Air Fryer Korean Beef is my not-so-secret weapon for fast weeknight dinners that still taste like low-key ordered takeout. Juicy, flavorful, and ready in about 20 minutes, this recipe is perfect when your stomach's growling and your schedule's saying nope to anything complicated.
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Inspired by the traditional Korean dish Beef Bulgogi, this air fryer version is simple, bold, and totally customizable. It’s one of those recipes that works all year round—but honestly? It shines on those busy nights when you need dinner on the table fast.
And if you’re looking for the perfect veggie sidekick? You’ve gotta try my Air Fryer Bok Choy—the crispy, garlicky greens are a match made in dinner heaven.
Why This Recipe Works
- Versatile AF: The sweet, savory marinade goes with rice, wraps, veggies—whatever you’ve got!
- Fast & fuss-free: Minimal prep, no pan babysitting. Your air fryer does the heavy lifting.
- Crazy flavorful: The beef soaks up all the Korean-style marinade goodness in just minutes.
- Meal prep approved: Double the batch and you've got leftovers for wraps, bowls, or tacos.
🥘 Ingredients
To make Korean beef in the Air Fryer, you'll need just 5 simple ingredients.
- Marinated Beef Steak: Juicy, tender, and full of umami from that sweet-savory Korean marinade.
- Bell Peppers: Sweet, colorful, and add crunch. Mix and match red, yellow, or orange.
- Sesame Oil: Adds that warm, nutty flavor that screams “Korean BBQ.”
- Green Onions: Brightens things up with a peppery kick.
- Sesame Seeds: Bring the crunch and a pretty finish.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Spicy Kick: Toss in red pepper flakes or a squirt of gochujang for heat.
- Sweeter Touch: Add brown sugar to the marinade for that sweet-savory balance.
- Ginger Love: Fresh or ground ginger adds a punchy, earthy note—amazing with rice.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: Upgrade the crunch and flavor with toasted ones if you’ve got ‘em.
- Low-Sodium Swap: Use low-sodium soy sauce if you're watching the salt.
🔪 How To Make Air Fryer Korean Beef?
- Step 1: Slice the peppers into thin strips and set aside.
- Step 2: Slice meat into bite-size pieces and set aside.
- Step 3: Add the beef and the peppers to a mixing bowl and coat in the sesame oil. If you don't have sesame oil, you can use any vegetable oil instead. Add the beef and peppers to a pan that fits your air fryer basket.
- Step 4: Cook at 400° for 15-20 minutes, tossing the beef and peppers every 5 minutes. Remove the beef and peppers and serve with rice. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
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👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Go Thin or Go Home: Slice your beef nice and thin so it cooks fast and soaks in that marinade.
- High Heat = Magic: 400°F is your friend for crispy edges and juicy centers.
- Don’t Skip the Toss: Stir every 5 minutes for even cooking—no sad, overcooked beef here!
- Marinade Matters: Let the beef soak for at least 15 minutes if you have the time. More = better flavor.
- Make It a Meal: Add in shredded carrots, mushrooms, or bok choy for a one-basket dinner.
💭 FAQs
You can use almost any cut of beef to make this easy and delicious recipe. Just make sure you cut the beef into thin slices and then marinate it.
You could try and replicate the same recipe by using ground beef instead of thinly sliced beef, but you'll need to cook the beef in a pan or a skillet instead of your Air Fryer for best results.
You can! If you don't have an Air Fryer, you can also use a good quality non stick pan or your cast iron skillet to pan fry the beef until it is nice and cooked. Just make sure you cook it on medium high heat for best results.
You can! While beef is the traditional and best choice for this recipe, you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken instead, if that's what you have at hand.
If you have any leftovers, you can use them as a filling for your lettuce wraps. Top the beef strips with some shredded carrot, green onions and a generous spread of spicy mayo or any other toppings of your choice.
Your leftovers can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. You can freeze Korean beef in the freezer. Store your frozen beef in for 2-3 months.
🧂Serving Suggestions
I always love serving this beef bowl as a complete meal. I start off with a base of some jasmine rice or white rice, top it with some sliced beef, and finish off with a side of some steamed or pan-fried veggies.
- Korean beef usually tastes great with veggies like bok choy, shredded carrots, Broccolini, and more peppers.
- I love serving Korean Beef with Sticky White Rice or using it as a filling to whip up some Korean Beef Tacos.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Air Fryer Korean Beef
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Pound Ground Beef
- 3 Bell Peppers red, yellow, and or orange.
- 2 Tbsps Sesame Oil
- 2-3 Stems Green Onion
- Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Slice the peppers into thin strips and set aside.
- Slice meat into bite-size pieces and set aside.
- Add the beef and the peppers to a mixing bowl and coat in the sesame oil. If you don't have sesame oil, you can use any vegetable oil instead.
- Add the beef and peppers to a pan that fits your air fryer basket and cook at 400° for 15-20 minutes, tossing the beef and peppers every 5 minutes.
- Remove the beef and peppers and serve with rice. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you enjoyed this air fryer Korean Beef recipe try the following air fryer recipes:
This Korean beef is a flavor-packed delight! The air fryer achieves that perfect balance—crispy edges with tender, juicy centers. It's like bringing the BBQ indoors without the fuss.