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Ground beef and noodles is an easy, comforting dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes! Lean ground beef, peas, and carrots, simmer in a savory homemade gravy, then get tossed together with tender egg noodles. It’s a hearty, family-friendly weeknight meal made with simple ingredients and plenty of flavor.
When I think about comfort food, egg noodles always come to mind. Buttered egg noodles with Parmesan were a childhood favorite, along with this creamy chicken noodles skillet. It tastes like chicken pot pie. Lately when I’ve been craving a cozy dinner I make this ground beef and noodles.
There’s minimal prep work thanks to using frozen peas and carrots and the rich, flavorful, sauce has a gravy consistency, similar to this ground beef stroganoff. The sauce clings to the egg noodles and ground beef so you get all the delicious flavors in every bite. It’s a dinner that’s great for weeknights because it only takes 30 minutes to make and it has a nice balance of protein, carbs, and veggies. It’s a meal the whole family will enjoy.
Egg noodles – Egg noodles have a rich flavor and soft texture. You can use wide or extra wide dry noodles like I did or frozen or refrigerated egg noodles. If using these, the cooking time is much shorter.
Ground beef – Lean ground beef is best for this recipe so it doesn’t get greasy. I use 93/7% lean. Ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey.
Shallot – Shallots have a more mild and sweeter onion flavor compared to yellow onion. You can substitute with yellow onion.
Garlic – Fresh garlic that’s been grated or minced will give you the best garlic flavor. You can substitute with a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Italian seasoning – This is a blend of dried Italian herbs including basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. I love the convenience of all the herbs being in one jar.
Peas and carrots – Frozen peas and carrots add a hint of sweetness, plus some much needed color! You can substitute with frozen mixed vegetable or keep it as simple as using frozen corn or green beans. You can use canned vegetables, but be sure to drain them well.
Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce is an underrated ingredient. It adds an incredible savory umami flavor to the ground beef and sauce.
Flour – Flour is needed to thicken the sauce.
Beef broth – Low sodium is best to keep the sauce from being too salt. You can substitute with chicken broth, but it won’t have that rich beef flavor.
Greek yogurt – Whole milk plain Greek yogurt gets added in at the end to give the beef and noodles a slightly creamy consistency and tang. It can be substituted with sour cream or you can omit it if you want to make it dairy-free.
Parsley – I love the way flat leaf parsley add a fresh herb flavor to the dish. Add it in at the end for the best flavor. Parsley can be substituted with 1-2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves.
Tips For The Best Ground Beef and Noodles
- Cook the egg noodles just until al dente. The heat from the ground beef and gravy mixture will continue to cook them. They also absorb the sauce the longer they sit and that will also soften them.
- Stir the flour in with the ground beef and veggies until you no longer see any white streaks. Let it cook for a minute to get rid of the raw flour taste.
- Gradually pour in the broth stirring the entire time so that lumps don’t form.
- Use room temperature whole milk Greek yogurt. Using low-fat or fat-free yogurt is more likely to separate or curdle when stirred into the hot gravy. The same applies to cold Greek yogurt.
- Turn off the heat when you stir in the Greek yogurt. The yogurt gets added in at the very end because it will curdle or get a grainy texture if you cook it or add it into something that’s boiling.
What to Serve with Ground Beef and Noodles
Ground beef and noodles is hearty enough to serve on it’s own, but I do think it’s a little light on vegetables. To make up for that I like to serve it with my Autumn apple pear salad, green bean salad, roasted carrots, or sauteed cabbage.
Storage and Reheating
Storage – Leftover ground beef and noodles will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Keep in mind that the noodles continue to absorb the sauce the longer they sit and will get softer.
Reheating – Reheat in the microwave for 60 seconds or until warmed through. You can also reheat it in a skillet on the stove over medium-low heat until warm.
Ground Beef and Noodles FAQs
Why is my gravy too thick?
If the gravy is too thick you’ve likely used too much flour or not enough broth. To fix this, stir in a couple tablespoons of broth at a time until it’s a consistency that you like.
Can You Freeze Ground Beef and Noodles?
If you freeze ground beef and noodles I recommend doing so without the noodles mixed in. The noodles will have a mushy texture once they’ve been defrosted. Let the beef mixture defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop and stir in freshly cooked egg noodles once it’s warmed through.
Can I Use a Different Type of Noodle?
Yes. You can use any short pasta shape. Bowties, shells, or fusilli are all good options. You can also use cooked rice if you prefer. Stir in 1 1/2 – 2 cups cooked rice.
Ground Beef and Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked egg noodles
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced shallot or yellow onion
- 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 teaspoon fine kosher salt or to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic grated or minced
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus extra for garnish
- 1/3 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt room temperature
Instructions
- Boil a pot of salted water and cook the egg noodles until al dente.
- Cook and crumble the ground beef and shallot in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Once the beef is cooked through turn the heat down to medium. Add in the garlic, worcestershire, peas and carrots. Cook for 30 seconds then stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute stirring until you no longer see and white streaks from the flour (this cooks out the raw flour taste).
- Slowly pour in the beef broth, stirring continuously. Scrape up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the skillet. Continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gravy is a consistency that you like.
- Turn off the heat and pour the egg noodles, Greek yogurt, and parsley in with the ground beef mixture. Stir everything together until the Greek yogurt is fully incorporated into the gravy and the noodles are coated. Garnish with extra parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Ground Beef Dinners
Ground beef is more affordable compared to other cuts of beef and it cooks quickly, making it perfect for weeknight dinners. Below are a few of my favorites.
