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This delicious marinated and grilled beef bulgogi is so incredibly easy to make and is one of the most flavorful steak recipes out there.

I’m a huge meat eater and we almost always have some sort of protein on the table at dinner. If you’re like us then definitely check out my chopped steak or my steak pizzaiola.

Bulgogi

Pronounced bool-go-gee, bulgogi translates to “fire meat.” This dish is comprised of thinly sliced marinated meat that is most commonly cooked on the grill but can absolutely be cooked in a pan as well. When cooking over the open flame the meat gets this perfect char around the outside edges bringing about so much extra flavor. It is very easy to make this recipe no matter how you decide to cook it.

The Marinade

The marinade for bulgogi is similar to that of kalbi with fewer ingredients. I prefer to throw all the ingredients for it in a blender as it will help to quickly infuse flavors so that it can penetrate the meat while marinating. Here are the main ingredients for bulgogi:

Onion
Garlic
Soy Sauce
Sugar (Brown or White or Both)
Water
Apple
Sesame Oil
Plum Extract (Optional)

What’s the Best Cut of Meat to Use?

You can use a variety of meat for this recipe and because it is sliced so thin and the marinade is so strong, it really won’t matter what you choose. While ribeye will provide a bit more flavor because of its fat content, my suggestion to you would be to use what’s on sale. Here are the best cuts of meat to use for this recipe:

Top Round
Bottom Round
Ribeye
Sirloin
Strip Steak
Tenderloin

How to Make Bulgogi

Follow these simple instructions for making this delicious bulgogi recipe:

Add an apple, garlic, soy, brown sugar, white sugar, water, plum extract and sesame oil to a blender and puree until smooth.

Slice onions and beef very thin and add them to a plastic zip bag or container with a lid.

Pour the marinade over the beef and onions completely submerging them.

Move the meat and onions around to ensure the marinade is spread through and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours or for best results overnight.

Drain the marinade from the meat and onions and discard the marinade.

Spread out the meat on a very hot grill in between 450° and 550° and cook until lightly charred, about 2-3 minutes per side and serve.

Recipe Chef Notes + Tips

Make-Ahead: This recipe is meant to be eaten right away after cook so that the meat stays tender. You could make this up to 1 hour ahead of time and keep warm at very low temperatures at the oven around 175° until ready to serve.

How to Store: Place in a plastic container with a lid and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It will freeze covered for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

How to Reheat: Place the desired amount back onto a foil-lined grill over high heat and cook for 2-3 minutes or until hot. You can also place the desired amount into a hot sauté pan and cook over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes or until hot. This can also be reheated by cooking on a microwave-safe plate until hot.

For the apple in the marinade, I would suggest using sweeter apples such as Fuji, Gala, Pink, or Honey Crisp.

When using a grill I highly recommend you cook the bulgogi on foil over the grill grates or in a grill basket because the beef will want to stick to the grill.

The Plum extract I used can be found in any local Asian or Korean markets.

If you want to cook this in a pan, heat the pan over medium-high heat and add in 1-2 tablespoons of sesame oil and spread out the drained marinated beef around the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side just like on the grill.

I like to serve bulgogi with a side of rice and stir-fried vegetables.

More Amazing Beef Recipes

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