Easy Korean Beef with Cottage Cheese Protein Bowl

Craving something quick, healthy, and packed with flavor? This High-Protein Korean Beef with Cottage Cheese is your new go-to! Juicy, savory ground beef cooked in mouthwatering Korean-style pairs perfectly with creamy cottage cheese for a surprising twist. Ready in under 30 minutes, this nutrient-packed dish is perfect for fitness lovers and flavor seekers alike—comfort food meets clean eating!

I HATED cottage cheese as a kid, 100% because of texture. I mean, it is kinda weird, right? Now I love it though I will say all cottage cheese is not created equally. I love the fat free Good Culture brand in case you were wondering.

So, when all of this viral high protein bowl stuff started I was pretty skeptical of eating meat and cottage cheese together unless it was an Americanized lasagna or our Ravioli Lasagna, but just like my kid self, I was totally wrong!  I love making all sorts of high protein with cottage cheese recipes, but none have hit the spot quite like this Quick Asian recipe!

We have taken our favorite Korean ground beef and made it into a cottage cheese bowl! If you are suffering from dinner decision fatigue and you’re looking for something quick and easy but still full of flavor, then try this healthy ground beef recipe!

Ingredient Breakdown

It sounds weird, I know. Meat and cottage cheese? But trust me—this combo hits every craving: creamy, savory, sweet, spicy, and fresh. It’s kind of like Korean bibimbap meets a protein bowl. You’ll need a few ingredients to make the sauce and then a few more components to make the bowl. Here is everything you’ll need:

For the Ground Beef

• Canola or Vegetable Oil: Helps cook and crisp the ground beef.
• Ground Beef: I like to use 80/20 or 85/15 for maximum flavor but if you want to go more lean, 90/10 will work great too.
• Garlic: Use fresh, minced garlic cloves.
• Soy Sauce: Adds rich, umami flavor to the sauce.
• Orange Juice: Adds bright, citrus flavor and freshly squeezed orange juice is preferred.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and rich flavor.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a little heat and bold flavor.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Adds that signature Asian flavor.
• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce.

For the Bowl

• Cottage Cheese: I prefer the fat free small curd cottage cheese, but you can use any type of cottage cheese you want. I mentioned above that Good Culture brand is my favorite, especially for savory dishes.
  • PRO TIP: If you can stand the texture of cottage cheese,

Oven Braised Korean Beef Short Ribs [+Video]

Craving a hearty dish that’s bursting with umami and melt-in-your-mouth texture? These Oven Braised Korean Beef Short Ribs are the ultimate comfort food, slow-cooked to perfection in a rich, savory-sweet marinade. Featuring bone-in beef short ribs that are first seared to a golden crust, then braised low and slow in the oven with a bold blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, Gochujang, lime, garlic, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar – this dish is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy.

You loved our traditional oven braised short ribs recipe, so we decided to give them some Korean flair with those sweet and savory flavors everyone loves about Korean cuisine!

Perfect for make-ahead meals, holiday dinners, or when you just want some tender short ribs, these fall-off-the-bone beef short ribs will become a beloved favorite in your recipe rotation. They practically cook themselves!

Ingredients for Korean Braised Short Ribs Recipe

The key ingredient in this recipe, besides the short ribs themselves, is gochujang. It is a backbone of Korean cooking and has the most incredible flavor! It makes the ribs a little sweet and a little spicy and a whole lot delicious! Here is a list of everything you’ll need:

• Short Ribs
• For Pan Searing: Flour, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper and Olive Oil
• For the Braising Liquid: Rice Wine Vinegar, Limes (juice and zest), Gochujang,  Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar, Sesame Oil, Beef Bouillon and Water
• Aromatics: Green Onions, Garlic and Ginger
• Garnishes: Green Onions, Chili Peppers, Cilantro and Sesame Seeds

For all the details and measurements for each ingredient, continue to scroll down to the end of the post.

What is Gochujang?

Gochujang is a red chili paste that also contains glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, salt, and occasionally sweeteners. It’s thick and sticky and can be quite spicy and very concentrated and pungent in flavor.

• Is Gochujang spicy? I am a big wimp when it comes to spiciness, so I usually get a pretty mild variety. The heat can vary depending on what brand you buy, so check the label for the heat indicator. We like this one.
• Where do you buy gochujang? You can find gochujang at any grocery store. It will be in the Asian food section near the soy sauce and

The Easiest Korean Ground Beef Recipe

This easy Korean ground beef recipe is a tasty dinner idea that is light on the budget but heavy on the bold Korean flavors! You’re family is going to love it!

So, you need an idea for ground beef that isn’t casserole, taco, or soup? Yeah, me too, so I set out to make something wonderful and delicious and then couldn’t help myself and made it a budget friendly dinner idea too!

I grew up with the same plate my entire life:

• Meat
• Veggie
• Carb

And then I grew up and did the exact same thing with a few twists to our staple dinners that Mom had made:

• Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
• Pork Chops and Rice
• Stew
• Potato Soup
• Idaho Tacos (don’t knock it until you try it)

But then I got to thinking, just because it isn’t 1999 doesn’t mean that mom’s don’t want quick, easy and cheap dinner ideas. It just means they need them with a modern twist! So, Korean Ground Beef was born. It’s a cheaper version of bulgogi, and we love bulgogi!!

I’ve made it with mushrooms, peas, peppers, and all sorts of additions but the truth is, it doesn’t need anything but ground beef, sauce and rice. It’s easy to make, even easier to freeze (both pre and post cooking) and all you have to serve is a little steamed veggie next to it.

Recommended Equipment

• Meat Chopper
• Cast Iron Pan

Before You Begin…

If you’re planning to serve this Korean ground beef over rice, then the first thing you will want to do is get your rice cooking. That way the rice will be ready when the beef is finished.

Ingredients for Korean Ground Beef

I mentioned that this recipe is budget-friendly so let me prove it now by listing out the ingredients you will need. Everything is easy to find at the grocery and might even be in your pantry already. Here is your shopping list:

• Canola or Vegetable Oil: used to cook the ground beef and garlic
• Ground Beef: You can also use ground chuck.
• Garlic: adds flavor to the meat
• Soy Sauce: adds Asian flavor and saltiness
• Orange Juice: adds flavor and acidity
• Brown Sugar: adds depth of flavor and sweetness
• Sweet Chili Sauce: adds a little heat and sweetness