Ready in 30 minutes, these sesame beef noodles are perfect for a weeknight meal. They are easy to make, high in protein, and full of sweet and salty flavor.
Noodles are always a good idea. Whether it’s a busy weeknight, a workday lunch, or a weekend dinner, a combination of noodles, protein, and sauce is a great way to make a quick and healthy meal with minimal effort.
I’ve shared plenty of noodle recipes on my website, so this sesame beef noodles recipe is just another one you can add to your repertoire. Plus, it’s super versatile, so you can easily swap the flank steak for another cut of steak or use chicken, pork, or tofu instead.
Why You’ll Love It
- Quick and Easy – These sesame beef noodles are ready in 30 minutes, making them a great healthy weeknight dinner idea.
- High in Protein – With 34 grams of protein per serving, these beef noodles are a protein-packed meal.
- Full of Flavor – The combination of sesame oil, soy sauce, and chili paste ensures this delicious stir-fry is full of flavor.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Beef – To add some protein. I used flank steak, but sirloin steak will work just as well.
- Noodles – To add some carbohydrates. The recipe calls for chow mein noodles, but you can use any style of Asian noodles you like. Ramen noodles would also work very well.
- Sesame Oil – To cook the beef, add some healthy fats and sesame flavor. I used toasted sesame oil, but regular sesame oil will work just as well.
- Soy Sauce – To make the sesame sauce. You can use regular or low-sodium soy sauce, or use tamari or coconut aminos if needed.
- Rice Vinegar – To balance the acidity of the sauce.
- Corn Starch – To thicken the sauce.
- Green Onions – To flavor and serve. The recipe calls for green onions, as I think they work best, but you can use a white onion or onion powder if needed. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
- Garlic – To flavor the beef. The recipe calls for garlic cloves, but you can use garlic powder if preferred. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
- Spinach – To add some leafy greens and fiber. The recipe calls for baby spinach, but you can use regular or frozen spinach if needed. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
- Sesame Seeds – To serve, although optional.
Dietary Adaptions
To Make them Gluten-Free: Swap the chow mein noodles for rice noodles, and use certified gluten-free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos.
To Make them Dairy-Free: No adaptations are needed; this recipe is dairy-free.
Red’s Nutrition Tip
In an effort to keep the recipe low in calories and high in protein, I opted to use flank steak as it’s one of the leanest cuts of beef. If you can’t find flank steak, a top sirloin steak, bottom round steak, or top loin steak would provide a similar macronutrient profile.
Serving Suggestions
These sesame beef stir-fry noodles are a balanced meal with protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. They can be enjoyed as is or adapted to suit your personal calorie or macro needs. For example:
- To add some veggies, add some thinly sliced bell peppers, shredded carrots, or broccoli florets to the stir fry.
- To make it lower in fat, reduce the sesame oil and carefully remove all excess fat from the steak.
- To make it higher in fiber, add some high-fiber vegetables such as broccoli, snap peas, or snow peas.
- To add some heat, add some red pepper flakes to the sesame sauce.
Storage + Reheating
To Refrigerate: Allow the beef noodles to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Once cooled, transfer the beef and noodles to an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: On the stovetop, add the thawed sesame beef noodles to a pan with 2 tablespoons of water (this helps rehydrate the noodles) and cook over medium heat, tossing frequently, until warmed through. To reheat the noodles in the microwave, place the beef noodles in a microwave-safe container with 2 tablespoons of water and heat for 1-minute intervals, tossing the noodles between intervals, for a total of 2-3 minutes.
More Noodle Recipes:
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Sesame Beef Noodles
This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a healthy and high-protein dinner. Plus, leftovers keep well in the fridge and freezer, making them a great meal prep idea.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes -
Cook Time: 20 minutes
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Total Time: 30 minutes
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Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Category: Dinner
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Method: Stovetop
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Method:Ingredients
Sesame Sauce:
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili paste (optional)
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Beef Noodles:
- 10 ounces chow mein noodles
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 pound flank steak, or sirloin steak, cut into very thin strips
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 4 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add the sesame sauce ingredients: soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili paste (optional), and corn starch. Whisk until well combined, and then set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the noodles and cook according to the package instructions until tender. (If the noodles are quick-cooking, wait to cook them until the beef is almost cooked.)
- In a large pan or cast-iron skillet, warm the sesame oil over medium-high heat, then add the sliced steak and cook for 1-2 minutes, flipping the slices so they cook on both sides. (If your pan is small, you may need to work in batches; cook a portion of the beef, then transfer it to a plate while you cook the rest, and then return it all to the pan at the end.)
- Reduce the heat to medium, add the sliced green onions (white parts only) and minced garlic, stir to coat the beef, and cook for an additional minute.
- When the noodles are cooked, drain the water, and then transfer them to the pan with the beef.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and toss to coat the beef and noodles. Then add the chopped spinach and sesame seeds, and toss to combine using tongs. Allow to cook for a final 1-2 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the spinach wilts, stirring frequently.
- The beef sesame noodles can be served immediately with sliced green onion (green parts) on top, or cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
To Use Ground Beef: Swap the steak for 1 pound of ground beef in step # 3 and increase the cooking time to 5-7 minutes.
To Use a Whole Onion: Swap the green onions for 1 small onion in step #4.
To Use Onion Powder: Swap the green onion for 1 teaspoon of onion powder in step #4.
To Use Garlic Powder: Swap the garlic cloves for 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder in step #4.
To Use Frozen Spinach: Swap the baby spinach for 1/4 cup of frozen spinach. Thaw the frozen spinach, press it to remove excess water, and add it in step #6.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 656 calories
- Sugar: 6 grams
- Fat: 30 grams
- Carbohydrates: 60 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Protein: 34 grams
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