Pan-Seared Korean Beef Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

Sweet and savory marinated beef quickly pan-seared and served wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves with spicy sauce. This Korean-inspired game-day recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs ground beef, soy sauce, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 pound, 85% lean ground beef
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 stalks, thinly sliced green onions
• 1 tsp, grated fresh ginger
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 8 large leaves, washed and dried romaine lettuce leaves
• 2 tbsp, for serving gochujang sauce
• 1 tsp, for garnish toasted sesame seeds

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 1 pound ground beef with 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 thinly sliced green onions, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix well to marinate for 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the marinated beef mixture. Cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking apart with a spatula, until the beef is browned and caramelized at the edges.
3. Step 3: Remove from heat and scoop about 2-3 tbsp of the beef mixture onto each of 8 large romaine lettuce leaves.
4. Step 4: Drizzle each wrap with 1/4 tsp gochujang sauce and sprinkle with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds before serving immediately.