Chili Garlic Beef & Noodles Recipe

Chili Garlic & Beef Noodles Recipe

Teriyaki-seasoned beef, scented with garlic, chilies, and cilantro, served over nutty sesame noodles, and garnished with crunchy sesame seeds. Twist the noodles into the beef and you will enjoy a blast of flavor and texture in every bite. Ready in 20 minutes, this is the ultimate weeknight meal. And it's made with 8 ingredients! 

This recipe was crafted in partnership with Laura's Lean Beef. I feel good about serving Laura's Lean ground beef because I always choose better-for-you-ingredients when preparing meals for friends, family, and myself! 

What's special about Laura's Lean? It's called lean for a reason, and is available in 92% lean and 96% lean, which makes it a healthier choice when compared to fattier meats - Laura's Lean is lower in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than most other beef products. Plus, Laura's Lean contains no added hormones; the beef comes from cattle who were fed a vegetarian diet and raised without added hormones or antibiotics. Isn't that what nature intended? Available in over 12,000 stores nationwide, look for Laura's Lean in the meat section of your favorite grocery store. You can also order Laura's Lean Beef on-line and have it shipped directly to your door. How convenient is that?

This recipe comes together in 20 minutes max! The best part about this delicious meal is that it's ready in a flash, which means you can enjoy more time around the table! Since we're using Laura's Lean, the lean meat cooks more quickly (lean beef tends to cook in 1/3 the time of higher fat beef). Plus, Laura's Lean doesn't produce as much grease, so you won't have to drain the pan after browning the beef. This not only saves time, it makes for easier cleanup too! 

What type of teriyaki sauce should you use? Since I prefer to cook with better-for-you-ingredients, I chose Primal Kitchen's No Soy Teriyaki Sauce & Marinade because it's completely organic and contains no soy, gluten, grains, or canola oil. It's also very low in calories and fat-free. Made with coconut aminos and a host of organic sweet and savory elements, it adds a burst of sunshine to every dish. In this recipe, the sweet/salty nuances of the teriyaki sauce partner perfectly with the pungency and fire of the chili garlic sauce. 

What is chili garlic sauce? Chili garlic sauce is a thick puree of chili peppers, garlic, rice vinegar, and salt. It's incredibly aromatic and equal parts spicy and tangy. This recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of the chili garlic sauce, which makes for a dish that packs some heat. You can adjust the amount you use to suit your tastes.

We're getting double duty from the green onions! I love taking advantage of every inch of an ingredient, so there's no waste. In this recipe, we add the stronger white portion of the green onion to the beef in the skillet; as it softens and mellows in the pan, it infuses the beef with flavor. For serving, we use the sweeter green portion of the green onion as a vibrant and flavorful garnish. 

I used gluten-free rice noodles, but you can choose any noodle you want (or skip the noodles altogether). I love this dish because the savory beef mixture is served over the sesame noodles, which means you can swap out the rice noodles for something else if desired. You can choose wheat-based Asian noodles, traditional pasta (linguine, spaghetti, angel hair pasta), or egg noodles. You can also serve the beef mixture over rice, your favorite grain, or in lettuce leaves! 

About the sesame seeds: Toasted sesame seeds add a wonderful nutty crunch to this dish, and a layer of textural complexity. Although they’re optional, I recommend adding them. You can find pre-toasted sesame seeds in the spice aisle, which saves you the toasting step. If you have raw sesame seeds, toast them in a dry skillet over medium-low heat until golden brown. Shake the pan frequently to prevent the seeds from scorching. This doesn’t take long, so don’t walk away from the skillet! 

What should you serve with your Chili Garlic Beef and Noodles? This recipe is almost a complete meal, so simply add a steamed green vegetable or mixed green salad on the side and you're good to go! 

Chili Garlic Beef & Noodles

Ingredients

• 8 ounces rice noodles, or noodles of choice

• 3 teaspoons sesame oil, divided 

• 1 pound Laura's Lean 92% Lean/8% Fat Ground Beef 

• 4 green onions, white and green parts chopped and divided

• 1/3 cup Primal Kitchen No-Soy Teriyaki sauce, or teriyaki sauce of choice

• 3 tablespoons chili garlic sauce, or more/less to taste

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds for serving, optional

Instructions

1. Cook the rice noodles according to the package directions. Drain, return the noodles to the pot, add 2 teaspoons of the sesame oil and toss to coat. 

2. Meanwhile, brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks. When the meat is no longer pink, and the white part of the green onions and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the onion is soft. 

3. Add the teriyaki sauce, chili garlic sauce, and remaining teaspoon of sesame oil to the beef. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the meat is moistened and glossy. Fold in the cilantro. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. 

4. Transfer the sesame noodles to individual bowls or a serving platter and top with the beef mixture. Garnish with the green part of the green onions and sesame seeds (if using). 

Recipe photo/credit: Robin Miller

Article link: Robin Miller Cooks Website

For more information about Robin Miller, please visit the Robin Miller Cooks website.