Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef

Weeknight Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef is a quick and comforting dinner. In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a creamy, hearty meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights and sure to please the whole family.

When weeknights get busy, you need a dinner that’s quick, comforting, and guaranteed to please the whole family. Enter Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef! With tender egg noodles and a creamy sauce, this dish is ready in just 30 minutes, giving you more time to relax after a long day. It will become a family favorite! 

Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef is like a homemade hamburger helper meets a simplified version of beef stroganoff, minus the mushrooms but with all the creamy goodness. It’s the ultimate comfort food for busy parents. Ground beef, egg noodles, and a touch of sour cream come together to create a hearty meal that’s on the table in no time. Perfect for those nights when you need something easy yet satisfying, this recipe is a go-to for a quick, delicious dinner the whole family will love.

Do you meal plan your dinners?  It makes weeknights so much easier!  Check out my Meal Planning Theme Night Recipes and then add this one to your Pasta Sundays!

Ground Beef for Fast Dinners

Ground beef is your best friend on a busy weeknight.

• Convenient – You can keep it in the freezer for up to 9 months.
• Quick Cooking – It cooks up in a skillet in just minutes.
• Versatile – You can create so many different dinners with it, from Italian Bolognese, to Taco Meat, to Korean Beef and Rice bowls, to a comforting Beef and Vegetable Soup.
• Kids Love it – And let’s face it, kids love ground beef, so it’s an easy win!

Simple Ingredients and Substitutes

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This ground beef recipe has simple ingredients that you likely have in your kitchen or can easily pick up at the grocery store.

• Egg Noodles, Uncooked – These are hearty noodles that stand up to a thick sauce like this recipe. Egg noodles are traditional in Stroganoff and since that is one of the inspirations for this recipe, I love them. You can use Medium thickness or wide egg noodles. You can also substitute any short cut pasta, like elbow macaroni, or a gluten free pasta.
• Extra Virgin Olive oil – The oil is for cooking the lean beef (I used 95% lean) and onions. If you have a higher fat content beef, such as 85%/15% fat, you may not need the oil, but it’s always helpful to prevent sticking to the pan.
• Lean Ground Beef – I used 95% lean ground beef but you can use a higher fat content beef, such as 90/10% or 85/15% fat. You can also substitute in ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground pork.
• Seasoning – I used Salt, Ground Black Pepper, and an Italian seasoning. You can substitute dried oregano, dried basil, or any other herbs you like. You can also add in other spices or seasonings, such as onion powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper for a kick.
• Yellow onion diced – You can use white onion, red onion, shallots, or even scallions (green onions).
• Garlic – Fresh is best in this simple recipe, but you can buy the pre-minced or garlic puree sold in a jars or tubes or use dried garlic flakes or garlic powder.
• Beef broth or stock – Chicken broth or stock or vegetable broth or stock work fine. You can also use water mixed with a beef or chicken bouillon cube or beef base or chicken base.
• Pasta water – reserve when cooking the egg noodles. The starchy water helps to create a thick, rich sauce.
• Milk – I went with 1% for this recipe, but you can use any that you have. Cream cheese that’s been softened can be added for a thicker, cheesier sauce. You can also substitute half and half or heavy cream for a richer and creamy sauce.
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch is mixed with cold milk to create a cornstarch slurry. This is the thickener for this sauce.
• Sour Cream – I used full fat, but you can use low fat sour cream or greek yogurt. You could also use heavy cream, but your sauce could be a bit loose and just a few minutes to tighten/thicken up.
• Optional Garnishes: extra Parmesan and fresh Italian parsley.

See recipe card for quantities.

Simple Equipment

For this recipe, you need a and a large skillet/frying pan for making the creamy ground beef sauce. I use my absolute favorite 12″ Ceramic Pan, which is great because food really does slide right off with minimal oil and I don’t have to worry about food sticking and burning. 

Mincing garlic is made super easy with a Garlic Press.

Time Saving Prep-Ahead Steps

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are steps you can prepare ahead to save time on busy nights! (See the full recipe below) 

Prepare your egg noodles – this can also be done while the sauce is simmering. Be sure to reserve 1 cup of the pasta water to use in the sauce.

Chop the parsley. Parsley is an optional garnish that adds freshness and brightness at the end.

Peel and mince or grate the garlic. Peel and dice the onion.

Grate parmesan if not already grated. Store separately in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

Easy Cooking Steps for Beef and Noodles

Add the ground beef and onion to a preheated skillet over medium high heat.

Stir in the garlic and seasonings into the ground beef mixture. Mix and cook until no longer pink.

Add the beef broth, and ½ cup of the served pasta water to the ground meat.

Reduce the heat to medium heat and stir in the cornstarch slurry and sour cream to the mixture.

To serve your beef and noodles dinner, you can choose to stir the cooked noodles into the sauce and serve it already combined. Alternatively, you can place egg noodles in a bowl and pour a scoop or two of sauce over the noodles and enjoy.

Substitutions for this Beef and Noodles Recipe

Here are a few easy subs for the meat, the pasta, and making this vegetarian.

• Steak – instead of ground beef, you can prepare flank steak cut into thin strips and enjoy a heartier sauce.
• Pasta – Egg noodles are just one pasta you can use – any type of pasta will do. Shells, rotini or macaroni will be good as well.
• Vegetarian – the ground beef can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian.  Or replace the beef with a variety of veggies, including mushrooms, red bell pepper or green peppers, zucchini, or any other that you love.

Variations on Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef

Here are some delicious variations on the classic beef and noodles recipe with ground beef that you can try the next time:

• Mushrooms – Sauté sliced mushrooms with the ground beef and onions. Add a can of cream of mushroom soup or heavy cream for a rich, creamy texture. Include a splash of Worcestershire sauce or even dark soy sauce for extra depth.
• Spicy – Mixing in diced jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes while browning the ground beef is a great way to add a spicy kick.
• Cheese – Stir in some fresh grated Parmesan for a nutty flavor to top off the gravy.
• Veggies – Include a mix of fresh or frozen vegetables like peas, carrots, green beans, or spinach.
• Fresh herbs – Include fresh Basil, Rosemary or Thyme, or any Italian herbs for a punch of flavor.
• Dry Soup Mix – A packet of beef onion soup mix would be so delicious added to the sauce.

See this healthier version of the classic Stroganoff using Chicken on my website!

Storage

This is a great recipe to make ahead, as the sauce reheats very easily on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can enjoy it for 2-3 days. Be aware if you mix the egg noodles into the gravy, once it’s in the fridge, it will begin to soak up more of the sauce and then may get a bit mushy when reheated.  If you plan to reheat this easy beef dish, I recommend storing the noodles separately.

Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef FAQs

Can you use a leaner meat than ground beef?

Yes, feel free to use ground chicken or ground turkey as a healthier option in the rich gravy with pasta.

Is pasta the only way to serve the beef gravy and noodles?

Rice is a great alternative to pasta. But if you’d like to reduce the carbohydrates even more, quinoa or couscous are delicious in soaking up the sauce when serving for dinner.

Are ramen noodles a pasta option?

Asian ramen noodles are not a good option for this rich, thick gravy. It’ll overwhelm the thin noodles so a heavier pasta is best.

Will the egg noodles become soggy if you add it to the sauce?

By preparing the egg noodles ahead of the sauce, you can be assured they are cooked to the texture you desire. When they are cooled and added to the sauce, they will soak up just enough to be delicious. If you have leftovers, you may choose to separate them in storage unless you plan to eat them immediately the next day.

Want More Recipes like this?

From hearty pasta dishes with homemade sauces to comforting easy skillet meals, these recipes are designed to make your weeknights a little easier without sacrificing flavor.

Have you tried this recipe? If so, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe below! I love to hear your feedback and your rating helps others to find this recipe. Thanks so much!

Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef

Carrie Tyler

Beef and Noodles with Ground Beef is like a homemade hamburger helper meets a simplified version of beef stroganoff with all the creamy goodness. It's the ultimate comfort food for busy parents. Ground beef, egg noodles, and a touch of sour cream come together to create a hearty meal that’s on the table in 30 minutes. Perfect for busy nights when you need an easy yet satisfying dinner the whole family will love.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

• 12 ounces Egg Noodles
• 1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive oil
• 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• ½ cup Yellow onion diced
• 2 cloves Garlic minced
• 1 cup Beef broth or stock
• 1 cup Water use the pasta water after pasta cooks
• 1 cup Milk 1% 2% or whole also work
• 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
• ¼ cup Sour Cream
• Optional Garnishes: extra Parmesan and fresh Italian parsley

Instructions

 

Pre-Ahead Steps

• Mince the garlic, dice the onion, and chop the parsley (parsley is an optional garnish). Grate parmesan if not already grated. Store separately in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

Cooking Steps

• Preheat a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add the diced onion, minced garlic, and ground beef (if you are using 90-95% lean, you may need a teaspoon of olive oil to keep from sticking). Season with salt and pepper and cook through until no longer pink.
• While the beef is cooking, boil a large pot of water for the pasta. Once the pasta water is boiling, add a pinch of salt and the egg noodles. Stir so that it all is immersed in the water and doesn’t stick it itself. Boil the noodles until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water to use in the sauce and then drain the noodles. Leave the noodles in the strainer until the sauce is ready.
• Make the cornstarch slurry by mixing the cornstarch into the cold milk.
• To the ground beef, add the beef broth, and ½ cup of the served pasta water. Heat to simmer, then whisk in the cornstarch slurry with the sour cream and continue to whisk while it heats through and starts to thicken (about 2-3 minutes).
• At this point, you can either add the pasta to the beef and sauce or the sauce to the pasta pot, whichever pot/pan is big enough to combine everything. Stir to combine. Turn off the heat and then mix in the parmesan cheese and Parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with Parmesan and Parsley. Serve and enjoy!

Keyword 30 Minute Meal, ground beef, noodles