Korean One-Pot Meals – Cozy, Easy and Yummy

Korean One-Pot Meals that are tummy-warming and satisfying without the use of tons of cookware – from soups and stews to noodles, and tender, braised meats packed with flavors! These dishes are sure to become some of your favorite go-to meals.

Although I love to cook, even for me there are days now where I just want something simple but yummy to make with little cleanup. 😉 Especially when we are all having to eat 3 meals a day, almost every day, 7 days a week.. at home. Can you tell, I’m getting a little worn out?? HAHAHA..

What comes to your mind when you think of Korean food? Maybe a table full of banchans, rice and either some stew or soup or a main of some Korean BBQ? Yes, that’s how a full Korean meal is done. But for everyday meals, Koreans often make very simple one-pot meals like I’m sharing here.

BTW, I’m saying these are one-pot meals with the assumption that you will have rice available. To Koreans, rice 🍚 is like bread 🍞, something you have in your kitchen every day. Hope you don’t mind.

And I think there’s just something less stressful and more enjoyable when you don’t have to juggle 2-3 different recipes to cook at the same time – yes, even for me. With these Korean one-pot meals, you can just focus on cooking one dish. Comforting recipes that are great for any day of the week and that your family will be sure to love – so give one a try!💕

Korean Chicken Braised in Soy Ginger Lemon Sauce

Easy Korean fusion recipe for Chicken. Marinated in soy ginger sauce, seared golden brown, braised in oven with onions and lemon.

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I love cooking things in the oven – don’t you? You can relax while dinner is cooking away. Well, here’s a Korean one-pot dish that you can put in the oven, set it and forget it. Just make rice (long grain rice also goes well), and salad and there you go!

Short Rib Soup – Galbitang

Korean Beef Short Rib Soup or Galbitang is so warming, deliciously rich and satisfying. So simple and easy to make. You just need time.

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I have both a regular and Instant Pot version of this classic comforting soup. Cook rice and serve with Kimchi. Dinner done. Maybe add roasted gim or a banchan like Myeolchi Bokkeum if you have extra time.

Kimchi Jjigae (Stew) with Pork Belly

Kimchi and pork go really well together in this easy classic Korean stew.

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You really just need rice and this is good for any meal of the day. Add some jeons or even just a fried egg or egg roll.

Bulgogi Hot Pot (Jeongol)

Bulgogi Hot Pot has many names in Korean. Bulgogi Jeongol (불고기 전골), Yaetnal Bulgogi (옛날불고기), and Bulgogi Ttukbaegi (불고기뚝배기). They all basically refer to the same thing: bulgogi, vegetables and glass noodles that are cooked in broth right at the table or that comes boiling hot in a stone pot.

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Enjoy this on its own with some kimchi and rice. Nothing else needed.

Galbi Jjim (Korean Braised Short Ribs)

This is Korean food at its best. The combination of sweet yet savory, juicy yet melt in your mouth tender beef ribs with a great depth of flavor.

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This one takes a bit of effort and time but once you make a batch, you can enjoy it over several meals. Cook rice, and serve with kimchi. Here’s my Instant Pot version.

Dakgalbi (Chuncheon Spicy Chicken Stir Fry)

A popular way of cooking chicken in Korea, Chuncheon Dakgalbi is seasoned with a spicy sweet gochujang sauce that has a mild hint of curry flavor. 

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Finish this truly Korean one-pot meal by cooking rice in the pan at the end with leftover sauce. That will help clean your pot too.

KIMCHI FRIED RICE

Kimchi Fried Rice is one of the first Korean dish I learned to make for myself as a college student. It is a very satisfying dish and yet it’s really easy to make. 

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Easy, simple rice dish for those times when you really don’t want to think about a menu. Add whatever proteins you want to add – pork, beef, chicken, canned tuna, bacon, spam, sausage.. kimchi can take them all!

Hearty Soy Sauce Chicken Stew

This Dak doritang(Korean soy sauce chicken stew – also called Dakbokkeumtang) recipe was so easy to make, it actually made me nervous but it’s a must try.

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Mild and easy chicken stew that is really just simple as putting ingredients together and cooking it in one pot. Low carb dish.

Spicy Soft Tofu Stew (순두부찌게 Sundubu Jjigae)

Sundubu Jjigae or Soft Tofu Stew recipe that is so easy to make and so delicious that my husband told me it’s almost as good, if not better than the ones at the restaurant! 

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I used to eat just a pot of this with very little or no rice when I was on a low carb diet. Tofu is healthy and filling.

Tofu Recipe with Soy Mirin Sauce (Dubu Jorim)

Dubu Jorim (두부조림) is a great Korean tofu recipe that is a very basic, common side dish found in Korean meals. It tastes great both warm and cold.

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If you want a vegan meal, this is for you. Enjoy this and some rice or make this a side dish with a protein dish if you need some meat in your life.

Gamjatang – Spicy Pork Bone Stew

Gamjatang is a wonderfully hearty and spicy Korean stew made with pork neck bones and potatoes. If you cannot get pork neck bones, you can just use pork ribs and it will still be delicious.

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All made in the Instant Pot – a great hearty one pot stew full of vegetables and meat. A bowl of rice is all you need.

Instant Pot Korean Chicken Soup (Baeksuk)

Korean Chicken Soup (Baeksuk) is simple to make, hearty and healing. So delicious with just 5 ingredients needed. Instant Pot recipe makes it even easier and yummier.

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This is an almost weekly recipe in my house. Just make the soup in the Instant Pot or on Stove Top, enjoy with rice and kimchi. For extra delicious meal, make one of the seafood banchans from this banchan list like dried anchovies or shrimps.

Tteok guk (떡국) – Korean rice cake soup

Every New Year’s day, Koreans make Dduk Guk/Tteok Guk and share it with their family and guests who visit their homes. During the New Year holiday, many Koreans travel back to their hometown. You can use chicken stock or beef stock instead of anchovy stock.

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My husband likes to eat tteokguk all by itself with some kimchi. I like to eat it with some rice. If you want extra banchan, make some Ojingeo Che (dried squid) or pan-fry some frozen dumplings. Instant Pot version.

Rice with Korean Soybean Sprouts (Kongnamul Bap)

Rice is cooked with Korean soybean sprouts and beef. Served with seasoned soy sauce with green onions. Ultimate Korean comfort food. Easy, healthy and delicious.

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You just truly need some kimchi with this one and you are done. If you like soup, maybe you can make some simple one like Sogogi Muguk (beef and radish soup).

Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)

Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew) is a wonderfully hearty kimchi stew that has become really popular since its creation after the Korean war. Even if you don’t like spam, this is a MUST-TRY EASY dish that is just too delicious not to eat.

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A hearty Korean one-pot Kimchi stew that is just incredibly delicious. It was heralded by Anthony Bourdain and he cooked it on TV. You need rice for this because it’s pretty strongly flavored but oh my, sooo yummy. Just put everything in one pot, cook and enjoy!

Yukgaejang – Korean spicy beef soup

Yukgaejang is a classic spicy Korean beef soup that is made from brisket meat, green onions, bean sprouts and gosari (bracken fiddleheads). It is soo good you can’t stop at just one bowl. Serve with rice and you have a complete meal.

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We probably make this soup at least 2-3 times a month in the Instant Pot. Just a bowl of this with rice and kimchi is totally good for lunch or a simple meal. Add some vegetables banchan if you want more.

Spicy Pollock Roe Stew (Al Tang)

Wonderfully hearty spicy Pollock Roe stew (Al Tang) loaded with gochujang and garlic. Also called Fish Egg soup or Al Jjigae. Great simple recipe that is a totally warming soup for your tummy. 

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Instant Pot Soy Pork Ribs (Dwaeji Galbi Jjim)

Spicy Soy Pork Ribs with Shishito Peppers or Dwaeji Galbi Jjim is the latest recipe that I developed for the Instant Pot. So simple, easy and a totally satisfying dish that can be also a one dish meal when served with rice.

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There’s also a Stove Top recipe so don’t fret! BTW, If my husband wasn’t allergic to pork, I would probably cook this all the time. It’s soo good and soo simple to make. Just need pork ribs, soy sauce, ginger, chili peppers and black pepper. It’s salty so you definitely need rice for this one!

Korean Four Mushroom Rice in Stone Pot (Beoseot Bap)

Four Mushroom Rice in Stone Pot or Beoseot Bap is a great one-pot rice dish that highlights the mushroom flavors in a wonderful way. Vegan and Gluten Free.

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Just make the sauce and then this wonderfully healthy and flavorful Korean one-pot meal made with rice and mushrooms will leave you feeling good but still very satisfied.

Osam Bulgogi (Spicy Squid and Pork Stir-Fry)

Osam Bulgogi is a Korean spicy squid and pork stir-fry that's a great simple one-pan dish packed with bold flavors. Spicy, garlicky, slightly sweet gochujang sauce just makes everything so perfectly delicious.

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The best part of this dish is finishing up the meal by making fried rice with leftover sauce in the pan. So it’s truly a one-pan or one-pot meal.

Enjoy!

XOXO ❤️,

JinJoo

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