Spicy Pork Bulgogi

Spicy pork bulgogi is one of the most popular dishes at Korean BBQ restaurants, known for its bold combination of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors. Thinly sliced pork is marinated in a rich sauce made with gochujang, gochugaru, garlic, and sesame oil, then quickly cooked over high heat until slightly caramelized. The great thing about this dish is how quick and approachable it is to make at home. Because the pork is sliced very thin, it only needs 15–30 minutes of marinating before cooking. Using frozen hotpot-style pork from an Asian market makes the process even easier, turning this into a perfect weeknight meal.

The marinade delivers deep flavor from gochujang while grated apple adds natural sweetness and helps tenderize the meat. The amount of gochugaru can be adjusted to make the dish mild, medium, or extra spicy depending on your preference.

Ingredients
For the marinade:

1/3 cup gochujang
1–2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chili flakes or powder)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons mirin
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1/2 small apple, grated
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the pork:

1.5 pounds thinly sliced pork
1/2 onion, sliced
3 stalks green onions, sliced
2–3 tablespoons cooking oil

For garnish:

Sesame seeds
Sliced green onions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, grated apple, and black pepper. Stir well until the marinade becomes smooth and fully combined.

2. Add the thinly sliced pork to the bowl along with the sliced onion and green onions. Toss everything together thoroughly so the pork is evenly coated in the marinade. Allow the pork to marinate for 15 to 30 minutes so the flavors can soak into the meat.

3. Heat a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, cook the pork in batches for about 5 minutes per batch. Avoid overcrowding the pan so the pork can caramelize properly.

4. Let the pork cook undisturbed for a minute or two at a time so the marinade can char slightly and develop deeper flavor. Stir occasionally until the pork is fully cooked and the edges become slightly crispy and caramelized.

5. Transfer the cooked pork to a serving plate and garnish with sesame seeds and additional sliced green onions before serving.

Sizzling spicy pork