Vegetarian Korean Bulgogi

Vegetarian Korean Bulgogi is made with Impossible brand meat substitute. This dish has all of the flavors from the classic Korean beef bulgogi dish, and lightened up with no meat.  The whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for an easy weeknight meal. 

Vegetarian Korean Bulgogi

There is no meat in this recipe of a lighter version of a classic Korean dish. Typically, Bulgogi is made with beef; this recipe uses a meat substitute like Impossible or Beyond Meat to make it vegetarian. I have been really into easy, quick dinners lately. Once the Impossible Meat is cooked and sauced, it is hard to tell that this dish is meatless. The savory, sweet, umami flavors of the dish pair well together.

Ingredients needed to make Vegetarian Korean bulgogi

• Vegetarian Meat substitute (like Impossible, Beyond, or your favorite brand)
• Garlic
• Onion
• Preferred cooking oil 
• Soy Sauce
• Sesame Oil
• Brown Sugar
• Honey
• Gochujang (Korean Chili Paste)
• Sesame seeds (garnish)
• Shredded Carrot (garnish)
• Fresh or pickled Cucumber (garnish)

Notes for Success~

• Feel free to top with your favorite condiments. Some classic options are carrots, scallions, kimchi, marinated bean sprouts, and fresh or marinated cucumber.
• You can adjust the spice level by adding less gochujang. 
• You can store your vegetarian Korean bulgogi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.  

Are you looking for more flavorful weeknight dinners?

• Vegetarian Pad Thai
• Sweet Thai Peanut Chicken
• Chicken Meatballs and orzo in a Red Pepper Sauce

If you make my Vegetarian Korean Bulgogi recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or TikTok! I love seeing the recipes you make!

Print Recipe

5 from 6 votes

Vegetarian Korean Bulgogi

This is a vegetarian version of the classic Korean dish Bulgogi. By using a meat substitute like Impossible meat or Beyond meat, we get all the sweet and savory flavors of the classic bulgogi with no meat.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Course: dinner

Cuisine: korean

Servings: 4

Author: Jennifer Struss

Ingredients

• 12 oz Meat Substitute (beyond or impossible)
• ½ Onion
• 1 tbsp Cooking oil (vegetable, canola, olive)

Sauce

• ¼ cup Soy Sauce
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 1 tbsp Sesame Oil
• ¼ cup Brown Sugar
• 1 tbsp Honey
• 2 tbsp Gochujang

• 4 tbsp sliced scallions
• 1 tsp Sesame Seeds
• ½ cup shredded carrot (optional)
• ½ cup Fresh or Marinated Cucumbers (optional)

Instructions

• Dice your onion and mince the garlic. Slice Scallions. Prepare fresh or pickled cucumber by slicing, shred the carrots, set the garnishes aside for later. Make your sauce by mixing soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, honey, minced garlic, and Gochujang in a bowl and set aside for later. If you are serving the dish with rice, start the rice now.
• Heat a large pan to medium heat and add in your preferred cooking oil. Add in your impossible meat or meat substitute and onion. Break up your meat substitute with the back of a spoon and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add in sauce and cook for 5-10 minutes more. Top with sesame seeds and scallions.
• Assemble your vegetarian bulgogi bowl. Add rice, bulgogi, carrots, and cucumber. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to top with your favorite condiments. Some classic options are carrots, scallion, kimchi, marinated bean sprouts, fresh or marinated cucumber. You can adjust the spice level by adding less gochujang.