Description
A quick and comforting Korean beef noodles recipe featuring tender, juicy ground beef and savory soy-based sauce, ready in about 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights with simple ingredients and bold flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (85% lean recommended)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- ⅓ cup (80ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 stalks green onions, sliced (separate white and green parts)
- 8 oz (225g) rice noodles or thin wheat noodles
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Optional add-ins: 1-2 cups baby spinach or bok choy, ½ cup shredded carrots
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by mincing garlic, grating ginger, slicing green onions (separating white and green parts), and measuring out soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Cook rice or wheat noodles according to package directions (4-6 minutes for rice noodles, 7-8 minutes for wheat noodles) until tender but still firm. Drain and toss with a small drizzle of oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a spoon or spatula. Cook until browned and just cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving a little for flavor.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and the white parts of the green onions to the beef. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Stir in soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer and thicken slightly for 2-3 minutes.
- Add cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce. If using, add spinach, bok choy, or shredded carrots and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with the green parts of the sliced green onions and extra red pepper flakes or sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
[‘Do not overcook the beef to keep it tender and juicy.’, ‘Use fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavor.’, ‘Reserve some noodle cooking water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.’, ‘Use low-sodium soy sauce to control saltiness.’, ‘Add quick-cooking greens like spinach or bok choy at the end for extra nutrients.’, ‘Make the sauce ahead of time to save time on busy days.’, ‘Leftovers reheat well with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.’, ‘This recipe does not freeze well due to noodle texture changes.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Korean beef noodles, quick dinner, ground beef recipe, easy Korean recipe, weeknight meal, savory noodles, soy sauce beef