Say goodbye to boring beef mince recipes….. these Asian Beef Bowls are super tasty, super easy and SUPER fast! Made with just a handful of staple Asian condiments, the ground beef can be switched with chicken, pork or even turkey.
Also, don’t miss the popular noodle version of this recipe – Asian Beef Ramen Noodles!
Super quick beef mince recipe!
This one is for all those nights when you peer into your fridge, find a packet of beef mince and are completely uninspired to make Spag Bol – yet again.
This is also one for all those nights when you’ve been baking, filming and photographing recipes all day, and you swear you don’t have the energy to make anything for dinner but your mother brain washed you so well, you feel guilty for even thinking about picking up the phone to order home delivery.
Oh wait. Is that just me? 😂
This is not a traditional Chinese or other Asian recipe, hence the obscure name “Asian Beef Bowls”.
However, if you have ever made a Chinese stir fry – or in fact, any Chinese recipe – you will likely instantly recognise all the ingredients in the sauce. No Western ingredients. This is made with 100% authentic Asian ingredients. And when you take the first bite, it will be so familiar to you.
Because the sauce is so similar to many stir fries, yet an exact replica of none!
Here’s what you need
And here’s how easy it is to make:
What to serve on the side
Serve this over rice or, for a healthy low carb option, Cauliflower Rice (77% fewer calories and 87% less carbs than rice).
For a side salad, here are a few suggestions.
Side Salads to accompany this dish
I love this recipe because it’s made with beef mince (ground beef) i.e. no meat slicing. Asian recipes made with beef mince aren’t that common, but there are a handful of terrific ones and they are worth knowing for the convenience of being able to make a quick meal when you’ve got a packet of mince on hand. Here’s a handful of my favourites:
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Japanese Pork and Green Bean Stir Fry <<– On my mother’s website, RecipeTin Japan
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Larb Gai (Thai Lettuce Wraps) and San Choy Bau (Chinese Lettuce Wraps)
Unlike most stir fries, this one doesn’t come with a ton of sauce. But it’s juicy and the beef has a ton of flavour in it so when it’s all mixed up with the rice, you certainly won’t feel like you’re missing sauce. Promise! ~ Nagi x ❤️
Watch how to make it
“Wow! Can’t believe something that was so quick to do was also so tasty.”
– Jacqui, January 2019
“This would have to be the tastiest easiest mince dish I have ever cooked in 15 minutes.”
– Wendy, 10 May 2017
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Asian Beef Bowls
Ingredients
Sauce:
- 1 tbsp Hoisin Sauce (or sub with Oyster)
- 2 tbsp Oyster Sauce (or sub with 1 1/2 tbsp Hoisin)
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (or Mirin, dry sherry, sake or any rice wine) (Note 1)
- 2 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce (Note 2)
- 2 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp white pepper (or sub with black)
Stir Fry:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 500 g /1 lb beef mince (ground beef) (lean is good)
- 1/2 cup shallots / scallions , sliced, plus more for garnish
Garnishes:
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Mix Sauce together in a bowl
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute or until onion starts browning.
- Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go.
- Once the beef has all changed from red to brown, add Sauce. Cook for a further 2 minutes, or until Sauce has evaporated and beef is cooked. If you want the beef cooked more, add a splash of water and keep cooking (I don't do this).
- Stir through shallots, then serve over rice, garnished with more shallots and sesame seeds, if desired. Or for a low carb, low cal option, try Cauliflower Rice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published May 2017, updated with new video, new photos, step photos, refreshed writing, and latest and greatest in Life of Dozer!
More quick 15 minute Asian meals
-
Quick Asian Beef RAMEN Noodles and Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles – 15 minutes, made in one pot
-
Chinese Chicken and Corn Soup with Egg Ribbons – so simple, this will blow your mind…
-
Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans – flavour packed!
-
Egg Fried Rice – it all comes down to the sauce…
Life of Dozer
Project Manager Dozer, reporting for duty!!!
This recipe was just incredible. It really was. It was tasty, easy to follow and I had all of the ingredients in my fridge. I have to say every recipe I’ve tried off Recipetineats has been such high quality. Thank you so much for all of the fantastic recipes and keep them coming!
Super flavorful recipe that was quick to make. I’m a broke college student and I always struggle with bland food but this recipe is so inexpensive but delicious. I added bell peppers with the onions for more vegetables and it was great.
Nice and easy recipe. Super tasty and plenty of sauce. Recommend.
This recipe is awesome. I’ve found removing the sugar and using 75% of the sauce mixture makes it the perfect saltiness for me. Eaten with fresh kimchi balances out the flavour and avocado :).
Just wondering if it’s safe to mix a month worth of sauce to store in the fridge?
Made this last night, loved it! Wish i doubled the recipe because my husband is the only one that got it for lunch today!!! Quick , easy and yum!
Great + Easy Meal. Flavoursome! Your recipes are a winner in our household!
This is the second time I have made this, and it’s just beautiful. So full of flavour! A perfect balance of salty, sweet & aromatic. Also very economical, as I had most of the ingredients in the fridge & pantry. Thanks once again Nagi – you are the best 🙂
The recipe was amazing! It’s quick and delicious
This sauce was amaaaazziiiinnnnggggg. I actually used it on some bland meat and vegetables I had already made and combined it with some already cooked white rice and topped it with an egg = SO GOOD (would have taken a picture, but I ate it too fast😂). It was just what the meal was missing and definitely helped me have a good lunch. Would say it was a little salty for me, but that’s my only critique if you will. This recipe has already been bookmarked for later. Thanks for sharing!!!
Tasty and quick but a bit too salty and a but too sweet for my tastes. Probably just a personal preference.
Delicious, Nagi!
Simple, accessible ingredients – at least in my house! – and quick preparation = a delightful recipe!
The flavours meld together beautifully and the next day, it was even more flavourful.
I have both Mirin and Dry Sherry on hand and I chose to use the Dry Sherry this time around.
Thank you for another home run, Nagi!
“Cheers” to you and your sweetheart, Dozer, from the Canadian Prairies.
Made this for tonight’s meal, double thumbs up from Hubby and son. Quick and easy delicious meal, store cupboard ingredients plus fresh mince. Standing ovation for Nagi, plus a big thank you thank you for sharing these recipes 👏 👏 👏
PS your book is absolutely fabulous. I’ve started from the beginning using a recipe each day 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
So if I double the meat, would I also have to double the sauce?
Absolutely scrumptious and very quick to make.
Thank you Nagi 😍
This was super quick and easy to make. I used chicken stock and the flavor was similar to Korean bulgogi.
Quick, easy and a huge winner with the kids. We serve with broccoli and it’s a hit every time.
Made tonight & loved it
Quick & sooo easy to make & store cupboard ingredients
Had some fresh chopped chilli & coriander to “dress” it up at the end
Had with rice & gonna try with noddles next time
A definite keeper
Nice one👍😎
Very nice and fast, our taste buds called for more of a kick so stirred in some siracha sauce towards the end.
Works well with impossible meat. I couldn’t even believe I made it! My partner asked me if we got takeout haha 10/10
I just made this as I have 10lbs ground beef to use. I cooked up 3lbs for this recipe using double the amount of sauce below. I don’t think I have the same soy sauce so that’s why I altered the amounts. Amazing!! I plan on freezing most of it