Rice Cooker GYUDON! | The Easiest Japanese Beef Bowl You’ll Ever Make

Hey foodies! Ever craving a comforting bowl of Gyudon (Japanese beef bowl) but short on time? What if I told you your trusty rice cooker could whip up an authentic-tasting, incredibly delicious Gyudon with minimal effort? That’s right! Today, we’re diving into a super-fast recipe that will become your weeknight hero. Get ready for a taste of Japan, made unbelievably easy!

This recipe is designed for ultimate convenience without sacrificing flavor, proving that gourmet doesn’t always mean complicated.

Ingredients (Serves 1):

• For the main dish:

  • Uncooked Rice: 150g (5.3 oz)

  • Beef (thinly sliced): 140g (4.9 oz)

  • Onion: 80g (2.8 oz)

• For the Beef Marinade (☆):

  • Soy Sauce: 2 tsp

  • White Wine: 2 tsp

  • Mirin: 2 tsp

  • Sugar: 1 tsp

  • Grated Ginger: 1/3 tsp

  • Grated Garlic: 1/3 tsp

• For the Rice Cooker Sauce (★):

  • Water: 190ml (0.8 cup)

  • Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp + 1 tsp

  • White Wine: 1 tbsp

  • Mirin: 1 tbsp

  • Sugar: 2 tsp

  • Consommé Powder: 1 pinch (or your preferred bouillon/stock powder)

  • Dashi Powder: 1 pinch

• Topping (Optional):

  • Red Pickled Ginger (Beni Shoga)

Instructions (Super Quick & Easy!):

1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Slice the onion into half-moon shapes and the beef as thinly as possible. Thoroughly rinse the uncooked rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear, then drain it completely.

2. Marinate the Beef: In a bowl, combine the beef with all the (☆) marinade ingredients. Mix well to ensure the beef is evenly coated.

3. Prepare the Rice Cooker Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together all the (★) rice cooker sauce ingredients until they are well combined.

4. Assemble & Cook: Pour the drained rice into your rice cooker pot. Add the prepared sauce mixture and stir gently to combine it with the rice. Evenly spread the sliced onions over the rice, followed by the marinated beef.

5. Start Cooking: Close the lid of your rice cooker and start it using its regular white rice cooking mode.

6. Serve & Enjoy: Once the cooking cycle is complete, gently fluff and mix the Gyudon in the pot. Serve immediately in a bowl, optionally topping with some red pickled ginger for an extra pop of flavor!

Quick Tips for the Best Rice Cooker Gyudon:

• Beef Slicing: Thinly sliced beef is crucial for an authentic texture and quick cooking. If you can find pre-sliced sukiyaki or shabu-shabu beef, that’s even better!

• Beef Cut: You can use any cut of beef you like, but short ribs (bara) or chuck roll (katarosu) are highly recommended for their balance of fat and lean meat. Leaner cuts like round steak (momo) also work wonderfully.

• A Special Twist: We’ve opted for white wine instead of sake in this recipe to recreate the distinct flavor profile found in some famous Japanese Gyudon chains. This little secret adds a unique depth to the dish!