Japanese Ground Beef Curry
Japanese Ground Beef Curry is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—rich, flavorful, and ready in just 30 minutes. Instead of the usual chunks of meat, this version uses ground beef for a quicker cook and a hearty texture that soaks up all the flavor. With just a Japanese curry cube, a splash of milk, and a few pantry staples, you’ll have a creamy, savory curry that’s both satisfying and unbelievably easy to make. Perfect over a hot bowl of rice, it’s the kind of cozy meal that makes a long day instantly better.
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What are Japanese curry cubes?
Japanese curry cubes are one of the easiest ways to get a cozy, flavorful meal on the table. They’re packed with spices, seasonings, and a natural thickener, so all you have to do is drop a cube into your pan and let it melt into a rich, savory sauce. No long ingredient list, no fuss — just comforting curry in minutes. You can find them at pretty much any Asian grocery store, and even a lot of regular supermarkets now, which makes them a total weeknight lifesaver.
There are many brands available and this is my favorite one on the market!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 pinch Black pepper
- 1/2 Onion, diced
- 1 cube Japanese curry cube (any brand)
- 1 tsp Dashi powder
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1 tbsp Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Bonito flakes (for topping)
Step by step instructions
Brown the beef
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add ground beef and brown for 4 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from the skillet and set aside.Sauté the onions
In the same skillet, add diced onions and cook until softened and lightly golden, about 2 minutes.Add curry cube
Stir in the Japanese curry cube with the onions and cook until melted. Add ground beef back into the pan.Make curry sauce
Add dashi powder and garlic powder, and pour in milk. Stir until the sauce becomes rich and smooth. Stir in ketchup for extra sweetness.Adjust thickness
Let sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes until desired thickness. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add 2 tbsp of water and adjust.Serve and garnish
Spoon the curry over a bed of steamed rice and top with bonito flakes for a smoky, umami-packed finish. Enjoy!
Japanese Ground Beef Curry
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 pinch Black pepper
- 1/2 Onion, diced
- 1 cube Japanese curry cube (any brand)
- 1 tsp Dashi powder
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1 tbsp Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Bonito flakes (topping)
Instructions
- Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add ground beef and brown for 4 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the onions: In the same skillet, add diced onions and cook until softened and lightly golden, about 2 minutes.
- Add curry cube: Stir in the Japanese curry cube with the onions and cook until melted. Add ground beef back into the pan.
- Make curry sauce: Add dashi powder and garlic powder, and pour in milk. Stir until the sauce becomes rich and smooth. Stir in ketchup for extra sweetness.
- Adjust thickness: Let sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes until desired thickness. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add 2 tbsp of water and adjust.
- Serve and garnish: Spoon the curry over a bed of steamed rice and top with bonito flakes for a smoky, umami-packed finish. Enjoy!