A little adventure for your everyday table
South Korea · Homemade, your way

Beef Bulgogi

Marinate thin beef slices with pear, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil, then sear in batches for Korean-style bulgogi with browned edges.

Prep time
20 min
Cook time
12 min
Total time
1 hr 5 min
Servings
4
↓ Jump to recipe
Family Friendly
Beef bulgogi served with rice; a restaurant serving suggestion.
Photo: Andy Li · Source · CC0. Serving suggestion.

A little grated pear sweetens the marinade and gives it body. Thin slices cook quickly, so spread the beef out rather than crowding the skillet. Chilling steak briefly before cutting makes the slices easier to control. Resting time includes thirty minutes of refrigerated marinating and a three-minute rest after the final cooking step.

Let’s make it

Beef Bulgogi

Serves 4 · Prep 20 min · Cook 12 min · Rest 33 min · Total 1 hr 5 min

Ingredients

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Mix pear, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, pepper, and scallions in a bowl. Add beef, turn to coat, and refrigerate covered for 30 minutes.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the vegetable oil and lift half the beef from the marinade, letting excess drip off.
  3. Spread in one layer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until browned and beef reaches 145°F (63°C). Transfer to a clean plate.
  4. Repeat with remaining oil and beef. Discard uncooked leftover marinade. Let cooked beef rest for at least 3 minutes.
  5. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the bulgogi and serve warm.

A few kitchen notes

  • Keep slices thin and similar in thickness for even cooking.

Ingredient substitutions

  • Use grated sweet apple in place of pear in the same weight.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate within 2 hours for 3 days. Reheat to 165°F (74°C).

What to serve with it

Serve with steamed rice, lettuce leaves, and cucumber salad.

A conversation around the table

Comments & kitchen questions

Have a question, a useful substitution, or a result to share? Your feedback helps us make this recipe clearer and more useful.

Loading the kitchen conversation…

Your name and comment can appear publicly after review. Please leave out private details. Comments are moderated before publication.

Questions from the kitchen

Can I make Beef Bulgogi ahead?

Refrigerate within 2 hours for 3 days. Reheat to 165°F (74°C).

What if I can’t find an ingredient?

Use grated sweet apple in place of pear in the same weight.