Description
A fast, comforting, and flavorful Korean-inspired beef noodle dish perfect for cozy weeknight dinners. Packed with umami, garlic, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil, it comes together in under 30 minutes using pantry staples.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (60 ml), low-sodium recommended
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced thin (whites and greens separated)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup beef broth (120 ml)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 8 ounces noodles (225 g) – Korean wheat noodles, spaghetti, ramen, or udon
- Optional vegetables: shredded carrots, baby spinach, thinly sliced bell peppers
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by mincing garlic, grating ginger, and slicing green onions. Prepare any optional vegetables and measure sauce ingredients.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and toss with a little sesame oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until well browned and starting to crisp. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Push beef to one side of the pan. Add a drizzle of oil if necessary, then add garlic, ginger, and the white parts of green onions. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, avoiding burning the garlic.
- Pour in soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir and let simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef.
- Add cooked noodles and any optional vegetables to the skillet. Toss to combine so noodles soak up the sauce. Turn off heat and stir in sesame oil and green parts of green onions.
- Serve noodles in bowls. Optionally garnish with extra green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or a fried egg.
Notes
[‘Use fresh garlic and ginger for best flavor; frozen ginger is acceptable.’, ‘Brown sugar balances the saltiness and adds subtle caramel notes.’, ‘Cook beef on medium-high heat to develop flavor through caramelization.’, ‘Save a little noodle water to loosen sauce if too thick.’, ‘Add sesame oil off the heat to preserve its nutty aroma.’, ‘Adjust heat by adding or omitting red pepper flakes or adding gochujang/chili oil.’, ‘Leftovers taste better the next day; reheat gently with broth or water to maintain creaminess.’, ‘Avoid freezing as noodles get mushy and sauce separates.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Korean beef noodles, savory beef noodles, quick dinner, weeknight meal, Korean recipe, ground beef recipe, easy noodles