Get your chopsticks ready!! With caramelised beef, a tangle of noodles, and a sweet savoury 4 ingredient sauce, these Asian Beef Ramen Noodles are totally slurp-worthy!
A terrific economical beef mince recipe, prepare to be amazed at how quick and easy this flavour packed ramen noodle recipe is! Are you ready??
Now available: Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles!
ASIAN BEEF RAMEN NOODLES recipe – spin on a reader favourite!
I’ve previously shared stories where Dozer has been randomly recognised on the streets by readers (ah, it makes me proud!) and the odd occasion when I’ve been recognised. Always in a state of disarray. I am waiting for the time it happens when I just happen to be dolled up for an evening out.🤞🏼
Well, when 3 total strangers within the space of 2 weeks tell you that these Asian Beef Bowls are one of their favourites because it’s so tasty yet quick ‘n easy, it triggered a thought – why not do a ramen noodle version??
So the thought came to life.
That caramelised ground beef / mince is just da bomb! I just want to pick it all out!!! (Seriously, who talks like that at my age??🙄)
I hinted at a cheeky little tip that makes this ramen noodles recipe even quicker than you’d expect – and here it is:
How to make Ramen Noodles – in ONE POT!
Yes that’s right, these Asian Beef Ramen Noodles are made in ONE POT!!! Sure it saves on washing up an extra pot to cook the noodles separately, but for this recipe, the more important factor is that the starch in the noodles acts as the thickener for the sauce (which has no cornflour/cornstarch or other thickener).
So here’s how this recipe goes down – 4 minutes for the onion and beef, 2 to 3 minutes for the noodles, MAX!
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Cook the beef with the sauce first – get it real nicely caramelised because it’s key to the flavour in this recipe;
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Make a well in the centre, add water, plonk uncooked instant or ramen noodles in the water. This serves two purposes – making room for the noodles to sit in the water AND protects the beef from losing their caramelisation by boiling in the water;
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After 45 seconds, turn the noodles, then 30 seconds later, they will be loose enough to toss through the sauce and beef;
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Add a big handful of beansprouts (great no-chop veggie option!), toss more then serve;
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By the time the ramen noodles are cooked, the liquid is absorbed / evaporated, leaving behind a nice coating of sauce on the perfectly cooked noodles.
The beauty of this technique is that it HAS to be a super quick recipe because the noodles are cooked in 2 to 3 minutes. Any longer and they become too soft!
WHAT CAN I ADD TO RAMEN NOODLES?
This is a very adaptable recipe. I’ve used onion, garlic, ground beef (mince) and beansprouts because it requires minimal chopping. Finely sliced cabbage would be an ideal substitute for the bean sprouts, otherwise carrots cut into matchsticks, baby spinach or even normal spinach, or even finely sliced kale. Toss these in when the bean sprouts are added, just to wilt.
If using other vegetables that need to be cooked for longer that leach water when cooked, such as peppers, zucchini or mushroom, cook these first then remove from the pan (otherwise they leach too much liquid when the noodles cook so you end up with too much water). Proceed with recipe then toss them in at the end.
Ramen Noodles OR Instant Noodles
I don’t know if you’ve got a hang up about instant noodles – whether from excess consumption in your uni days or because of health concerns – but let’s just say this recipe is a far cry from the plonk-in-water-add-veg that you probably overdosed on.
What I’m making the most of here in this recipe is the quick-cook noodles and the shape of the noodles cakes (flat) so they can be cooked in a shallow skillet.
Any instant noodles or ramen noodles will work just fine because we discard the soup seasoning mix. You can also buy just the noodle cakes (no seasoning) in larger packs of 5+.
If you don’t have instant noodles (or you really can’t get past your dorm days), these Asian Beef Ramen Noodles will work just fine with any other type of noodles. Dried or fresh, rice or wheat / egg noodles.
But honestly, I ask you – does this look like any instant ramen noodles you had in your dorm days?? 😉 – Nagi x
Got beef mince? You can do better than Spag Bol.
See all ground beef / beef mince recipes (yes, Spag Bol is there….)
More noodles
-
Chow Mein – reader fave!
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Pad Thai and Pad See Ew – reader faves! 😂
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Char Kway Teow – epic street hawker food
And the Ramen Noodle recipe collection
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Caramelised Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodles – caramelised mushrooms tossed through ramen noodles in a sweet savoury Asian sauce
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One Pot Chicken and Vegetable Ramen Noodles – loads of hidden veggies!
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12 Minute Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles – super quick, using ground meat
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Ramen Noodle Salad with Creamy Sesame Peanut Dressing – terrific for work lunchboxes
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Chow Mein Ramen Noodles – the faster way to make Chow Mein
QUICK ASIAN GROUND BEEF RAMEN NOODLES
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 packets ramen or other instant noodles , discard seasoning (Note 1)
- 1 tsp oil
- 2 tsp sesame oil (or more oil) (Note 2)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 onion , sliced
- 200g / 7oz beef mince (ground beef) (Note 3)
- 1 1/4 cups (315 ml) water, plus more as needed
- Big handful bean sprouts
Sauce:
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (Note 4)
- 1 tbsp Oyster sauce (or Hoisin, Note 5)
- 2 tsp Hoisin sauce (or more Oyster sauce)
- 1 tbsp mirin (Note 6)
Garnishes (optional):
- Finely sliced green onion / shallots
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Mix Sauce.
- Heat oils in a medium skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 1/2 minutes until starting to go golden.
- Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until it changes from pink to light brown.
- Add Sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until well caramelised (see video).
- Push beef to the side to make enough space for the noodles. Add water, place noodles in water.
- Leave for 45 seconds then turn.
- Leave for 30 seconds, then untangle the noodles, then toss through the beef.
- Add beansprouts, toss for 1 minute until sauce reduces to coat the noodles and the noodles are cooked. (Note 7)
- Serve immediately, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
I’ve been trying to move him onto a paleo diet ie no commercial dog food. Currently experimenting to see what he will and won’t eat.
Raw sardines falls into the Won’t Eat bucket. 🙄
Delicious and super easy! Fussy kids even loved it
Fantastically straight-forward and really tasty. Thank you for such a great recipe.
I added thinly sliced green chilli as well as spring onion at the end, so I got a bit of a kick, too.
Another triumph! I added some little bits of broccoli. Delicious, quick and easy. It was so good I started panicking halfway through eating it that it would be finished soon. Need to make more for greed purposes.
Made this for the first time tonight and my GOODNESS ITS AMAZING! it literally was done in 15mins. And it tastes unreal.
Thanks for another flavor filled quick meal. I added thinly sliced cabbage but almost any vegetable would work.
Very tasty recipe, I added some chili flakes and grated carrot and shredded cabbage. I am sure this will be a regular meal in our household as it’s so quick and easy 👌🏻 Thanks for sharing Nagi
This was so easy to prepare. I added broccoli, carrots and red capsicum with the mince. Also spiced it up with a bit of chilli sauce. Absolutely delicious 😋
Love this recipe and how versatile it is adding whatever vegetables you have. This time I added frozen edamame and shredded carrots.
We love this one. Have made it several times. I usually add more noodles and vege so that there is enough for 4. Loving everything I cook from this site!
This was excellent! I’ve made a few of the stir fry noodle recipes from Nagi & for us this was the best! The sauce was really flavourful. I used already roasted chicken, red & orange peppers, cabbage, mushrooms, and broccoli. There were 5 of us for dinner and I only used 4 noodle packs. There was PLENTY of leftovers and they were just as yummy days later. THANKS again for your recipes!
Woo hoo!! I am glad that you enjoyed it LS! N x
OMG How good is this…..this will be another firm favourite in our house, thanks Nagi x
Hi!! Can I make this ahead of time? I’d like to make it for a potluck ( lunch ) for a bunch of hungry nurses.
I don’t think the noodles will hold up well for reheating in this one – the starch leaches out and they get a bit gummy! N x
This is a regular “cheat” dinner in our house. We have just taken it to the next level using a pre-made coleslaw kit for the veggies!
👏
I’m all about the weeknight shortcuts too!! N x
I did this many times. This time I tried using freshly shredded bamboo shoots instead of any noodles. It was fantastic! Low carb and low calories dish 😀
Love this! Tried for first time tonight and it was a total success with the family. Followed recipe exactly, just added some carrot. Another Nagi winner for this house, thank you!
Oh my god!! This is awesome!!! I currently have no kitchen as we have demo’d ready for a full kitchen reno. This was the easiest to cook in my electric frypan, and even my fussiest eater who didn’t like the look of it (he doesn’t like the look of most things) said it was delicious!!! Lucky, cause this will be on high rotation over the coming months!!
Just cooked this for me and my partner. Love the simplicity of the dish. Added a drizzle of chilli oil as garnish for a bit of extra warmth. Very tasty and will be making again.
This is one of our favourite quick weeknight meals. So simple, yet delicious! I’ve made it with pork mince before but as is, with beef mince, gives it the best flavour!
Great recipe, Nagi! My daughter saw that I was cooking this recipe and told me outright that she refuses to eat it (confession time: it is entirely possible that I have caused my children some lifelong aversions by attempting cooking without recipes in the past…in this case, her aversion is noodles). I did what all good parents do and bribed her – if she just tried a mouthful of it, I would give her dessert. Nagi, she polished off the first bowl of it and asked for seconds – and deemed it delicious!
Many congratulations on the upcoming cookbook – any chance it will be out for Christmas time? I can think of lots of friends who I would love to buy a copy for! x
Wouldn’t it be greasy if you don’t drain the ground beef?
Hi Corinne, depends what percentage fat you’re using. I never drain my beef though. N x