Throw together this easy Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Ground Beef, Edamame, and Carrots — or even mix it up with different veggies to your own taste, and enjoy!
The other day I was thawing out a package of ground beef for chili… but then, I spotted a neglected pack of ramen noodles in my cupboard and decided to take things in a different direction. Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Ground Beef, Edamame, and Carrots made for a nice change of pace, and both teenage boys here were down with the switch.
Mr. High School, in particular, downed an inordinate amount of noodles — and then happily slurped up some of the leftovers for lunch again the next day. This is a differently delicious way to prepare your ramen noodles, if you’re not in the mood for soup. I used carrots and edamame because I was low on veggies between grocery trips, but you could also try broccoli and red bell pepper, mushrooms and peapods, or whatever other veggie combo sounds good to you.
Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Ground Beef, Edamame, and Carrots
Ingredients
8 oz pack of ramen noodles (discard seasoning packet, if present)
1.5 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced into half moons
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1 lb 85/15 ground beef
1 Tbsp minced garlic (about six cloves)
1.5 cups shelled frozen edamame
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce, plus additional to taste
2 Tbsp brown sugar, packed
2 tsp sesame oil
1.5 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
3 green onions, chopped
Directions
Start the water boiling for the ramen noodles. Cook ramen according to package directions, then drain the noodles and set them aside. (See Note)
Meanwhile, chop the onion and carrots.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the onion is cooking, chop your garlic and green onion.
When the onion and carrots are starting to brown and soften, stir in the ground beef and garlic. Brown the beef over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking it up as you go.
Stir in the edamame, water, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and spices. Cover the pan, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in the cooked ramen noodles until nicely combined and heated through. Taste and add more soy sauce, if desired.
Top the ramen noodle stir fry with chopped green onion, and serve. If you like a little heat, I’d then recommend using Sriracha or chili-garlic sauce to taste; I left it out of the dish itself for the kids, but added to my own plate to good effect. 🙂
Note: I used plain ramen noodles here — and recommend these better quality ones for this recipe. If you choose to use the cheap ramen noodles with the seasoning packets, though, discard the packets or keep for another use.
Stir fry with its own noodles
This hearty all-in-one meal was a hit with both kids, and we had plenty of leftovers for lunch. Ramen noodles made for a nice change of pace from rice, and went well with the tangy, slightly sweet sauce. This dish took me 40 minutes to make, but much of that time is in the chopping (carrots don’t matchstick themselves!). With more cooperative vegetables, it would come together even more quickly.
Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Ground Beef, Edamame, and Carrots, printable recipe
Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Ground Beef, Edamame, and Carrots
Ingredients
- 8 oz pack of ramen noodles discard seasoning packet, if present
- 1.5 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced into half moons
- 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1 lb 85/15 ground beef
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic about six cloves
- 1.5 cups shelled frozen edamame
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup soy sauce plus additional to taste
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar packed
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1.5 tsp powdered ginger
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- Sea salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 3 green onions chopped
Instructions
- Start the water boiling for the ramen noodles. Cook ramen according to package directions, then drain the noodles and set them aside. (See Note)
- Meanwhile, chop the onion and carrots.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the onion is cooking, chop your garlic and green onion.
- When the onion and carrots are starting to brown and soften, stir in the ground beef and garlic. Brown the beef over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking it up as you go.
- Stir in the edamame, water, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and spices. Cover the pan, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked ramen noodles until nicely combined and heated through. Taste and add more soy sauce, if desired.
- Top the ramen noodle stir fry with chopped green onion, and serve. If you like a little heat, I’d then recommend using Sriracha or chili-garlic sauce to taste; I left it out of the dish itself for the kids, but added to my own plate to good effect.
Notes
Recipes in the real world
Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!
Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!