If you’re a fan of bold, spicy flavors and tender, marinated meat, you’ll absolutely love my Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi! 🌶🍖 This dish combines thinly sliced beef with a sweet and savory marinade, flavored with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a kick of gochujang (Korean chili paste). It’s perfect for grilling, stir-frying, or even making in a skillet. My family loves it served with a side of steamed rice and some pickled veggies—it’s always a hit at dinner time!

Bulgogi is a Korean classic, and I like to make mine extra spicy for that real flavor punch. Whether you’re cooking it on the grill or in a skillet, the smoky, savory, spicy taste is something you won’t forget.

Why You’ll Love Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi

This dish is a perfect balance of flavors: savory, sweet, and spicy, all in one bite! The beef absorbs the marinade, making each piece incredibly tender and full of flavor. The spicy gochujang sauce adds just the right amount of heat, but you can adjust it to suit your taste if you prefer a milder version. This recipe is easy to make, yet so flavorful that it feels like a special treat.

What You’ll Need to Make Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi

1 lb beef sirloin or ribeye, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)
2 teaspoons grated ginger
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for cooking)

How to Make Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi

Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar, gochujang, ginger, garlic, and sesame seeds. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the marinade is well mixed.
Marinate the beef: Place the thinly sliced beef into a large ziplock bag or bowl, and pour the marinade over the top. Massage the marinade into the beef, ensuring all the pieces are coated. Let the beef marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for more flavor.
Cook the beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated beef in batches (don’t overcrowd the pan) and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until the beef is cooked through and slightly caramelized on the edges.
Serve: Transfer the cooked beef to a plate and garnish with chopped green onions and extra sesame seeds, if desired. Serve your Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi over steamed rice with some pickled vegetables on the side. Enjoy!

More Relative Recipes:

Fun Variations

You can switch up the flavors by adding different vegetables to the dish! Try adding bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms to the pan while cooking the beef for a more colorful and veggie-packed version. You can also serve the bulgogi in lettuce wraps for a fresh, low-carb option.

How to Make It Healthier

To lighten up this dish, you can use a leaner cut of beef, like flank steak, and reduce the amount of sugar in the marinade. For a lower-sodium option, try using a low-sodium soy sauce. You can also serve the bulgogi with cauliflower rice instead of regular rice for a lower-carb meal.

Ideal for Family Dinners or a BBQ

Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi is perfect for family dinners or backyard barbecues! It’s a great dish to serve when you have friends over because everyone can help themselves to the flavorful beef and enjoy it with different sides. If you’re grilling, the marinade caramelizes beautifully over the heat, creating that perfect charred flavor.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of meat?
Yes! While beef is traditional for Bulgogi, you can also use chicken, pork, or even tofu for a vegetarian version. Just adjust the cooking time as needed.
How spicy is this dish?
The spice level depends on how much gochujang you use. If you like it mild, you can reduce the amount of gochujang or even omit it. For extra heat, add more chili paste or some fresh chili slices.
Can I marinate the beef overnight?
Yes, marinating the beef overnight will deepen the flavors, but you don’t need to marinate it for more than 2 hours if you’re short on time.
What can I serve with Spicy Korean Beef Bulgogi?
This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed rice, kimchi, pickled vegetables, or even a simple green salad. You can also serve it with some grilled vegetables or in lettuce wraps for a lighter meal.
Can I cook this in a regular pan instead of a grill pan?
Absolutely! A regular skillet works just fine. You can still get great results by cooking the beef over high heat to get that crispy, caramelized texture.