10-Minute Easy Tteokgalbi (Korean Beef Patties)

Tteokgalbi is a Korean dish made by shaping finely chopped meat with a sweet-savory seasoning into patties and grilling them. Traditional versions use finely chopped rib meat shaped like rice cakes, sometimes around a rib bone.

But beef rib meat can be expensive for a simple meal at home. So I made this version with more affordable ground beef to bring those tteokgalbi flavors to an everyday meal.

Just mix the ground beef with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and minced garlic, then add finely chopped vegetables. Scallion alone is enough, but I added onion and carrot for texture. You can leave out the extra vegetables or swap them for what you have on hand.

Shape the mixture into patties that aren’t too thick, then cook them in a pan. They’re great with rice or as a hearty bite to enjoy with a drink. If you’d like to make tteokgalbi without much prep, give this easy version a try.

Quick Overview

• Prep Time: 5 mins  
• Cook Time: 5 mins  
• Servings: 1 servings 

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Main Ingredients
• 200g ground beef
• ½ scallion, white part only
• ½ tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin
• ½ tbsp sugar
• Cooking oil, for the pan
• Optional Ingredients
• ½ onion
• ¼ carrot
• ½ tbsp glutinous rice flour

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Step 1. Prep the vegetables

• Cut the white part of the scallion lengthwise into quarters, then finely chop. Finely chop any additional vegetables as well.
• Tip: Keep the vegetables finely chopped so they cook through. Use a food chopper if you have one.

Step 2. Add the seasonings

• Place the ground beef in a bowl and add the soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and minced garlic.

Step 3. Mix the beef

• Mix and gently knead by hand until the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the beef.
• Tip: If you have glutinous rice flour, you can mix in ½ tbsp to help the patties hold together.

Step 4. Shape the patties

• Add the finely chopped vegetables and mix well again, then shape the mixture into patties.
• Tip: Avoid making the patties too thick, as the centers may be difficult to cook through.
• Tip: Scallion alone is enough, but I added carrot and onion for texture. You can leave them out or use other vegetables that aren’t too watery.

Step 5. Cook the patties

• Add cooking oil to a pan and cook the patties over low heat, pressing them down firmly with a spatula. Flip and continue cooking until fully cooked through.

Step 6. Serve

Transfer to a plate and serve.

For another quick and easy Korean meal, try my 10-Minute One-Pan Galbitang (Korean Beef Soup).

10-Minute Easy Tteokgalbi (Korean Beef Patties)

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Print Recipe

Easy tteokgalbi made with ground beef, scallion, and a sweet-savory soy sauce seasoning. Shape into patties and cook in a pan over low heat.

• Total Time: 10
• Yield: 1 servings

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 200g ground beef
• ½ scallion, white part only
• ½ tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin
• ½ tbsp sugar
• Cooking oil, for the pan

Optional Ingredients

• ½ onion
• ¼ carrot
• ½ tbsp glutinous rice flour

Instructions

1. Cut the white part of the scallion lengthwise into quarters, then finely chop. Finely chop the onion and carrot if using.
2. Place the ground beef in a bowl and add the soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and minced garlic.
3. Mix and gently knead by hand until the seasonings are evenly distributed. Mix in the glutinous rice flour if using.
4. Add the chopped vegetables and mix well. Shape into patties, keeping them relatively thin so the centers cook through.
5. Add cooking oil to a pan and cook the patties over low heat, pressing them down firmly with a spatula. Flip and continue cooking until fully cooked through.
6. Transfer to a plate and serve.

Notes

• Vegetables: Finely chop the vegetables so they cook through. A food chopper can help.
• Optional additions: Scallion alone is enough. Leave out the onion and carrot or use other vegetables that aren’t too watery.
• Glutinous rice flour: Adding ½ tbsp can help the patties hold together.
• For another quick and easy Korean meal, try my 10-Minute One-Pan Galbitang (Korean Beef Soup).

• Author: KoreaRecipeBites
• Prep Time: 5
• Cook Time: 5
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: korean