that with our meat sauce for spaghetti night and it sounds like it worked awesome here too. Thanks for the great feedback, Jackie!
Korean Beef is a staple around here– though my recipe is slightly simpler than yours. It is super easy and toddler approved. I look forward to changing it up by adding a lettuce wrap.
I saw those Orchids at Hyvee— the blue ones were $40 so I think you got yourself a deal ;)
They were too pretty to pass up – PLUS you only have to water them once a week. I figured me and my black thumb could manage that. ;)
I made these last night for supper (with venison from last year’s hunt and lettuce fresh from the garden) and my 14 yo old said “you can make these every night”.
Homegrown lettuce and bison – yYou are winning at life, Kari!
Let me say THANK YOU again Kristin for another soul-satisfying dish that doesn’t take hours to make ?! If any readers are wondering if coconut aminos work–YES! I also made cauliflower rice sautéed in sesame oil. Thank you for making my Monday night dinner quick, painless, and delicious!
Thanks so much for your feedback, Beth! I’m glad the cauliflower rice worked out too!
This looks amazing! I wonder if this could be adapted to the Instant Pot?
This looks amazing! It’s definitely going on my menu for the week. I do have one daughter who doesn’t eat red meat; would ground chicken or turkey work for this? I’m guessing it’s not quite the same but would it work well as a substitute?
I think ground chicken would be super delicious!
Hi, have just started following your blog (I made your Cuban slow cooker pork recipe yesterday…amazing, thank you! ) and wanted to say I’m really enjoying your recipes and love your photos too. Great blog ?
Thank you so much for the kind words – I really appreciate it, and am so glad you enjoyed that pork dish. It’s a repeater at our house in the fall! :)
I love bulgogi anyway I can get it! This is very similar to a repeat meal in our house of Korean Beef Bowls. Fluffy white rice, similarly seasoned ground beef or bison, topped with thinly sliced cucumbers sriracha, and sweet chili sauce! Stuffing all that in a lettuce cup sounds equally delicious! Ugh, I am hungry now!
Oooo sweet chili sauce on top – I love it, Hannah! Definitely going to try that next time. :)
This looks great! What kind of chili garlic sauce do you recommend?
Thanks Adrienne! I use Lee Kum Keeb brand. :)
I have all the heart-eyes for your blog. I’m not gluten-free but my husband is a frequently Whole-30-er so I can often adapt your recipes to be compliant (or at least compliant as far as he knows – HAH!). One request – is there any way to put a small picture on your printable recipes? Pictures are everything for me when I’m cooking and I still print recipes – just easier for me to make notes for the future, etc. Thanks!!
You are too kind and I’m so glad the recipes are working out for you both! If you wanted to make the dish Whole 30 compliant you could try swapping the tamari and sugar for coconut aminos. :) I actually used to include a thumbnail of the photo in the recipe printout but got some complaints that it wasted ink. ? That said, I do keep track of requests like this so if I get more and more I will add it back in. Thanks for your awesome feedback!!