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Spicy Korean Beef Ramen

A quick and flavorful upgrade to instant ramen, featuring savory ground beef in a spicy-sweet gochujang sauce.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2 bowls
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Fusion, Korean
Calories: 585

Ingredients
  

Sauce & Beef
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil e.g., avocado, canola
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 3 tbsp gochujang Korean chili paste
  • 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 0.5 cup low-sodium beef broth or water
Noodles & Garnish
  • 2 packages instant ramen noodles seasoning packets discarded
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 soft-boiled egg halved, optional
  • 1 sheet nori thinly sliced, optional

Equipment

  • Large skillet or wok
  • Small Bowl
  • Pot for noodles

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger; sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until fully browned. Drain excess fat if desired.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and sesame oil.
  4. Pour the sauce over the cooked beef and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute.
  5. Add the beef broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently.
  6. Meanwhile, in a separate pot, cook ramen noodles according to package directions (discarding seasoning packets). Drain well.
  7. Add the drained noodles to the skillet with the beef sauce. Toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated.
  8. Divide between bowls and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, a soft-boiled egg, and nori (if using). Serve immediately.

Notes

For a less spicy dish, start with 2 tbsp of gochujang. Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers or spinach.