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Savory Korean BBQ Beef Tacos Recipe with Quick Pickled Onions

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These savory Korean BBQ beef tacos feature tender, marinated beef paired with tangy quick pickled onions for a delicious and easy weeknight meal. Ready in under 30 minutes, they are perfect for casual gatherings and a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb thinly sliced beef (flank steak or sirloin)
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon gochujang (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup water
  • 8 small corn or flour tortillas
  • Fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage or lettuce
  • Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
  • Lime wedges (for squeezing on top)

Instructions

  1. Make the Quick Pickled Onions: Combine apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and water in a jar or bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add thinly sliced red onions and let sit at least 20 minutes or up to an hour until onions turn bright pink and tangy.
  2. Prepare the Korean BBQ Beef Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, gochujang, rice vinegar, and black pepper until sugar mostly dissolves.
  3. Marinate the Beef: Add thinly sliced beef to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Let sit at least 10 minutes, ideally 30 minutes for better flavor and tenderness.
  4. Cook the Beef: Heat skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Using tongs, transfer beef strips from marinade to pan, letting excess drip off (discard marinade). Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding, searing beef about 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
  5. Warm the Tortillas: While cooking beef, warm tortillas on a dry skillet or over a gas flame until pliable and lightly charred.
  6. Assemble the Tacos: On each tortilla, layer shredded cabbage or lettuce, a generous scoop of Korean BBQ beef, and quick pickled onions. Garnish with fresh cilantro, sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking beef to ensure proper searing. Thinly slice beef for quick, even cooking. Quick pickled onions can be made ahead and refrigerated up to 3 days. For gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and corn tortillas. Gochujang can be substituted with Sriracha or chili garlic sauce if unavailable. Leftovers store well separately in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: Korean BBQ beef tacos, quick pickled onions, easy tacos, weeknight dinner, Korean marinade, savory tacos, quick pickled onions recipe

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/savory-korean-bbq-beef-tacos-recipe-with-quick-pickled-onions-easy-and-delicious/