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 quick, family-friendly meal is ready in 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights!

A bowl of ground beef noodles topped with cucumber, and hard boiled egg.

If you need a quick and easy 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—simple, affordable, and ready in minutes.

Unlike my 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.

A bowl of ground beef noodles with cucumber and egg.

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 my spicy gochujang beef noodles—a bold, fiery twist packed with rich umami and heat!

Noodles tossed with ground beef sauce and cucumber slices in a bowl.

How to make Korean Ground Beef Noodles

Prepare the Beef Sauce

Ground, chopped onion, and garlic for making Korean-style ground beef noodles.
Minced garlic and ground beef added to onion to make Korean beef sauce for noodles.

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.

Korean ground beef sauce being simmered in a pan.

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! Simple, right?

Cook the Noodles

Gound beef sauce and noodles cooking in a pot of boiling water.

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! I 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!

Ground beef and noodle bowl is garnished with cucumber and egg.

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A bowl of noodles with ground beef sauce, cucumber, and hard boiled egg.

Korean-Style Ground Beef Noodles

Servings: 4 people
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
This ground beef noodles recipe is a Korean-style twist on a classic! Savory bulgogi-style beef simmered in soy sauce, garlic, and honey creates a rich, flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with vermicelli noodles. A quick, family-friendly meal ready in 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights!
5 from 6 ratings
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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

Instructions 

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Add the sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onion to the beef and mix well. Set aside to cool.
  • 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.
  • 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.
Cuisine: Korean
Course: Lunch, Noodles
Author: Holly Ford
Calories: 509kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 2149mg, Potassium: 459mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 31IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 68mg, Iron: 4mg
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