Description
A one-pan ground beef meal made with egg noodles cooked directly in a creamy, savory sauce. This version uses simple ingredients and is designed to be dependable, filling, and easy to make at the end of a long day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15)
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1–2 tbsp flour
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
- 1 tbsp butter
- salt and black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef for about 7 minutes until very well browned, as this builds the flavor of the dish. Avoid stirring it constantly so you get a harder browning and those dark bits on the pan. Let it sit undisturbed for a bit so it develops color, as this builds the base flavor. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add aromatics: Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3–5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Build the base: Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add liquid and noodles: Pour in the beef broth and milk, stirring to combine and scraping up anything stuck to the pan. Add the dry egg noodles directly into the skillet.
- Simmer: Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are just barely tender and the sauce has thickened. If it becomes too thick before the noodles are done, add a splash of broth or water.
- Finish the sauce: Reduce heat to low. Stir in sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and thyme. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Rest briefly before serving: Stir in the butter and let the noodles sit for 2–3 minutes off the heat. This helps the sauce settle and thicken into the right consistency.
Notes
Brown the ground beef deeply to develop maximum flavor. If the dish tastes flat, add another teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce or a dash of lemon juice or vinegar. For a saucier consistency, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of warm milk at the very end.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 631 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 588 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 152 mg
Keywords: one pot, ground beef, egg noodles, creamy beef, easy dinner, weeknight meal