Description
This Caramelized Beef and Peanut Noodles recipe delivers a deliciously savory and slightly sweet stir-fry dish featuring tender ground beef caramelized in a flavorful teriyaki-garlic glaze, mixed with fresh stir-fry veggies, and tossed with silky peanut sauce-coated egg noodles. A perfect quick and satisfying meal for weeknights, combining rich umami flavors with the creaminess of peanut butter and the bright freshness of green onions.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Sauce
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce (I used Bachan’s)
- 1 clove garlic, grated
Peanut Sauce
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1-2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
Vegetables and Noodles
- 5 green onions, thinly sliced (white parts for cooking, green parts for garnish)
- 2-3 cups sliced stir-fry veggies (e.g., red bell pepper, spinach, basil leaves)
- 6-ounce package stir-fry egg noodles (Wel-Pac chow mein stir fry noodles recommended)
To Serve
- Black pepper for serving
Instructions
- Make Peanut Sauce: In a blender or mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, warm water, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and chili garlic sauce. Blend or whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Cook Beef: Heat avocado oil in a pan over high heat. Add ground beef and allow it to cook undisturbed for several minutes to develop browned, caramelized spots. Then, break the meat apart with a wooden spoon into small crumbles.
- Caramelize the Beef: Sprinkle cornstarch over the beef and stir-fry quickly for 15-30 seconds. Add grated garlic and teriyaki sauce, cooking for about a minute until the mixture sizzles and caramelizes, releasing a delicious aroma. Remove the beef from the pan, cover or keep warm in a 350°F oven.
- Sauté Veggies: Using the same pan, add the white parts of the green onions and stir-fry vegetables. Add more oil if necessary and cook until veggies are tender-crisp.
- Cook Noodles: Boil the egg noodles according to package instructions, typically for about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse them with cold water to prevent sticking.
- Toss Together: Add the cooked noodles and most of the peanut sauce to the pan with sautéed vegetables. Toss and stir to combine everything well for 1-2 minutes until heated through and coated with sauce.
- Finish and Serve: Plate the peanut noodles and top with a generous scoop of the caramelized beef. Garnish with the green parts of the sliced green onions, freshly ground black pepper, and drizzle with remaining peanut sauce if desired. Serve immediately while hot and silky.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness of the peanut sauce by modifying the amount of sugar according to your taste.
- Feel free to swap the stir-fry veggies for your favorites such as broccoli, snap peas, or carrots.
- To keep the beef warm before serving, placing it in a low oven at 350°F works well.
- Using cornstarch helps the beef develop a nice caramelized glaze when combined with teriyaki sauce.
- This dish is best enjoyed fresh to retain the noodles’ silkiness and the veggies’ crunch.
