45+ Budget Korean Dinners (and a Few Asian Favorites)
Make dinner easy, comforting, and affordable with these Korean home-cooked favorites. From spicy stews to quick stir-fries and hearty rice bowls, these recipes show how everyday ingredients can deliver incredible flavor without stretching your budget.
Ordering takeout can feel like the easy option — until you see the bill. Over the years of cooking for my family around the world, I’ve learned that simple, home-cooked Korean meals can be every bit as satisfying (and far more affordable) than any restaurant dish.
Most of these recipes use humble, everyday ingredients — tofu, kimchi, eggs, or a handful of vegetables — the kind of things already sitting in your fridge. Korean cooking has a way of turning pantry basics into comforting meals packed with flavor.
Here you’ll find my favorite budget-friendly Korean dinners, plus a few other Asian dishes that fit the same spirit: easy, nourishing, and perfect for busy weeknights. Whether you crave a quick stir-fry, a cozy stew, or a hearty bowl of rice or noodles, these recipes prove that great flavor doesn’t have to cost much.
Budget Korean Dinners
Chicken Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Chicken)
Chicken bulgogi is a quick and flavorful Korean BBQ dish made with gochujang. Broiled to perfection and easy cleanup, it's a perfect weeknight dinner!
Ground Beef Bulgogi (Easy Korean Beef Bowl)
Make ground beef bulgogi in just 15 minutes for a satisfying Korean beef bowl. Savory, delicious, and budget-friendly, this quick dish comes together easily with pantry staples!
Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir-Fry)
Easy Japchae recipe with chewy Korean glass noodles, tender beef, and colorful vegetables in a savory-sweet sauce. Quick to make with authentic taste in every bite.
Spicy Pork Bulgogi (Jeyuk Bokkeum)
Spicy Pork Bulgogi (Jeyuk Bokkeum) is a quick Korean stir-fry made with thinly sliced pork, gochujang, and a touch of sweetness. It cooks in under 20 minutes and delivers bold, smoky-sweet flavors—perfect with rice or wrapped in lettuce leaves.
Korean Doenjang Pork (Maekjeok)
Easy Korean doenjang pork (maekjeok) marinated in soybean paste, then broiled for juicy, savory flavor. A simple recipe perfect for Korean BBQ!
Korean-Style Crispy Honey Garlic Pork
Pan-fried pork bites coated in a light potato-starch crust and tossed in a sticky soy-honey glaze with golden garlic chips. This easy Korean-style dinner takes under 30 minutes and delivers that perfect sweet-savory crunch without deep-frying.
Makguksu (Perilla Oil Noodles)
Makguksu is a light and refreshing Korean buckwheat noodle dish tossed with perilla oil and a savory-sweet dressing. Easy, quick, and perfect for a no-cook summer meal.
Doenjang Pasta (Korean Soybean Paste Spaghetti)
Savory Korean fusion pasta made with doenjang, butter, and mushrooms. Umami-rich, simple, and ready in 15 minutes.
Dakgangjeong (Korean Fried Chicken Nuggets)
Make dakgangjeong, Korea’s beloved crispy chicken bites, right at home! These bite-sized Korean fried chicken nuggets are double-fried for extra crunch and coated in a glossy, sweet-spicy gochujang glaze. They’re quick to make (ready in under an hour) and perfect for weeknight dinners, parties, or game-day snacks.
Dakkochi (Korean Chicken Skewers)
Juicy dakkochi (Korean chicken skewers) brushed with a glossy soy-garlic glaze and cooked on the stovetop in just 30 minutes. Easy, delicious street-food flavor at home!
20-Minute Beef Gochujang Noodles
Enjoy flavorful beef gochujang noodles in under 20 minutes! This easy Korean-inspired one-bowl meal combines spicy gochujang paste, sweet apple, and pantry staples, with simple customization options.
Bibim Guksu (Korean Cold Noodles with Kimchi)
Bibim guksu is a spicy Korean cold noodle dish with gochujang, kimchi, and fresh toppings. Quick, refreshing, and perfect for summer—ready in under 20 minutes!
Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Rolls)
Homemade kimbap made with seasoned rice, colorful vegetables, and your choice of protein rolled in roasted seaweed. A fresh, customizable Korean rice roll that's perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, or a light meal.
Easy Tuna Kimbap (Cucumber Chamchi Gimbap)
Easy tuna kimbap with creamy tuna, cucumber, and pickled radish. A no-cook Korean rice roll perfect for beginners, lunchboxes, or light meals.
Dakdoritang (Korean Spicy Chicken Stew)
Dakdoritang is a Korean spicy chicken stew made with tender chicken, potatoes, and carrots simmered in a bold gochujang and gochugaru broth. Hearty, flavorful, and perfect with rice.
Korean Braised Chicken (Andong Jjimdak)
Andong jjimdak is a delicious Korean braised chicken dish made with tender chicken, vegetables, and chewy sweet potato noodles. Braised in a savory soy sauce blend with a touch of sweetness and spice, it’s a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for sharing.
Skillet Korean Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
Crispy pan-fried chicken wings coated in a glossy honey garlic glaze. This Korean-style recipe is cooked entirely in one skillet for less mess and bold flavor.
Snow Onion Chicken
Snow onion chicken, a favorite from a Korean fried chicken franchise, features crispy chicken breast with a creamy onion sauce. This easy, mild recipe is perfect for sharing and sure to please everyone in the family.
20-Minute Kimchi Udon Noodle Soup
Quick and flavorful, this Kimchi Udon Soup recipe combines spicy kimchi with savory dashi and smooth udon for a perfect Korean-Japanese fusion.
Korean Fish Cake Soup (Eomuk Guk / Odeng Guk)
A light, cozy Korean fish cake soup made with anchovy broth, radish, and tender fish cakes that soak up all the flavor. Savory, comforting, and easy to make.
Warm Sesame Soba Noodles (Korean-Style)
Warm sesame soba noodles tossed in a Korean-style sesame soy sauce with green onion. Cozy, nutty, and ready in 15 minutes.
Quick Spam Fried Rice
Spam fried rice with egg takes less than 20 minutes to cook. Crispy pan-fried Spam, fluffy eggs, and simple vegetables creates a delicious weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Kimchi Fried Rice with Bacon (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)
A quick and flavorful kimchi fried rice made with crispy bacon, ripe kimchi, and cold leftover rice. A cozy Korean 25-minute skillet meal.
Crispy Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe with Cheese
Crispy on the outside and cheesy inside, this kimchi fried rice recipe with cheese brings the best of both worlds.
Stovetop Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks
Easy stovetop teriyaki chicken drumsticks with a sticky, glossy glaze! No marinating needed—just 20 minutes in a skillet with soy sauce, pineapple juice, garlic, and ginger.
Korean Grilled Mackerel in Parchment
Korean-style grilled mackerel features smoky, crispy skin and juicy, tender flesh. With the parchment paper method, it’s easy to cook while minimizing unwanted fish smells.
Spicy Tofu and Egg in a Skillet
This Korean spicy tofu and egg dish in a skillet is a quick and easy to whip up, but is satisfying enough to justify making it for dinner. Gluten-free and vegetarian adaptable!
Asian Meatballs with Pineapple Soy Glaze
Juicy, oven-baked Asian meatballs coated in a glossy pineapple soy glaze. A Korean-inspired twist on classic meatballs — sweet, savory, and perfect over steamed rice or veggies.
Korean Knife Cut Noodle Soup (Kalguksu)
Korean knife cut noodle soup made with chicken (dak kalguksu) is a soul comforting chicken soup of Korea. Korean herb broth makes it very flavorful. This recipe uses homemade noodles but store-bought noodles work fine, too.
Hand Torn Chicken Noodle Soup (Sujebi)
Hand torn noodle soup (sujebi) is Korean version of chicken and dumpling. Potato is added to the simple dumpling and simmered in a savory chicken stock.
Non-Spicy Gungjung Tteokbokki (Royal Court Rice Cake)
Gungjung tteokbokki, a traditional non-spicy Korean rice cake stir-fry, was a favorite in royal courts. This quick, easy recipe uses rice cakes, vegetables, and beef in a mild soy sauce to capture old-fashioned Korean flavors in just 20 minutes.
Philly Style Bulgogi Cheesesteak
This fantastic Korean fusion Philly cheesesteak style bulgogi cheese steak sandwich is packed with flavor and texture. It’s a simple and quick sandwich that takes 15 minutes — no need to marinate the bulgogi beef at all.
Korean Black Bean Noodles (Jajangmyeon)
Korean black bean noodles, or jajangmyeon, are a popular Korean-Chinese fusion dish. Thick, chewy noodles are coated in a rich black bean sauce with pork and vegetables. This easy recipe delivers authentic taste.
Korean-Style Ground Beef Noodles
This ground beef noodles recipe is a Korean-style twist on a classic! Savory bulgogi-style beef simmered in soy sauce, garlic, and honey creates a rich, flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with vermicelli noodles. A quick, family-friendly meal ready in 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights!
Check out this recipe
5-Minute Kimchi Ramen
Upgrade your instant ramen with this easy kimchi ramen recipe! Made with canned tuna, kimchi, and sesame oil, it creates a rich umami-packed broth in just 5 minutes.
One Pot Korean Noodles and Vegetables
The Korean noodle and vegetable dish is a perfect one pot meal one pot meal for hot summer days and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. Use any cold cut meats or deli ham, and whatever vegetables you have in hand to suit your taste.
Korean Sloppy Joes (with Gochujang)
This Korean sloppy Joes got a little flavor twist from all American classic, sloppy Joes. The addition of Korean chili paste (gochujang) makes the ordinary Sloppy Joes into extra ordinary.
10-Minute Ramen Stir-Fry with Vegetables
Make this satisfying ramen and vegetable stir-fry in 10 minutes. Use any vegetable you have in your fridge. Egg and bonito topping is an optional choice.
Beef and Cucumber Stir-fry
If you have abundant cucumbers, this quick tender beef and cucumber stir-fry is a perfect rice bowl dish for an easy weeknight meal.
A Few Asian Favorites
Easy Broiled Miso Chicken Thighs
Juicy miso chicken thighs broiled with a sweet-savory glaze. A quick Japanese chicken recipe, full of umami, ready in under 20 minutes.
Easy Filipino Chicken Adobo
Authentic Filipino chicken adobo made simple: tender chicken simmered until juicy in a soy-vinegar glaze with garlic and peppercorns. A tangy, savory classic that’s perfect with rice
Kung Pao Chicken
This classic Chinese dish uses simple pantry ingredients and just one pan — an easy, budget-friendly way to bring takeout flavor home.
Quick Cumin Beef Stir-Fry
It’s made with affordable thin-cut beef, quick to cook, and delivers big flavor with pantry spices.quick takeout-style meal you can make at home for a fraction of the cost
Quick Yaki Udon (Japanese Stir-Fried Udon Noodles)
Chewy udon noodles stir-fried with pork, cabbage, and a savory soy-based sauce. This quick Japanese yaki udon takes just 15 minutes and can be customized with chicken, shrimp, or tofu for an easy weeknight dinner.
Crispy Pan-Fried Hong Kong Noodles (Cantonese Style)
Crispy pan-fried Hong Kong noodles are a quick and flavorful Cantonese dish. With a chewy texture, golden crispy edges, and smoky, savory flavors, this easy 20-minute recipe is perfect for customizing with shrimp, vegetables, or your favorite protein.
Vegetables in Coconut Milk (Sayur Lodeh)
A cozy Indonesian curry made with simple vegetables simmered in creamy coconut milk. It’s rich, satisfying, and proof that delicious comfort food doesn’t need to be expensive. It’s a great way to stretch what’s in your fridge into a hearty, wholesome meal that feels indulgent without being expensive.
Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi Bowl
A quick and budget-friendly take on the Korean classic. Ground beef is simmered in a sweet-savory soy sauce with garlic, onion, and a hint of sesame — all the bold bulgogi flavor without the pricey cuts of meat. Perfect over rice for an easy weeknight meal.
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil
- 1/2 (about 75 g onion, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, preferably 90% lean
- 2 green onion , finely chopped, optional
For bulgogi sauce
- 4 tbsp (60 ml) soy sauce
- 2-3 tbsp (25–40 g brown sugar
- 2 tbsp (30 ml sweet rice wine (mirim)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil
- 1 tsp (2 g) pepper
- 1 tbsp (9 g toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Mix all the bulgogi sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook until soft, about 1-2 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until beef is browned and fully cooked.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the beef and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to simmer until it is heated through and the sauce reduces, about 2 minutes. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. Serve immediately.
Calories: 386kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 1149mg, Potassium: 394mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 3IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 3mg
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