Slow Cooker Beef Ramen Noodles
Ground beef, colorful vegetables, and a rich soy-brown sugar sauce simmer for hours in the slow cooker, then ramen noodles stir in at the end to soak up all that savory-sweet flavor. An easy, mostly hands-off dinner topped with scallions and sesame seeds.
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Skillet
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 2-3 scallions roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 (14.5 oz) can chicken stock
- 2 packets ramen noodles noodles only, discard seasoning packets
- sesame seeds for garnish, optional
- scallions for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain the excess fat.
- Add to Slow Cooker: Add the beef to the slow cooker, along with the carrots, red bell pepper, and scallions.
- Make the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and chicken stock. Pour into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook: Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.
- Add the Noodles: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the dry ramen noodles (discard the seasoning packets).
- Stir and Cook: Stir frequently so the noodles are fully covered and cook evenly.
- Serve: When the noodles are tender, serve, topped with extra scallions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Brown and drain the beef well before adding to the slow cooker for the best flavor. Stir the noodles frequently once added so they cook evenly and don't clump. Add the noodles only in the last 30 minutes, any earlier and they'll turn mushy. Discard the ramen seasoning packets, the homemade sauce provides plenty of flavor. Add other ramen toppings like a soft-boiled egg, sriracha, or sesame oil if desired. Scales up easily for a crowd with a larger slow cooker. Keeps 3 days refrigerated (noodles soften further); reheat with a splash of water or broth. Don't freeze (noodles don't hold up well). Note: the source did not specify servings, estimated at 4 to 6.