Ground Beef Asian Sesame Noodles

A bowl of sesame noodles with ground beef, spinach, and scallions, topped with sesame seeds. Chopsticks rest on the bowl’s edge. The dish is coated in a glossy brown sauce for a delicious beef noodle recipe.

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Ground Beef Asian Noodles made in 20 minutes with pantry sauces, tender noodles, and savory beef. A fast, cozy weeknight dinner everyone loves.

in this article:

Know Before You Scroll

Servings: 4

Prep: 10

Cook: 15

Total Time: 25

What You’ll Need

Dried noodles, ground beef, garlic, ginger, baby spinach, soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin

Flavor Profile

Savory, slightly sweet, nutty, and garlicky with a gentle heat

Difficulty Level

Easy

Equipment Needed

Large skillet, pot for boiling noodles, whisk

Top Tip

Re-stir the sauce right before adding it to the pan so the cornstarch is fully dissolved

Time-Saving Tips

Use pre-minced garlic and ginger from the freezer section

Ingredient Swaps

Ground turkey or chicken works if you want something lighter

A close-up of wide noodles mixed with ground beef, green leafy vegetables, and a glossy brown sauce, with black chopsticks lifting some noodles from a white bowl—an irresistible beef noodle recipe.

In the Test Kitchen

When I was testing these Ground Beef Sesame Noodles, the goal was maximum flavor with minimal effort. The real win here is the sauce. Whisking the cornstarch directly into the soy-based mixture before it hits the pan means it thickens instantly and clings to every noodle without needing a long simmer. Adding the spinach straight into the beef lets it wilt just enough to blend in seamlessly, giving you extra greens without changing the cozy, slurpable vibe.

A close-up of a bowl filled with wide sesame noodles, ground beef, wilted spinach, green onions, and sesame seeds, all coated in a glossy brown sauce—an irresistible beef noodle recipe.

Ingredient Notes

A variety of ingredients for a Beef Noodle Recipe are arranged on a white surface, including ground beef, noodles, spinach, garlic, ginger, green onions, sesame seeds, sauces, salt, pepper, oil, honey, and cornstarch in bowls and jars.

Sauce Ingredients

Best Choice

Low-sodium soy sauce or tamari to keep the dish balanced

Substitutions

Maple syrup or brown sugar can replace the honey; chili garlic sauce works instead of Sriracha

Noodles

Best Choice

Udon or lo mein for chewy, restaurant-style noodles

Substitutions

Ramen, soba, or even spaghetti all work well

Ground Beef

Best Choice

Lean ground beef so the sauce stays glossy, not greasy

Substitutions

Ground pork, turkey, or chicken

Greens

Best Choice

Baby spinach because it wilts quickly and disappears into the noodles

Substitutions

Thin-sliced kale or shredded napa cabbage

You can find the full, printable recipe at the top of this post, but you can read the detailed instructions with photos for each step below.

Go to the printable recipe card instead

Step By Step Instructions

Cook the Noodles

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 8 ounces of dried noodles according to package directions. Drain well, then toss with a small drizzle of sesame oil to keep them from sticking. Set aside.

Side-by-side images: on the left, uncooked flat noodles boiling in a pot of water; on the right, cooked noodles drained in a metal colander—perfect for your next Sesame Noodles or Beef Noodle Recipe.

Mix the Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together one third cup low-sodium soy sauce, three tablespoons rice vinegar, two tablespoons toasted sesame oil, two tablespoons hoisin sauce, one tablespoon honey, two teaspoons Sriracha, one tablespoon cornstarch, and two tablespoons water until smooth. Set aside.

A metal whisk rests in a glass bowl filled with a brown, grainy liquid mixture for sesame noodles, viewed from above on a white background.

Brown the Beef

Heat one tablespoon of neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add one pound ground beef, one half teaspoon kosher salt, and one quarter teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking it up, until fully browned, about six to seven minutes.

Two side-by-side pans show ground beef; the left pan contains raw, red ground beef, while the right pan features browned ground beef—perfect for adding to noodles or a savory sesame noodles dish. Both are prepared in similar round skillets.

Add Aromatics and Spinach

Stir in four minced garlic cloves and one tablespoon freshly grated ginger. Cook until fragrant, about one minute. Add eight ounces baby spinach and stir until wilted, another one to two minutes.

A split image: on the left, fresh spinach leaves are being sautéed with a wooden spoon; on the right, cooked ground beef and wilted spinach are mixed together in the pan, creating a delicious base for a flavorful Beef Noodle Recipe.

Thicken the Sauce

Give the sauce a quick re-whisk, then pour it into the skillet. Simmer for two to three minutes until thick, glossy, and coating the beef. Taste and season to taste with more salt or heat if needed.

Close-up of ground beef and wilted spinach in a pan, with a pool of sauce in the center and a wooden spoon stirring—perfect for adding to your favorite Beef Noodle Recipe or tossing with sesame noodles.

Toss and Finish

Add the cooked noodles and one tablespoon sesame seeds. Toss until every strand is coated in sauce. Remove from heat, top with sliced scallions, extra sesame seeds, and a light drizzle of sesame oil before serving.