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:
Japanese Pork and Green Bean Stir Fry <<– On my mother’s website, RecipeTin Japan
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…
- See 15 Minute Recipes
Life of Dozer
Project Manager Dozer, reporting for duty!!!
Nagi, your winning streak continues- another home run! I so much appreciate all the work you put in to these recipes, it really helps rookie cooks like myself gain confidence… thank you!
Forgot to rate this- 5 star!!
Super tasty meal. I added capsicum, snow peas and celery just so we had some veggies. Will make it again.
Yum! Sounds like a great combo Gaye ❤️
I have made this six or more times now and it is about time I thanked you Nagi. I add veggies, whatever I have, last night it was carrots, peas, broccoli. The balance of flavour is extraordinary. The best savoury mince meal i ever had. It is firmly on weekly rotation, and I am so amazed its so easy.
Thanks so much for this delicious recipe. So quick as well, couldn’t believe it because it is so tasty! Added veggies on the side.
Perfect Francene, I’m so glad you loved it! N x
I’ve made this several times… We all love it. At what point should I add some veggies? I’ve just been adding it towards the end.
Hi Rachel, I tend to add them after I’ve browned the beef before adding the sauce 🙂 N x
Winning! Cheap, easy, fast AND tasty!!!
WOOT! Exactly Tamara! N x
I made this the other night with the addition of 2 chopped red chillies in it to give it a bit of heat. This was super quick to make and the family absolutely loved. Thanks Nagi!
Fast and easy and very tasty!
Perfect Shivaunne!!! N x
Didn’t have much in the house but was still able to make this, missing only the shallots and hoi sin (subbed in Jimmy’s sate). It was delicious and will go into our rotation. Thanks Nagi!
I LOVE Jimmy’s!!! N x
Forgot to rate it, definitely deserves 5 stars!
Jimmy’s is amazing. Has been a meal saver many a time haha
I didn’t have much time to cook up anything when I came across this recipe. It was fantastic served with iceberg lettuce (Like lettuce wraps), along with Asian buffet style green beans on the side. I subbed rice vinegar for the alcohol. I look forward to trying other recipes of yours! Thank you!
So simple yet fantastic flavour. Really really yum. The whole family loves it and is on weekly rotation for mid week meal. I add carrots and peas or beans for vegie count. I made sure that I had some leftover for my lunch 🙂
Thanks Nagi you are the best.
I’m so happy it’s a hit Risky that’s awesome! N x
My boyfriend loved it! Finished the entire serving I scooped for him
Sounds like you nailed it!! N x
Nagi,
Once again, another easy, delicious meal.
Everyone around the table gave it 5 stars.
Thank you
Awesome Annie, that’s great to hear! N x
We ate this last night as a welcome change from the norm.
Thanks from Nottingham Uk in lockdown
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, stay safe! N x
Wow, this is an excellent & quick recipe! I mixed all kinds of vegetables like broccoli & cabbage in mine so that it will last longer. 🙂
This was soooo tasty!!! Thanks so much!!!
You’re so welcome Anushka!! N x
Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I was planning on the usual spag bol but my fussy son does not like it. He loved this meal and by adding gochujang sauce he said it was closest thing to bulgolgi beef he has had since lockdown! I have a list of your other recipes I want to try. This is a goldmine! Thank you
I made this over the weekend as I had mince in the freezer I’d run out of ideas to do with.
I didn’t any Chinese wine or sherry, so added the stock substitute instead.
Wow, so yummy, and the closest I’ve ever come to recreating san choy bow.
This will definitely be a regular meal in my house.
That’s great to hear Jody, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! N x
Made this recipe too this week, and again, my daughter, with the picky palate, who was initially afraid to try this thinking I had made taco meat, LOVED it once she tried it. Had to sub some of the Hoisin with Oyster sauce because I ran out and also had to use normal wine because I dont have Mirin or Chinese cooking wine. Thanks for another great recipe!
What a brilliant recipe, so quick and easy to make and packed with flavour. I added mushrooms and mixed through soba noodles at the end instead of serving with rice – delish!! Thanks Nagi, Happy Easter to you and gorgeous Dozer.
I just want to say that you are my OG (original gangster) and HG (holy grail) for ALL RECIPES for literally everything. Thank you for all your effort and commitment to delivering us amazing recipes!
When in doubt – RECIPETINEATS!
Thanks so so SO much Sunny, I love hearing this! N x
If i add cabbage and mushroom, how should i adjust so the beef is still caramelised?