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!!!
What if you cannot use alcohol in food?
Hi Maha, the substitutes are in the recipe notes ❤️
Made this for dinner and entire family loved it! I love how simple it is to make but has big flavor. Thank you, Nagi!
This was super easy and packed with flavor. I added dark soy to my rice in my maker and green beans to the stir fry to get a veg in. I love all of your recipes and tell everyone about your site.
Sounds great Sara!!
Hello Nagi
I cooked this wonderful meal tonight, and the only changes I made was to add to chillies with the onion and garlic, and then add a finely chopped carrot and finely chopped spinach with the spring onion.
This recipe was so tasty, and so quick to cook.
The sauce mixture was so mouth watering, so will have this recipe as one more favourite.
I forgot to add the stars, so reposting with five stars.
Hi Nagi. I made this last night and it was delicious. I also quick fried some mixed vegetables which rounded out the meal. Since there are only 2 of us….enjoying leftovers tonight!!! Thx. PS…I’ve got salmon curing using your Gravlox recipe. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Awesome Cathy!
Tried this last night because I was pressed for time to get supper ready. It truly was SUPER quick to make, but the best part was the extraordinary taste. Everyone couldn’t stop complimenting on the dish! Thanks, Nagi, for making me look good!
Wondering how to make this be vegan??
Hi Greg, try this one: https://innovate-pulse.news/asian-mushroom-ramen-noodle-recipe/%3C/a%3E and substitute the oyster sauce with the mushroom based “oyster sauce” – N x
DELICIOUS! OF course IT is Just Look IT DOZERS eyes. Sorry keyboard NOT right can’t makeup its mind WHAT to do. Keep warm.
Uhuh ! Of course I like 🙂 ! With or minus a few other ingredients from the same family. Make a double portion: lovely wrapped in lettuce leaves for a lunch ready in five minutes and great for my open sandwiches for breakfast . . . who wants to buy salty, fatty, preservative-ridden cold cuts from the deli . . . 🙂 ?
Gosh Nagi, this is an absolute ripper and you’re not wrong, a doddle to make. Damn tasty too for something which required virtually no effort. You’re probably also right too that poor old spag bol might have been knocked off its perch for the title of “easiest, go to mince recipe” by this little number 😉
Utterly delicious!
So sorry! My apologizes. I found it in your recipe. My oversight! You are the best!
Hi Nagi,
The recipes sounds delicious! Being Asian myself, it it right up my alley. Just a quick question, how much ground beef should I use? One pound? I tried reading through the blog and recipe but didn’t notice it anywhere. Thank you so much!
So sorry! My apologizes. I found it in your recipe. My oversight! You are the best!
Your sauce for this recipe is similar to your Charlie Brown Stir Fry Sauce. Can I use it for this recipe? If so, how much would I use and would it need to be diluted?
As always super delicious👍💕
Hey Dozer did you get some BEEF..
Nagi this beef is the Da Bomb
Would this be good as a lettuce wrap? Sounds & looks delicious!
Fantastic recipe! It’s cold and dark and I got home from work and had to feed two teenagers
Had some mince in the fridge and stumbled across this recipe. I added beans and didn’t have any shallots so used coriander instead. The kids loved it and I will definitely make it again. Thanks!
Hi Nagi. Made this last night and it was up to your usual level of excellence.
I added some frozen peas and we had Chinese Chili in oil on the side.
Superb.
Sound’s divine John!
Thanks
what a great quick little meal. I added shaved bits of carrot and chopped snap peas for a little colour and veg! delicious!
Great idea Emily!
I had to use up a pack of mince, so was looking for a quick recipe I could use for work lunches. So quick and versatile. Thanks
Perfect Kelli!