Old Fashioned Beef and Noodles is the perfect comfort food dish! Tender beef, delicious egg noodles, and a hearty sauce come together to make this one of your favorite meals. AND this is a quick weeknight meal!
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What makes this recipe irresistible
This easy recipe takes minutes to make instead of hours! With all the flavor of the classic beef recipe.
Because this recipe uses ground beef instead of a tough cut of meat that has to be cooked all day, it is a perfect weeknight dinner! Great for busy weeknights and back-to-school meals.
Ingredients you'll need
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- olive oil
- onions
- bacon
- ground beef
- garlic powder
- onion salt
- ground black pepper
- dry ranch seasoning mix
- cream of mushroom soup
- beef broth or beef stock
- egg noodles
Creative variations to try
- Add a little tangy flavor to the creamy sauce by stirring in a half cup of sour cream.
- If you use another cut of beef like stew meat, chuck roast, or sirloin steak, I recommend cutting the beef into small chunks before you brown it. It will need to cook longer to tenderize the meat.
- If you use a slow cooker or Instant Pot to make this recipe, brown the beef and onions before adding them.
- You can also add mushrooms, bell peppers, or your favorite vegetables to the beef when you are browning it to stretch this recipe.
Step-by-step instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Add the oil to a large Dutch Oven over medium heat, add oil. Next add chopped onions, and crumbled bacon.
- Stir and cook until the onions are translucent 4-5 minutes.
- Add in the ground beef, and sprinkle with the seasonings. Brown the ground beef
- Add the cream of mushroom soup and beef broth over the top of the meat. Stir to combine, increase the heat to high.
- Add the uncooked egg noodles to the beef mixture, stir to coat all the pasta. Reduce the heat to simmer and cover.
- Cook until pasta is cooked to al dente.
Essential tools for this recipe
- dutch oven or large pot
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
The main difference is that beef stroganoff is usually made with cubed meat, while beef and noodles are made with ground beef. Beef stroganoff also has a sour cream sauce.
If you find the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it by adding a mixture of flour or cornstarch slurry to the pot. Stir until combined and cook for an additional few minutes.
No, you are adding raw, dry noodles to the pot.
Top Tip
Be sure to reduce the heat to simmer once you add the noodles and broth to your pot. Not reducing the heat can cause the dish to burn or you will need to add more broth which can lead to mushy noodles.
- If you want a thinner sauce, add an additional ½ cup of beef broth.
- For a thicker sauce add a splash of heavy cream and allow it to simmer for a few minutes.
- If you don't want to make a 1 pot dish, you can make the meat mixture and add your cooked pasta and mix until combined. You will omit the use of beef broth.
How to store leftovers
Refrigerate - Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
Freezer - this freezes fairly well and can be frozen up to two months.
Reheat - To reheat, add the noodles and beef to a skillet and heat on medium heat until warm all the way through. Or microwave leftovers on 50% power for 1 to 2 minutes. If your sauce is thick add a little water or beef broth to thin it out.
More recipes you'll love
- Are you a fan of beef and noodle recipes? If so, you will love this Instant Pot Beef Tips and Noodles recipe. It's pure comfort food right in your own kitchen. Using the Instant pot is a great idea and cuts cooking time in half!
- Love beef stew? Try this recipe next!
- You won't believe how easy the prep is for the Hobo Casserole Recipe - or how delicious! The Fire Cracker Casserole is a close second!
- Do you love slow cooker meals? This Easy Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff is full of tender chunks of beef in a flavorful and creamy sauce.
- Need some new dinner inspiration? This French Onion Salisbury Steak is a simple skillet meal that is perfect for busy weekdays. Or this Tuna Casserole Recipe is another comfort food classic!
Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- Are you looking for a side dish that pairs well with this delicious recipe? I recommend a crusty bread like this Air Fryer Garlic Bread recipe.
- These Roasted Green Beans and Carrots are a quick and easy side dish that even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy. Or serve a side dish of Steamed Brussels sprouts (one of my favorites!).
- This Butterscotch Pudding is comforting, sweet, and always hits the spot. If you are looking for a simple dessert, then this is the recipe for you.
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Easy Beef Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup chopped onions
- 2 slices bacon cooked and diced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 ounce packet dry ranch seasoning
- 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- 4 ½ cups beef broth
- 16 ounces egg noodles uncooked
Instructions
- In large Dutch Oven over medium heat cook bacon until crispy, remove. Chop or crumble bacon. Drain bacon fat, saving the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
- Add olive oil and onions. Stir and cook until the onions are tender, about 4-5 minutes
- Add in the ground beef, and sprinkle with seasonings: garlic powder, onion salt, ground pepper, and ranch seasoning.
- Break the meat into pieces, brown ground beef and cook over medium heat until cooked and no pink can be seen.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup, stir to combine.
- Add the beef broth, miix again and bring to a boil.
- Add the uncooked egg noodles, stir to coat all pasta.
- Reduce the heat to simmer and cover.
- Cook for 15-18 minutes until pasta is cooked to your liking, stirring every 3-4 minutes. Make sure to stir quickly and put the cover back on so you don't lose all the steam.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Carol Bessent says
This one looks delicious an the Cheesy Mexican are my favorites for the day. Thank you
Carol
Debra Clark says
You're welcome, Carol; thank you for your support of the blog!