Rice Cooker Meal: Bibimbap

A simplified take on one of my favorite meals with all the flavor and none of the fuss.

Bibimbap is one of my go-to meals because it's comforting, flavorful, and packed with nutrients. It has a little bit of everything: protein, rice, and plenty of vegetables all in one bowl. As much as I love it, it can feel like a lot of effort when you're cooking everything separately. This one-pot version keeps it simple so you get all the flavor and balance without the extra dishes. It's something I make on repeat when I want a meal that's easy, satisfying, and nourishing.

Ingredients
For the Beef & Marinade:

• 6–8 oz beef, thinly sliced (I used sirloin)

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/8 tsp black pepper

For the Rice Cooker:

• 1 cup uncooked rice

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 cup shredded carrots

• 1/2 zucchini, thinly sliced or julienned

• 1/2 cup bean sprouts

• 1/2 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms

• 1 cup spinach

• 1 fried egg (optional)

For the Gochujang Sauce:

• 2 tbsp gochujang

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp rice vinegar

Instructions

1. Marinate the Beef:
   In a bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, garlic, and black pepper. Add sliced beef and toss to coat. Let sit while you prepare the rice.

2. Prepare the Rice:
   Add 1 cup of rice to your rice cooker. Rinse and drain well. Add 1 cup of water.

3. Add the Meat and Veggies:
   On top of the rice, add the marinated beef, carrots, zucchini, bean sprouts, and shiitake mushrooms.

4. Cook:
   Turn on the rice cooker and cook as you would regular rice. (Use the standard white rice setting if your rice cooker has one.)

5. Add Spinach:
   Once the rice is done, open the lid and add the spinach. Close the lid and let steam for another 5 minutes.

6. Optional Egg:
   While the spinach steams, fry an egg if you’d like to add it on top.

7. Make the Gochujang Sauce:
   Mix together gochujang, sesame oil, sugar, and rice vinegar until smooth.

8. Assemble & Serve:
   Scoop the bibimbap into a bowl, top with the fried egg if using, and drizzle with gochujang sauce. Mix everything together before eating!