15-Minute Korean Beef Tacos (Family-Friendly + One Pan!)
These easy Korean-inspired beef tacos come together in just 15 minutes—and they are seriously packed with flavour! Whether you’re feeding hungry kids after school or need a last-minute dinner plan, this one-pan meal is a total win.
Sometimes, dinner just needs to get done. No extra grocery runs, no complicated prep—just something quick, nourishing, and delicious. That’s exactly how these Korean Beef Tacos were born.
These easy Korean-inspired beef tacos come together in just 15 minutes—and they are seriously packed with flavour! Whether you’re feeding hungry kids after school or need a last-minute dinner plan, this one-pan meal is a total win.
We were coming home from a packed evening of kids’ activities—one kid had soccer, another had music lessons—and I needed dinner on the table, like, five minutes ago. I peeked into the fridge and saw ground beef, some wraps, and a bag of slaw mix. I pulled out a few pantry staples for the sauce, and voila! These sweet-savoury tacos were born. And let me tell you, they were an instant hit.
They’ve since become a regular in our 15-minute supper rotation, and I think they’ll earn a spot in yours too.
Why You’ll Love These Easy Korean-Inspired Beef Tacos
- Fast & Easy: The whole thing comes together in under 15 minutes—perfect for busy nights.
- Pantry-Friendly: Chances are, you already have most of the sauce ingredients on hand.
- Versatile: Try them with ground turkey, chicken, or even veggie ground for a meatless version.
- Build-Your-Own Style: Let your kids load up their tacos with the toppings they love.
- Packed with Flavour: Sweet, savoury, and just a little spicy, these are not your average tacos.
What You Need to Make Korean Beef Tacos
Korean Beef
- Vegetable oil (like canola)
- Garlic
- Ground beef
- Green onions
Sauce
- Maple syrup or brown sugar
- Reduced-sodium soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Ground ginger
Serving
- Small tortilla wraps
- Asian slaw (or a mix of shredded cabbage, carrots, and red bell pepper)
- Sesame seeds
- Extra green onions for garnish
How to Make Korean Beef Tacos (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 2: Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through—about 4–6 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Step 3: While the beef cooks, whisk together your sauce ingredients (brown sugar or maple syrup, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and ginger) in a small bowl. Slice your green onions and gather your taco fixings.
Step 4: Once the beef is cooked and drained, pour in the sauce and stir in the sliced green onions. Let it simmer for 2 minutes, allowing the beef to soak up all that delicious flavour.
Step 5: Serve family-style! Let everyone build their own taco using about ¼ cup of the beef mixture and ¼ cup of slaw. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and more green onion, if desired.
Dietitian Mom Tips & Swaps
Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes! Swap the tortilla wraps for lettuce wraps or serve the beef over fluffy rice for a gluten-free option.
What if I don’t have Asian slaw?
No problem. Just toss together some shredded cabbage or romaine, julienned carrots, and a handful of chopped cilantro.
What protein swaps work?
We’ve tried this with ground turkey, chicken, bison, and even veggie ground round—all delicious! Just adjust cooking time slightly depending on the protein you choose.
How spicy is it?
The red pepper flakes add a subtle heat, but nothing overwhelming. If you’re serving little ones, you can always reduce or omit it, and let grown-ups add extra spice later.
Make it a Meal!
If you’re looking to round things out, here are some of our go-to sides:
- Steamed edamame with a drizzle of sesame oil
- Cucumber salad with rice vinegar
- Mango slices or orange wedges
These tacos are one of those magical meals that feel special but take zero fuss. They’re messy in the best way, full of flavour, and guaranteed to have your whole family asking for seconds.
Let me know if you give them a try and don’t forget to leave a comment below sharing your favourite way to serve them!
More Quick Dinner Ideas
- 15-Minute Lentil Taco Melts on Buns
- Healthy BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado
- Loaded Fiesta Salad
- Coconut Thai Chicken Soup
15-Minute Korean Beef Tacos (Family-Friendly + One Pan!)
Ingredients
For the Korean Beef
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (like canola)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for serving
For the Seasoning Sauce
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or brown
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
For serving
- 10 small tortilla wraps
- 2 1/2 cups Asian slaw (or a combo of thinly sliced cabbage, red bell pepper and carrot)
- 1-2 green onions, green parts only, sliced
- 2-3 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large skillet: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high. Mince the garlic, add it to the pan, and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Stir in the ground beef and cook until browned and crumbled, about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the seasoning sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and ginger, until combined, and set aside. Slice the green onions and gather your fixings.
- When the beef is done, remove any excess fat. Stir in the seasoning sauce and sliced onions, and simmer for about 2 minutes, until absorbed.
- Serve immediately. We like to set out the beef, wraps and toppings so everyone can assemble their own tacos with all of their own fave toppings. We use about 1/4 each beef and slaw and a sprinkle of green onions and sesame seeds per taco.
Notes
Sarah Remmer, RD, is a registered dietitian and mom of three, specializing in family and pediatric nutrition. She’s the founder of Centred Nutrition Collective and has nearly 20 years of experience helping families feel confident about feeding their kids.
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