This Slow Cooker Beef Ramen is a hearty and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner! Imagine tender beef, ramen noodles, and a medley of vegetables simmered in a rich and savory broth. This recipe is incredibly easy to make, thanks to the convenience of your slow cooker. Simply toss the ingredients in, set it, and forget it! You’ll come home to a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for the whole family.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Effortless Cooking: Let your slow cooker do the work! Simply brown the ground beef and combine the ingredients in the slow cooker, then let it simmer to perfection while you go about your day.
- Flavorful and Hearty: The combination of beef, ramen noodles, and vegetables creates a delicious and satisfying soup that’s packed with flavor and nutrients.
- Perfect for Cold Weather: This warming soup is the ultimate comfort food for chilly days and nights.
- Versatile: Feel free to customize it with your favorite vegetables or add a touch of spice with additional sriracha or chili flakes.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: Browned and drained, it adds a hearty and savory base to the soup.
- Beef stock: Adds a rich and savory flavor to the soup.
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Provides a salty and umami flavor.
- Brown sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors.
- Sriracha: Adds a spicy kick (adjust to your preference).
- Garlic: Minced and adds a fragrant and savory punch.
- Broccoli: Chopped and adds a healthy dose of greens and texture.
- Carrots: Thinly sliced and adds sweetness, color, and nutrition.
- Red bell pepper: Adds sweetness, color, and a bit of crunch.
- Green onions: Adds a mild onion flavor and a pop of color.
- Instant ramen noodles: Adds a satisfyingly chewy texture to the soup.
- Sesame oil: Adds a nutty aroma and flavor.
- Garnish: Additional green onions and sesame seeds for serving.
Note: For exact measurements, see the recipe card below!
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Ramen
Step 1: Brown the Beef
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling it as it cooks. Drain any excess grease and set aside.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker
In your slow cooker, whisk together the beef stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, sriracha, and minced garlic until well combined. Add the browned ground beef, chopped broccoli, sliced carrots, sliced red bell pepper, and chopped green onions to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Step 3: Slow Cook
Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded.
Step 4: Add Noodles and Finish
About 15 minutes before you’re ready to serve, add the ramen noodles (discard the seasoning packets) and sesame oil to the slow cooker. Stir to combine and continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until the noodles are softened. Stir the noodles again and cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until tender.
Step 5: Serve
Serve the Slow Cooker Beef Ramen hot, garnished with additional chopped green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Use lean ground beef: For a healthier option, use lean ground beef or ground turkey.
- Adjust the spice level: Adjust the amount of sriracha to your liking, depending on how spicy you want the soup.
- Add other vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables to the slow cooker along with the broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper, such as sliced mushrooms, diced zucchini, or chopped spinach.
- Use different noodles: You can substitute the ramen noodles with other types of noodles, such as udon noodles, egg noodles, or even rice noodles.
- Make ahead: You can brown the ground beef and chop the vegetables ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to cook, simply combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook as directed.
How to Serve
This Slow Cooker Beef Ramen is a hearty and satisfying meal on its own, but here are some serving suggestions:
- Side Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette adds a refreshing contrast to the richness of the soup.
- Bread: Serve with a side of crusty bread or garlic bread for dipping and sopping up the flavorful broth.
- Sriracha or Chili Flakes: For those who like extra heat, offer additional sriracha or chili flakes at the table.
Make Ahead and Storage
This Slow Cooker Beef Ramen is great for making ahead of time or storing leftovers.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Note that the noodles may absorb some of the broth upon standing, so you may need to add a little extra broth or water when reheating.
FAQs
1. Can I use beef stew meat instead of ground beef? Yes, you can! Cut the beef stew meat into bite-sized pieces before browning. You may need to increase the cooking time slightly to ensure the beef is tender.
2. Can I use a different type of broth? Absolutely! Chicken broth or vegetable broth would be delicious substitutes for beef broth.
3. Can I make this recipe vegetarian? Yes, you can! Omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. You can also add chickpeas, lentils, or tofu for protein.
4. Can I add other seasonings to the soup? Definitely! Ground ginger, black pepper, or a bay leaf would be delicious additions.
This Slow Cooker Beef Ramen Recipe is a flavorful and convenient meal that’s perfect for any occasion. With its tender beef, hearty noodles, and medley of vegetables, it’s a dish the whole family will love!
PrintSlow Cooker Beef Ramen Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Soup
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Description
This Slow Cooker Beef Ramen is a hearty and flavorful meal that’s perfect for a cold day! Tender beef, ramen noodles, and a variety of vegetables simmer in a rich and savory broth. It’s an easy and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
- 32 oz beef stock
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2–3 teaspoons sriracha sauce (adjust to taste)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small head broccoli, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 2 (3 oz) packages instant ramen noodles
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- Garnish: additional green onions and sesame seeds
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a slow cooker, whisk together beef stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, sriracha, and garlic. Add browned ground beef, broccoli, carrots, red bell pepper, and green onions.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or until vegetables are tender.
- Add Noodles: About 15 minutes before serving, add ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets) and sesame oil to the slow cooker. Stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes, or until noodles are softened.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with additional green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
- If you don’t have fresh vegetables, you can use frozen vegetables.
- For a spicier ramen, add more sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 1500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
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