Ground Beef Noodles

A fast, budget-friendly, and satisfying one-pan meal with savory ground beef and tender noodles in a rich, flavorful sauce. The ultimate weeknight comfort food.

🥘 Classic One-Pan Ground Beef & Egg Noodles

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef

• 8 oz (225g) wide egg noodles

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups beef broth (low sodium)

• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce or 1 cup crushed tomatoes

• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet)

• 1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)

• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter

• Optional: ½ cup sour cream or cream cheese for creaminess

• Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if desired.

2. Sauté Aromatics: Push beef to the side. Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

3. Build the Sauce: Stir in tomato sauce, Worcestershire, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour in beef broth and bring to a simmer.

4. Cook Noodles: Add uncooked egg noodles directly to the skillet, ensuring they are mostly submerged in liquid. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.

5. Finish: Remove from heat. For a creamy version, stir in sour cream or cream cheese until melted. Adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Time: ~30 minutes | Serves: 4

🌍 Global Variations

1. Asian-Inspired Ground Beef & Noodles

• Swap: Use rice noodles or ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets).

• Sauce: Replace tomato sauce and broth with ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup hoisin, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp sriracha, 1 cup beef or chicken broth.

• Add-ins: Sauté with 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1 cup matchstick carrots, and 1 bell pepper. Top with green onions and sesame seeds.

2. Greek Pastitsio-Style

• Swap: Use tubular pasta like penne or macaroni.

• Sauce: Add 1 tsp cinnamon and ¼ tsp nutmeg to beef. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste. Top with a quick béchamel (2 tbsp butter + 2 tbsp flour + 1.5 cups milk, warmed, + ¼ cup grated Parmesan) and broil until golden.

3. Tex-Mex Cheesy Beef & Noodles

• Add: 1 packet taco seasoning to beef instead of listed spices.

• Stir in: 1 can of diced tomatoes with green chiles and 1 cup of shredded cheddar at the end.

• Top with: Jalapeños, avocado, and a dollop of sour cream.