Ground Beef Noodles, Korean style

This ground beef boodles recipe is a Korean-style twist on a classic favorite! Savory, slightly sweet bulgogi-style beef is simmered in a flavorful sauce and tossed with vermicelli noodles. Made with soy sauce, garlic, honey, and ginger, this short, family-friendly meal is ready in 30 minutes—steady for busy weeknights!

If you need a short and direct Asian dinner, this Korean ground beef noodles recipe is for you. It’s a savory, slightly sweet bulgogi-style beef simmered in a rich, glossy sauce and tossed with vermicelli noodles—unfussy, affordable, and ready in minutes.

Unlike our popular ground beef bulgogi recipe, which is pan-fried until crispy and served over rice, this version takes a different approach—simmering the beef in a flavorful sauce that coats every strand of noodles for a silky, satisfying bite.

Made with staple Asian ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, honey, and ginger, this dish is kid-friendly mild, family-approved, and endlessly versatile. Swap in egg noodles, rice noodles, or even spaghetti, and top with fresh veggies like cucumber for extra crunch.

Once you try this soy sauce beef noodles, it’s bound to become a weeknight favorite!

Love ground beef noodle recipes? Try our spicy gochujang beef noodles—a bold, fiery twist packed with rich umami and heat!

How the dish comes together

Prepare the Beef Sauce

Sauté onion and garlic until soft, then add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.

📌 Best Beef Choice: Use lean ground beef (90%+) for a cleaner sauce while keeping the meat moist and tender.

dd soy sauce, water, honey, sugar, and a slice of ginger. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer on low for 15 minutes, partially covered. Remove the ginger, then finish with sesame oil and sesame seeds. That’s it—your sauce is ready! Unfussy, right?

Cook the Noodles

Cook vermicelli (somyeon noodles) or your choice of noodles according to package instructions.

📌 Pro Tip: For chewier vermicelli, add a splash of cold water when the water boils up. Once cooked, rinse under cold water to remove excess starch, then drain well. Check out janchi guksu (Korean noodle soup) for another use of these noodles.

How to Assemble & Serve

Place a serving of vermicelli noodles (or your preferred noodles) in a bowl, then generously spoon the savory ground beef sauce over the top. Garnish it your way! We added fresh cucumber for crunch, but you can also top it with:

• Shredded carrots or greens for freshness
• Zucchini or edamame for extra texture
• Kimchi for a tangy kick
• Add a hard-boiled egg and sliced fresh chilies for even more depth of flavor.

Once assembled, mix everything together and enjoy—a fun, flavorful meal ready in minutes!

• Yield: 4 people
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Cook: 20 minutes
• Total: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 servings vermicelli wheat noodles, udon noodles, soba noodles, or rice noodles
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced thinly to matchsticks
• 2 hard boiled eggs (optional), cut in half

Ground beef sauce

• 2 tsp oil
• 1/2 medium onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, 90% lean preferred
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) soy sauce
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 slice ginger, 1/8-inch thick
• pinches black pepper
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 1-2 green onion, chopped

Method

1. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a pot over medium heat and saute onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until the beef is browned.
2. Add soy sauce, water, sugar, honey, and a slice of ginger. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat, slightly covered. Remove the ginger slice.
3. Add the sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onion to the beef and mix well. Set aside to cool.
4. Cook vermicelli noodles according to the package directions. Rinse under cold running water and drain. Put in an individual portion of noodles to an each serving bowl.
5. Top with 2-3 tablespoonful of beef sauce over the noodles and add the cucumber slices. Drizzle more sesame oil if you wish.

Notes

Try with different types of noodles, such as; soba noodles, udon noodles, or rice noodles.

Minced fresh chili can be added to the beef sauce if you like a heat.