20-Minute Beef Gochujang Noodles

Make tasty Gochujang Noodles fast, in less than 20 minutes. This simple Korean-inspired meal mixes ground beef with spicy gochujang chili paste, sweet apple, and basic ingredients from your kitchen. It’s a satisfying one-bowl dish that you can easily adjust to your taste.

Got a craving for noodles? Try these Beef Gochujang Noodles for a satisfying meal. Using leftover ground beef and fresh noodles, I made these delicious Korean gochujang noodles.

They’re savory, satisfying, and just the right amount of spicy. The best thing? You can make it your own by adding whatever ingredients you have.

Gochujang, a fermented red chili paste, adds savory, sweet, and spicy flavors to various dishes. Whether in ramen, meat marinades, veggie dips, or noodle sauces, its versatility enhances every meal.

If you’re interested in making more recipes with gochujang, I’ve compiled a roundup of recipes with this flavorful ingredient, so be sure to check it out.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Flavorful sauce made with fresh ingredients
• Nutritionally well-balanced one-bowl meal
• Adaptability – Use any protein of your choice
• Easy to Make

How to make Beef Gochujang Noodles

For the ingredients, you will need basic Asian pantry staples such as gochujang, rice wine, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. You can easily find them at well-stocked grocery stores, specialized Asian markets, or conveniently online.

Prepare Noodles

You can use any type of noodles—fresh or dried, they all work well. I went with fresh ramen noodles, but you can use udon noodles, egg noodles, rice noodles, or even spaghetti if that’s what you have.

• Cook your choice of noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

Note: If using fresh wheat noodles (such as ramen noodles), rinse under water to remove extra starch, and coat with a small amount of oil to prevent sticking.

Cook the Beef Mixture

• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add green onion and garlic; stir-fry for 30 seconds.
• Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink and cooked through.

Add Apple and seasonings

• Turn off the heat. Use a fine grater to grate the apple directly over the beef mixture.
• Turn the heat back on, add gochujang, honey, and rice wine; stir to combine. Continue to stir-fry the sauce until it thickens, about 3 minutes.

Combine noodles and serve

• Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds, and stir.
• Add the noodles to the gochujang sauce in a skillet and give everything a good toss to evenly distribute the flavors

Serving Suggestions

It is best to serve gochujang noodles immediately while hot. For serving, place individual portions of noodles in a bowl, top with shredded cucumber, and serve right away.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Store any leftover noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the noodles in a pan over medium heat, adding a splash of water if necessary to prevent them from drying out.

Alternatively, reheat them in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval.

Helpful Information

Can you make gochujang noodles without beef?

You can substitute the beef with chicken, pork, tofu, or any plant-based protein of your choice to suit your dietary needs.

Add favorite veggies of your choice

Adding vegetables like sliced bell peppers, zucchini, and spinach is a great way to boost the nutrition and color of this dish. Simply stir-fry your chosen veggies with the beef before adding the sauce ingredients. Continue with the recipe as directed after the vegetables are tender.

How to make this recipe gluten-free

To make this recipe gluten-free, use a certified gluten-free gochujang and gluten-free noodles, such as rice noodles.

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