Easy Beef Yakiniku Recipe
Beef Yakiniku is a popular Japanese grilled meat dish made with thin slices of beef marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, then grilled or pan-cooked to perfection. This easy version brings restaurant-style flavor to your kitchen in under 30 minutes—perfect for weeknight dinners, BBQs, or DIY rice bowls.
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Ingredients
- For the Beef:
- 1 lb thinly sliced beef ribeye, sirloin, or chuck work well
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for cooking, if using a skillet
- For the Marinade / Yakiniku Sauce:
- ¼ cup 0.06 lbs soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1 tablespoon sake or water if preferred
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes or a dash of sriracha optional
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds optional for garnish
- Chopped green onions for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce / Marinade:
- In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes if using.
- Marinate the Beef:
- Place thinly sliced beef in a bowl or zip-top bag.
- Pour about half of the sauce over the beef and marinate for 15–20 minutes. Reserve the rest of the sauce for cooking or drizzling.
- Cook the Beef:
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat with a touch of oil.
- Cook the beef in batches (don’t overcrowd the pan), searing for 1–2 minutes per side, or until caramelized and cooked through.
- Serve:
- Drizzle with remaining sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
- Serve over steamed rice, with shredded cabbage, kimchi, or wrapped in lettuce leaves.