Sticky Beef Noodles Recipe

Sticky Beef Noodles is a flavorful savory dish featuring tender beef strips cooked in a deliciously sticky sauce paired with noodles that absorb all the rich umami flavors. This dish has a great balance of sweet salty and spicy with the beef’s tenderness contrasting against the noodles’ satisfying chew. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner when you want something quick filling and packed with flavor.

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the beef marinade:

1 lb (450g) beef (flank steak or sirloin) thinly sliced

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp sugar

For the sauce:

3 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp hoisin sauce

1 tbsp honey or brown sugar

1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder (optional)

1/2 tsp chili flakes or chili paste (optional for heat)

1/2 cup beef broth (or water)

For the noodles:

8 oz (225g) egg noodles or any noodles of choice

1 tbsp sesame oil (for tossing the noodles)

For garnish:

Chopped green onions

Sesame seeds

Fresh cilantro

Instructions

Prepare the beef marinade:

In a bowl  combine the thinly sliced beef with soy sauce  cornstarch  rice vinegar  sesame oil  and sugar. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 20 minutes.

Cook the noodles:

While the beef marinates cook the noodles according to package instructions. Once cooked  drain and toss with 1 tbsp sesame oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

Make the sauce:

In a small bowl  whisk together soy sauce oyster sauce  hoisin sauce  honey  Chinese five-spice powder  chili flakes (if using) and beef broth. Set aside.

Cook the beef:

Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add a little oil and cook the marinated beef in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until the beef is browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Prepare the sticky sauce:

In the same pan, add the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes stirring frequently until the sauce has thickened.

Combine noodles and beef:

Return the beef to the pan with the sauce. Add the cooked noodles and toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated in the sticky sauce.

Serve:

Garnish with chopped green onions sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. Serve hot and enjoy!

Tips for Success

Beef choice: Flank steak or sirloin works best as they are tender and quick-cooking. Slice the beef thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness.

Marinating time: Even 20 minutes of marinating the beef will enhance flavor but for a deeper taste  you can marinate it for 1 hour or overnight in the fridge.

Sauce thickness: If the sauce is too thin let it simmer a little longer until it thickens to your liking. You can also add a teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with water to thicken it faster.

Adjust sweetness and saltiness: You can customize the sweetness by adjusting the amount of honey or sugar and balance the saltiness by tweaking the soy sauce amount.

Noodle options: You can use any type of noodles for this dish – rice noodles soba noodles or even spaghetti in a pinch.

Heat levels: If you like your dish spicier increase the chili flakes or add a splash of chili oil while tossing the noodles.