Quick & Comforting Gyudon – A Japanese Beef Bowl for Busy Days

When school gets out, my second kid isn’t done for the day—he’s just getting started. Between basketball and baseball practices (sometimes both on the same afternoon!), we’re always in a rush. And with all that running around, he needs something hearty and protein-packed to fuel him up.

That’s when I turn to this Gyudon (牛丼)—a classic Japanese beef bowl that’s quick, comforting, and full of flavor. It takes just a few minutes to put together, and I can pack it into a container for him to munch on the way to his next practice. The tender beef and sweet-savory broth over fluffy rice is always a hit.

But Gyudon isn’t just a practical meal for busy days. For me, it’s nostalgic. Growing up in Japan, Gyudon was one of those comforting dishes that made everything feel a little better after a long day. The smell of simmering onions and beef in a dashi-soy broth still brings me right back home.

RECIPE

Servings: 4-5

Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 lb thinly sliced beef chuck
1 onion

Sauce:

1 cup water
1 pack (1/2 tbsp) dashi powder
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp mirin
3 tbsp sugar
1/2 tbsp grated ginger

Serving:

Steamed rice
Chopped green onions
Onsen tamago (optional but highly recommended!)

My Kitchen Tools:

Instructions:

Prep the ingredients:
Slice the onion thinly. If the beef slices are large, cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Make the broth:
In a medium pot, combine water, dashi powder, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and grated ginger. Bring it to a gentle boil.
Simmer the beef and onions:
Add the sliced onion and beef to the pot. Cover with a lid and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the beef is cooked and the onions are tender.
Make onsen tamago (Japanese-style soft-boiled egg):
Boil water in a small pot. Turn off the heat, add 1–2 eggs (still in the shell), cover with a lid, and let them sit for 10 minutes. Carefully crack and serve the soft-set eggs on top of your Gyudon.
Assemble:
Scoop a generous portion of steamed rice into a bowl. Spoon the simmered beef and onions on top, along with some of the flavorful broth. Top with chopped green onions and the onsen tamago.

ingredients shopping

Tips

This Gyudon is perfect for meal prepping too! Store the meat mixture separately and warm it up when you're ready to serve over fresh rice. It’s also kid-approved (especially with the egg on top), and you can sneak in some extra veggies if you’d like—try thinly sliced carrots or spinach!