When your ground beef dinner starts feeling repetitive, this honey glazed beef rice bowl saves the day. Ready in under 30 minutes using minimal ingredients, while packing tons of flavor and fitting into a balanced, protein-packed way of eating? Total non-boring dinner hero that you’ll happily add to the regular meal rotation.
The reality of having to make ourselves thousands of dinners during our lifetime is that we’ll inevitably fall back on staple ingredients like ground beef. And that can cause a lot meal repetition because it’s easy to get stuck in a rut!
This ground beef bowl helps get you out of that rut by using a quick but interesting sauce. I love the honey glaze because it’s flavorful and balanced, but not sticky sweet. It clings to the beef without being overly thick or too saucy.
When I first made this dish, my older son who is really into macro counting said “this looks like the macros are bad on it.” But despite using a fair amount of honey, per serving the macros are great. The dish comes in under 240 calories and 25 grams of protein per serving! Just make sure you use a lean ground beef like 90/10 or 93/7. Everyone I have made this dish for really loves it, and I know you will too.
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Ingredients For Ground Beef Rice Bowls
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef, either 90/10 or 93/7. The lower fat content will help reduce calories, but also will produce less grease so the sauce really stands out.
- ⅓ cup each honey and water. Adds sweetness and helps create the glossy, flavorful sauce that coats the beef. Any mild honey works well here.
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos. Soy sauce will offset the sweetness with a bit of saltiness, whereas coconut aminos will meld with the honey.
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder to help thicken the sauce.
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes for heat.
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger, feel free to use fresh or a paste for ease
To garnish the bowls, consider sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Ingredient tip
Stock up On Lean Ground Beef
Typically lean ground beef gets more costly as the fat percentage goes down. It is common for 93/7 to be more expensive than 90/10 and 95/15. So when you find a good sale on lean ground beef, stock up and freeze. Or better yet, shop the frozen section for the best prices.
how to make easy asian beef bowls
Mix the sauce
In a small bowl or measuring cup, add the honey, soy sauce, water, red pepper flakes and cornstarch and mix well. Set aside
Prepare Ground Beef
Over medium high heat, warm a large skillet and add 1 teaspoon of neutral oil. Do not add more oil than needed, as it will prevent the meat from getting a good crust and will produce excess oil.
Cook Ground Beef
Add ground beef to the heated pan, allowing it to sit in the pan for a couple of minutes to get a good sear on one side before breaking up into smaller pieces. Using a wooden spoon or ground meat silicone chopper works well here. Cook beef for 7-9 minutes till almost cooked through, and stir in ginger and garlic.
Add sauce
Once ground beef is cooked through, pour in the honey sauce stirring well to evenly coat the beef with the sauce. Allow to simmer on low for 2-3 minutes so sauce thickens slightly and warmed through.
The honey chili sauce will be slightly thick and not runny. The beef should be well coated and ready to plate over rice.
Meal Prep Tip
This recipe is perfect for meal prepped lunches or dinners. Simply double the recipe to have plenty for dinner and then lunches throughout the week. Store ground beef next to steamed rice instead of on top in airtight meal prep containers.
Serving Suggestions
Of course we love this ground beef recipe served over freshly cooked jasmine rice, however here are a few additional suggestions
- For a lower carb option, serve over your favorite steamed or sauteed cauliflower rice, shredded cabbage or riced broccoli.
- Scoop honey ground beef into fresh lettuce cups for a fresh and light Summer meal.
- Top with more fresh veggies including thinly sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, avocado or red onions. Or add a helping of fresh herbs like chopped cilantro and mint.
- Fry up thinly sliced garlic, or take a massive shortcut and pick up packaged crispy garlic like the one Trader Joe’s sells. Be forewarned though that this stuff is addictive and you’ll be munching on it straight out of the bag.
Storage, reheating and freezing tips
Storage
Store leftover honey beef and rice bowls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the best texture, keep any fresh toppings such as green onions, cilantro, cucumber, or avocado separate and add them just before serving.
Reheating
Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until warmed through. You can also reheat the beef mixture in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce if needed.
Freezing
The cooked honey beef freezes well for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. I recommend freezing the beef separately from the rice and any vegetables for the best texture.
Thawing
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Once thawed, warm the beef in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through and serve over freshly cooked rice or your favorite grain.
More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes
- Ground Beef Picadillo over Cauliflower Rice
- Ground Beef and Potato Tacos
- Hamburger Potato Soup
- The Best Burger Bowls
Beef Bowl Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Neutral oil
- 1.5 lbs Ground Beef Lean either 90/10 or 93/7
- ⅓ cup Honey
- ⅓ cup Water
- 3 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp Ginger grated
- 5 Garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, add the honey, soy sauce, water, red pepper flakes and cornstarch and mix well. Set aside⅓ cup Honey, ⅓ cup Water, 3 tablespoon Soy Sauce, 1 tablespoon Cornstarch , 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- Over medium high heat, warm a large skillet and add 1 teaspoon of neutral oil. Do not add more oil than needed, as it will prevent the meat from getting a good crust and will produce excess oil.1 teaspoon Neutral oil, 1.5 lbs Ground Beef
- Using a wooden spoon or ground meat silicone chopper works well here. Cook beef for 7-9 minutes till almost cooked through, and stir in ginger and garlic, cooking beef for another 3-4 minutes till meat is cooked through.1 teaspoon Ginger, 5 Garlic cloves
- Once ground beef is cooked through, pour in the honey sauce stirring well to evenly coat the beef with the sauce. Allow to simmer on low for 2-3 minutes so sauce thickens slightly and warmed through.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds and crispy garlic.
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