Super creamy and fragrant Korean Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang) made easy and quick. This Korean soup recipe is perfect when you want to make something under 20 minutes. The bone broth is also packed with lots of collagen, protein and nutrients that tastes delicious and this dish will be your new go-to comfort food.

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What is Seolleongtang?
Easy ox bone soup (called Seolleongtang 설렁탕 in Korean), is a hot Korean soup made with beef bone broth, beef slices, green onions and thin noodles. This recipe uses a super delicious and authentic tasting store-brought beef broth (Korean beef broth is the best to use for this).
Keep in mind this is a quick version of Seolleongtang and may taste different than the traditional Seolleongtang that has been boiling for 3 or more hours. Serve this soup with an Easy One Pot Bibimbap and Korean Crab Omelette for a full Korean meal!
Why You Will Love This Beef Bone Soup Recipe
- Quick: This recipe is very quick to assemble so it’s great for quick dinners or lunches. The only cooking it requires is boiling the noodles and bone broth.
- Perfect for Cold Weather: The broth is super hearty and goes great with some noodles sliced beef!
- Serves One: An easy recipe that makes just one serving but you can easily multiply the recipe if you’re cooking for your family.
Which Beef Broth Should I Buy?
Ingredients:
Buying the right beef broth will greatly impact the taste of your soup. I recommend going to a Korean grocery store like H-Mart and pick out a Seolleongtang (ox bone broth) pictured above. The brand I like is JINGA. The one I picked out did not include beef. There are some versions that already have beef inside but I think the beef is chewy and tastes overcooked in my opinion. That is why I like to add in my own sliced beef.
- Korean ox bone soup (beef bone broth) – authentic Korean Seolleongtang uses ox bone broth for the creaminess and milky texture. The store bought version is usually unsalted, so you will need to add your salt and pepper at the end.
- Chinese chives – add the chives at the end to give the soup a peppery and savory flavor to the soup. The Chinese chives are flatter and more flavorful compared to western chives.
- Green onions – adds freshness to the soup!
- Salt and pepper – usually the broth is unsalted so you will need to add your own seasoning. I recommend to add ½ teaspoon of salt to bring out the flavors of the beef broth.
- Thin slices beef (4-6 slices) – I used sliced beef flank steak with lots of marbling (because I like fatty cuts of beef!). You can get pre-sliced beef at asian grocery stores.
- Korean somyeon noodles (optional) – the noodles soak up the broth and it’s a great way to add some quick carbs to the soup.
Equipment
To heat the bone broth, I use this Korean stone bowl that I got at h-mart (also available on Amazon). The stone bowl keeps the soup warmer for a longer time period and is the cookware used in Korean restaurants.
How to Make Ox Bone Soup
Step 1. Open package of ox bone broth. Pour broth in pot and turn on medium high.
Step 2. Slice beef in 3 inch slices. Once the ox bone broth starts boiling, add sliced beef and cook to your desired wellness. Take the beef out and set aside.
Step 3. Slice green onions and chinese chives. Turn off the heat and add your green onions, chinese chives, and noodles.
PRO TIP: To season, start with ¼ teaspoon of salt, then add ¼ teaspoon more if you need it! Personally ½ teaspoon is perfect for me.
Step 4. Serve this easy ox bone soup with korean kimchi radish and kimchi. The soup is also very delicious with a hot bowl of rice. Enjoy while warm!
Expert Tips
- Get high quality beef broth! Korean groceries are the best place to find them.
- Carefully season your soup. Start with ¼ teaspoon salt. Add a little and taste as you go. I would not recommend going over 1 teaspoon! Depending on which bone broth you bought, the soup may become too salty if it’s over 1 teaspoon and there’s a high chance you won’t be able to fix it.
- Don’t cook your beef for too long. The soup will be boiling so cook your beef for 1 minute max so the beef stays tender and not too dry.
Recipe FAQs
This delicious soup is usually served with Korean side dishes such as kimchi radish or kimchi. You can also pair the soup with some delicious Korean BBQ like this LA Galbi (Korean Marinated Short Ribs) or Korean Pork Belly.
The soup is served along with white rice to soak up the delicious broth. The broth is unseasoned, so make sure you add some salt and pepper. I would start with ¼ teaspoon salt to start and add more a little more as you taste. The salt really brings out the flavor of the broth, green onions and the beef!
Must try Korean delicious soups:
- Soondubu – Korean soft tofu soup – classic spicy tofu soup with meat and extra soft tofu
- doenjang – soybean paste stew – umami, savory and delicious soup filled with soybean paste and tofu
- Tuna Kimchi Jjigae – fermented kimchi cooked in a seafood broth with soft tofu and tuna for a delicious funk!
- Korean Army Stew – a savory and spicy stew with sausages, spam, kimchi and ramyun noodles
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Easy Ox Bone Soup (Seolleongtang)
Ingredients
- 1 packet (500mL) korean ox bone soup beef bone broth
- 1-2 chinese chives
- 1 green onion sliced
- salt and pepper (recommend ½ teaspoon salt) to taste
- 4-6 slices thin slices beef
- small bundle Korean somyeon noodles
Instructions
- Open package of ox bone broth. Pour broth in pot and turn on medium high. (optional step – boil somen noodles for 2 minutes and strain. Then, rinse with cold water to wash off the excess starch and strain again.)
- Slice green onions and chinese chives. Slice beef in 3 inch pieces.
- Once the ox bone broth starts boiling, add sliced beef and cook to your desired wellness. Take the beef out and set aside.
- Turn off the heat and add your green onions, chinese chives, and noodles. To season, start with ¼ teaspoon of salt, then add ¼ teaspoon more if you need it! Personally ½ teaspoon is perfect for me. I would not recommend going over 1 teaspoon! Depending on which bone broth you bought, the soup may become too salty if it's over 1 teaspoon and there's a high chance you won't be able to fix it.
- Serve this easy ox bone soup with korean kimchi radish and kimchi. The soup is also very delicious with a hot bowl of rice. Enjoy while warm!
Notes
- Get high quality beef broth! Korean groceries are the best place to find them.
- Carefully season your soup. Start with ¼ teaspoon salt. Add a little and taste as you go. I would not recommend going over 1 teaspoon! Depending on which bone broth you bought, the soup may become too salty if it’s over 1 teaspoon and there’s a high chance you won’t be able to fix it.
- Don’t cook your beef for too long. The soup will be boiling hot so cook your beef for 1 minute max so the beef stays tender and not too dry.
Lia T. says
Perfect soup for cold weather season 😋
Teresa Chen says
Such a good soup when you are craving something warm and filling!