Bulgogi Beef Ramen. Sweet, savoury tender beef stir fried with chewy ramen and bok choy in a bulgogi sauce. A quick and easy ramen stir fry using store-bought bulgogi beef marinade sauce. Great as a meal in 15 minutes!
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What is Bulgogi Beef Ramen?
Bulgogi Beef Ramen is a Korean-inspired dish featuring chewy ramen noodles cooked in a sweet and savory bulgogi sauce with tender beef and bok choy!
The tender ribeye beef with the sweetness from the bulgogi sauce over those bouncy ramen noodles with leafy greens is so good!
I love this super simple delicious bulgogi ramen because it doesn’t take much time or effort. The ingredients are minimal as we're using store-bought bulgogi beef marinade as the sauce. These can easily be found at any Korean grocer.
I make this quick noodle dish whenever I have ramen in the pantry and thinly cut beef in the freezer. It’s a perfect meal for those busy weeknights when you just want some yummy ramen.
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Instant Ramen: a thicker kind will work best. I used instant Korean ramen that is thick in texture. I like the brand Samyang that comes without the instant seasoning. Feel free to use any instant noodles you have around the house or opt for fresh or frozen ramen.
- Thinly sliced ribeye steak: this is also known as "hot pot style beef" or "shabu shabu beef" and it's sold at the Asian market in the freezer section. Or substitute with a whole rib eye steak and slice it yourself. I share how to in the Expert Tips section.
- Bok choy or yu choy sum: Or substitute with napa cabbage.
- Green onion
- Onion
- Store-bought Bulgogi Beef Marinade Sauce: this is typically used to marinate beef or any meat with but it has a sweet and savory taste making for a great noodle sauce. I share a picture of what the packaging looks like below.
- Neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil, coconut oil or any heavy scented oils.
- Sesame seeds: optional garnish
Note: Most Asian grocers will carry these ingredients. You may find some at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.
Expert Tips
- Use shabu shabu or hot pot style beef for ultra tender delicious beef. If you use another cut of marbled beef and thinly slice it.
- If you're not using pre-sliced beef, freeze the beef for 45 minutes fully exposed and when the exterior is hardened, cut it on a bias into very thin strips with a sharp knife.
- Only blanch your ramen noodles JUST until loosened and do not boil them or they will be soggy.
- Rinse the cooked noodles under cold water to stop the cooking process and to make them chewier.
Instructions
- In a large pan or wok filled three-quarters of the way with water, bring to boil. Once it comes to boil, add ramen noodles, and begin loosening with tongs. Once they are loosened, quickly strain and rinse under cold water. Do not boil them. Set aside.
- Back into your dry pan set over medium high heat, add oil. Then add yellow onion and cook until softened and slightly browned on edges. Next add green onions.
- Quickly add in beef and stir fry until beef is 25% cooked.
- Toss in bok choy and stir fry with beef. Cook until juices in the wok have evaporated, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add in strained ramen and bulgogi sauce. Mix everything together. Once everything is mixed, remove off heat to serve. Optional: sprinkle sesame seeds if desired.
Storage
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat: microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
- Freezer friendly? I wouldn't recommend freezing this bulgogi beef ramen as the noodles will go soggy.
Pairing Suggestions
This Korean dish serves well with Korean side dishes like kimchi, Korean cucumber salad, beansprout salad, zucchini fritters, or Korean spinach.
FAQ
Thinly sliced ribeye steak is recommended and you can usually find this at most Asian markets in the frozen section. Or sub with ribeye steak and cut it thinly by placing it in the freezer exposed to the cold air for 45-60 minutes and cutting it with a sharp knife. 
Any Korean or certain Asian grocers will carry them in the sauce or marinade aisle. The sauce is actually a beef bulgogi marinade for Korean BBQ. If you can’t find that specific version, use the pork version for my bulgogi beef noodle bowl.
Yes, feel free to substitute the beef with thinly sliced chicken or pork shoulder.
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📖 Recipe
15-min. Easy Bulgogi Beef Ramen
Ingredients
- 15.52 oz instant ramen noodles or sub with fresh ramen noodles
- 1 lb thinly cut ribeye steak I recommend finding hot pot style kind as it's thinly cut for you
- ½ lb baby bok choy ends trimmed and washed
- 1 green onion finely chopped
- ½ small onion sliced
- 1 ½ cup Bulgogi sauce store-bought (please see blog for details under FAQ section)
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional garnish
Instructions
- In a large pan or wok filled three-quarters of the way with water, bring to boil. Once it comes to boil, add ramen noodles, and begin loosening with tongs. Once they are loosened, quickly strain and rinse under cold water. Do not boil them. Set aside.
- Back into your dry pan set over medium high heat, add oil. Then add yellow onion and cook until softened and slightly browned on edges. Next add green onions.
- Quickly add in beef and stir fry until beef is 25% cooked.
- Toss in bok choy and stir fry with beef. Cook until juices in the wok have evaporated, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add in strained ramen and bulgogi sauce. Mix everything together. Once everything is mixed, remove off heat to serve. Optional: sprinkle sesame seeds if desired.
AG
Very tasty
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing your positive experience with it!
Cindy
Very delicious 😋
christieathome
So happy to read this! Thank you so much for making my recipe!
Rosemary
I love this 7 ingredient ramen! I'll be making it with my brother next week we both love ramen with bok choy!!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I am likely how easy you've made this dish... and the flavors are outstanding! The bok choy adds the perfect finishing touch.
Caleb - Never Ending Journeys
Mmmm, I can't resist beef ramen! With the bulgogi, it looks especially delicious!