Costco shabu shabu beef recipe served with jasmine rice and cucumber salad for an easy weeknight dinner.

Easy Costco Shabu Shabu Beef Recipe (10 Minute Weeknight Dinner)

This Costco shabu shabu beef recipe is one of the easiest weeknight dinners you can make. Because the beef is sliced so thinly, it cooks in just a few minutes, turning into a quick, flavorful meal that works perfectly for busy family nights.

We also love using this in place of ground beef for our Sunday meal prep when we want to switch things up a bit. The thin slices are easy to marinate ahead of time, so they’re ready whenever you want to cook them. It tastes great when pan-fried in a skillet, but our favorite way to make it is to grill it outside.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Thin sliced shabu shabu beef marinating before grilling.

Quick to make – The beef is sliced so thin that it cooks incredibly fast. You can also place the beef in a zip-top bag, add the marinade, and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.

Simple ingredients – The marinade uses pantry staples and comes together in just a minute or two.

Family friendly – Our girls love this dinner, and my parents do too. Because the beef is sliced so thin, it’s easy for little kids to eat.

Cooks in minutes – You can’t beat a dinner that cooks in 10 minutes or less.

Great for meal prep bowls – We often marinate and cook 4–5 pounds at a time and use it throughout the week in rice bowls or even steak quesadillas for the girls.

This Costco shabu shabu beef recipe is one of the quick dinners we rotate in our weekly dinner system to keep weeknights simple.

What Is Costco Shabu Shabu Beef?

Costco shabu shabu beef is very thinly sliced beef that cooks extremely quickly. Because the slices are so thin, it only takes a minute or two to cook, making it perfect for fast weeknight meals.

Shabu shabu beef is traditionally used in Japanese hot pot dishes, but it also works beautifully for quick stir-fry meals, rice bowls, tacos, or grilled beef dishes.

Because it cooks so quickly, this Costco shabu shabu beef recipe is ideal for busy weeknights when you want something flavorful without spending much time in the kitchen.

You can usually find shabu shabu beef in the refrigerated meat section at Costco near the wagyu or other sliced beef options.

Ingredients

Thin sliced shabu shabu beef in costco package

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this easy Costco shabu shabu beef recipe.

1 pound Costco shabu shabu beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons coconut aminos or soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon honey
Green onions, sliced (optional, for garnish)
Cooked jasmine rice, for serving

You can also add vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas if you want to turn this into a quick stir-fry.

Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Cook Costco Shabu Shabu Beef in a Skillet

Cooking shabu shabu beef is incredibly simple and only takes a few minutes.

  1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the thin slices of beef and cook for about 1–2 minutes until browned.
  3. Stir occasionally so the beef cooks evenly.

Because the slices are so thin, they cook very quickly, so it’s important not to overcook them.

If you are cooking a large batch, cook the beef in smaller batches, so you don’t overcrowd the pan.

Once cooked, remove from heat and serve immediately over rice or in your favorite bowl.

How to Cook Costco Shabu Shabu Beef on the Grill

Shabu shabu beef cooking on a grill.

Grilling is another easy way to make this Costco shabu shabu beef recipe, and it only takes about a minute per side because the slices are so thin.

To grill shabu shabu beef:

  1. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
  2. Lightly oil the grates so the beef doesn’t stick.
  3. Lay the thin slices directly on the grill. If the slices are very thin, you can fold them slightly before placing them on the grill so they’re easier to flip.
  4. Grill for about 30–60 seconds per side until browned.
  5. Remove immediately to keep the beef tender.

Because the slices are so thin, they cook very quickly, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Grilled shabu shabu beef is delicious served over rice, in tacos, or as part of a quick dinner bowl.

What to Serve With This

Costco shabu shabu beef served with jasmine rice and cucumber salad for an easy weeknight dinner.

This beef pairs well with simple sides like:

Jasmine rice
Stir-fry vegetables
Cucumber salad
Avocado slices

Our favorite is a simple cucumber salad on the side topped with sesame seeds, rice seasoning, and Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce.

This Costco shabu shabu beef recipe also works great for build-your-own dinner bowls, which is one of our favorite easy weeknight dinners.

Fork bite of Costco shabu shabu beef with rice and cucumber salad.

Storage + Meal Prep

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.

Great for meal prep – leftovers work perfectly for quick lunch bowls the next day or even steak quesadillas for the kids.

We often cook a few extra pounds at a time so we can use it in bowls, tacos, or quesadillas throughout the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you find shabu shabu beef at Costco?
You can usually find shabu shabu beef in the refrigerated meat section at Costco near the wagyu or other thinly sliced beef options.

Can you freeze shabu shabu beef?
Yes. You can freeze it in the original packaging or portion it into freezer bags. Because the slices are thin, it thaws quickly when you’re ready to cook.

What cut of beef is shabu shabu?
Shabu shabu beef is typically very thinly sliced ribeye or chuck. The thin slices allow the beef to cook extremely quickly, which is why it works so well for quick dinners and stir-fry recipes.

Can you grill Costco shabu shabu beef?

Yes. Because the beef is sliced so thin, it grills very quickly. Cook it over medium-high heat for about 30–60 seconds per side until browned.

If you’re looking for more easy dinner ideas, check out these posts:

My Weekly Dinner Rotation for Busy Moms – This is the system I use to plan simple family dinners each week.

5 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Busy Moms – A collection of quick meals that are perfect for busy evenings.

Easy Crockpot Salsa Chicken – A simple recipe that’s perfect for bulk cooking and meal prep.

Here’s the full recipe card so you can save or print this easy Costco shabu shabu beef recipe for quick weeknight dinners.

Costco shabu shabu beef served with jasmine rice and cucumber salad for an easy weeknight dinner.

Easy Costco Shabu Shabu Beef

Thin-sliced Costco shabu shabu beef cooked in a quick marinade and served with rice and cucumber salad. This easy weeknight dinner cooks in minutes and is perfect for busy family meals.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 6
Calories 340 kcal

Equipment

  • Skillet or grill

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs Costco shabu shabu beef
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp honey
  • green onions, sliced optional
  • cooked jasmine rice, for serving
  • rice flavoring optional
  • Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce optional

Optional Sides

  • cucumber salad
  • avocado slices
  • stir-fry vegetables

Instructions
 

  • Make the marinade
    In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), sesame oil, and honey.
  • Marinate the beef
    Add the shabu shabu beef to a large bowl or zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the beef and toss gently to coat.
    Let it marinate for 10–30 minutes, or cook immediately if you're short on time.

Skillet Instructions

  • Cook the beef on a skillet
    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    Cook the beef in batches, adding thin slices in a single layer. Cook for 1–2 minutes until browned, stirring occasionally.
    Because the slices are very thin, they cook extremely quickly.

Grill Instructions

  • Cook the beef on the grill
    Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
    Lightly oil the grill grates so the beef does not stick.
    Lay the thin slices directly on the grill and cook for 30–60 seconds per side until browned.
    Remove immediately so the beef stays tender.
  • Serve
    Serve the beef over jasmine rice with cucumber salad, avocado slices, or stir-fry vegetables.

Notes

Notes
• Cook in batches so the pan doesn’t overcrowd.
• Because the beef is sliced so thin, it cooks very quickly.
• Leftovers are great in rice bowls, tacos, or steak quesadillas the next day.
Nutrition (estimate)
Calories: ~340
Protein: ~26g
Carbs: ~20g
Fat: ~16g
(Will vary based on sides.)

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