Given my love for both Korean recipes as well as Mexican food, it was only a matter of time before I gave you a recipe for Korean Beef Tacos. These tacos are crazy easy to make, and you're going to love the flavors!
What Makes These Korean Tacos So Incredible
- Fast. Not counting the time it takes to marinate the meat, these Korean Beef Tacos are ready in under 30 minutes with the help of your air fryer.
- Easy. Prepare the marinade, let the beef rest, air fry, and serve!
- Low Carb. Only 9 net carbs per serving.
- Versatile. Choose your favorite toppings, serve it on a low carb tortilla, or enjoy mixed into a salad. This flavorful beef is delicious when served in a multitude of ways!
I know it may seem a little strange, but you'll just have to #trustUrvashi on this one! These Korean Beef Tacos are the perfect fusion taco and are a fantastic way to mix your main course up on Taco Tuesday.
They are full of Korean flavors that you're sure to love. Not only are they oh-so-delicious, but they're really easy to make as well! Thanks to a little help from your air fryer, you'll be eating these bad boys in no time.
What Is A Korean Taco?
A fusion Korean taco is the best way to enjoy international cuisine in a convenient taco form! It combines culinary traditions and foods from different countries into one delicious dish. In these Korean Tacos, I'm combining the delicious flavors of, you guessed it, Korean food and Mexican food, to make you some of the best tacos you've ever had.
Is Gochujang Really Spicy?
Gochujang has got to be one of my favorite things to cook with. I love the spicy, sweet, umami flavors in it. It's a deliciously fermented red chili paste and is easily one of my favorite condiments.
I don't think it's too awfully spicy, but I like my food hot. I'd be lying to you if I said that it didn't have some kick to it, but the kick is well worth the flavor! The flavor of Gochujang is very pungent and unlike anything else, and I highly recommend that you try it even if you're not typically a spicy food kind of person. And these Korean Tacos are the perfect way to try Gochujang for the first time!
Ingredients You'll Need
- Gochujang- A Korean chili paste that delivers deep, spicy-sweet flavor with umami richness; the signature element of the dish.
- Dark Soy Sauce- Adds salty depth, umami, and a touch of caramel-like sweetness.
- Minced Garlic- Provides savory aroma and bold flavor, balancing the sweetness of the marinade.
- Minced Ginger- Adds warmth and a zesty, slightly spicy note that complements the beef.
- Sugar or Other Sweetener- Balances the spice and enhances the caramelization of the beef during cooking.
- Sesame Oil- Nutty and fragrant, it gives the beef a distinctive Korean flavor.
- Sesame Seeds- Add a crunchy garnish and nutty undertone to the final dish.
- Salt- Enhances and balances all the flavors in the marinade and beef.
- Sirloin Beef- The star protein of the tacos; tender, juicy, and perfect for soaking up the flavorful marinade. Cuts like chuck, ribeye, or sirloin all work well.
- Onion- Adds sweetness and texture, while cooking alongside the beef to deepen the flavor of the dish.
- Flour Tortillas- Soft shells that hold the filling, making it a fusion-style Korean-Mexican taco.
- Green Scallions- Provide sharpness and freshness, balancing the richness of the beef.
- Kimchi- Fermented and tangy, it adds a traditional Korean kick with probiotics and spice.
- Cilantro- Offers a fresh, herbal note that brightens the tacos and enhances the fusion flavors.
How To Make Korean Beef Tacos
These Korean Beef Tacos are incredibly easy to make. All you have to do is prepare the marinade, allow it to rest, and air fry!
Here are the step by step instructions:
- Whisk. Mix together the gochujang, soy sauce, minced garlic, minced ginger, sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and salt.
- Bag it. Place sliced beef, sliced onions, and green onions into a plastic zip-top bag. Add gochujang, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sweetener, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Massage the bag to get the meat and sauce to incorporate well.
- Marinate. Allow the beef to marinate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Air Fry. Place the meat and veggies into the air fryer basket. Set air fryer to 400°F for 12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- Serve. To serve, place a little meat in the tortillas, top with green onions, cilantro and kimchi if used, and serve with lots of napkins for this messy, but very satisfying meal.
Tips And Tricks For Making Korean Tacos
Making Korean beef tacos at home is easy and flavorful, but a few tips and tricks will help you get the best texture and taste every time:
- Gluten Free. Corn tortillas to make this a gluten-free dish.
- Low Carb. You can opt to use lettuce leaves in place of tortillas to make this dish low carb.
- Rice. You can also serve this with steamed rice (or cauliflower rice) and sautéed bok choy for a change.
- Meal Plan. This is a great recipe for meal planning! Just get the meat marinating and throw it in the fridge the night before and it will be ready to cook the next day.
- Different cuts. You can also make this recipe with pork shoulder.
Variations
Korean beef tacos are incredibly versatile, and you can easily customize them to match your taste or dietary preferences. Here are some delicious variations to try:
- Spicy Kick- Add extra gochujang or sliced fresh chili peppers for more heat.
- Crunch Factor- Add shredded cabbage or pickled radish for extra texture and tang.
- Low-Carb Option- Swap flour tortillas for crisp romaine or butter lettuce wraps.
What To Serve With Korean Beef Tacos
Korean tacos are bold, flavorful, and satisfying on their own, but pairing them with the right sides creates a complete and balanced meal. Here are some tasty ideas of what to serve with them:
How Long Do They Last?
For the best results, I recommend enjoying these Korean Tacos within 3-4 days of preparing them. Placing the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator will ensure the meat stays tender and doesn't dry out.
To reheat the Korean Beef Taco meat, simply place it back in the air fryer at 275F for 2-3 minutes or until the meat is warmed through.
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Equipment
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang
- 1 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
- 2 teaspoons Minced Ginger
- 2 teaspoons Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent, or 1 teaspoon Truvia
- 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
- 2 tablespoons Sesame Seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Meat and Vegetables
- 1.5 pounds sirloin beef, thinly sliced (chuck, rib eye or sirloin)
- 1 cup Onion, sliced
For Serving
- 12 flour tortillas , warmed OR
- 1 head Romaine Lettuce Leaves, for low carb
- 1/2 cup Chopped Green Scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup Kimchi, (optional)
- 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Place sliced beef, sliced onions, and green onions into a plastic zip-top bag. Add gochujang, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sweetener, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Squish the bag well to get the meat and sauce to incorporate well.
- Allow the beef to marinate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- To serve, place a little meat in the tortillas, top with green onions, cilantro and kimchi if using, and serve with lots of napkins for this messy, but very satisfying meal.
- You can use corn tortillas to make this a gluten-free dish.
- You can opt to use lettuce leaves in place of tortillas to make this dish low carb.
- You can also serve this with steamed rice (or cauliflower rice) and sautéed bok choy for a change.
- This is a great recipe for meal planning! Just get the meat marinating and throw it in the fridge the night before and it will be ready to cook the next day.
- You can also make this recipe with pork shoulder.
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Nutrition
Originally Published February 26, 2020
And don't forget to check out my air fryer cookbooks! Every day easy air fryer, and Air Fryer Revolution.
Kathy Hall
Oh my goodness gracious! This was amazing! We ate the meat with a side of mixed vegetables. The meat was full of flavor and not too spicy. I did not use the onion because my husband is not a big onion eater. Our plan is to try the marinade on chicken, beef and pork and make a keto combination fried rice using riced cauliflower and a few peas and carrots! Thank you for the practical recipes!
mohan kumar
Very nice recipe. We have to try. So easy, flavorful and delicious.
Dawn
Looks delicious! Quick question. There is a discrepancy in the directions. Do green onions get cooked with the meat or are they sprinkled on after?
Shari
From the directions it appears only the regular onion is to be air-fried, the green onion goes on at serving.