Experience the magic of authentic Asian flavors, perfected for your busy weeknights. This Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles recipe isn’t just fast; it’s a symphony of savory, sweet, and tangy notes that will delight every palate. Best of all, it’s a guaranteed family favorite, designed to bring smiles to even the pickiest eaters.
PIN THIS DELICIOUS RECIPE FOR LATER!
There are some recipes that, once discovered, become an instant classic in your kitchen. This Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles is one such gem that has firmly earned its place in my regular rotation. While it originally graced our dinner table back in 2010, it regrettably spent several years tucked away in the recipe archives. Every so often, I’d stumble upon it, mentally note to recreate it, but time would slip by. It wasn’t until a recent rediscovery that this dish resurfaced, and I’m utterly thrilled it did! Eight years is far too long to be without this incredible meal. Now, I’m completely obsessed, and I can’t wait for you to become just as enamored with its simplicity and flavor.
This recipe truly hits all the right notes for a perfect weeknight dinner. First and foremost, its speed is unmatched. In just 30 minutes, you can transform a few simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal, ready to be enjoyed by the whole family. Forget elaborate meal planning or spending hours in the kitchen after a long day; this dish is designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Secondly, the ingredient list is refreshingly concise. While you might not always have orange marmalade or sugar snap peas perpetually stocked (though, surprisingly, I often do!), these are readily available items that make a significant impact. With a handful of pantry staples and fresh beef, you’re well on your way to a delicious dinner. The beauty lies in how these humble ingredients combine to create such a vibrant and complex flavor profile.
But perhaps the most compelling reason to love this dish, and certainly my personal favorite, is its unwavering family-friendliness. It’s a rare occurrence in our household when all three of my children and my husband unanimously clear their plates. This Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles was not only devoured but left absolutely no leftovers. While Camden preferred the noodles, Easton gravitated towards the beef, and Abbi meticulously picked out her sugar snap peas, the fact that everyone left the table with full and satisfied bellies felt nothing short of a culinary miracle. In my book, that’s a resounding success!
Selecting the Perfect Beef for Your Teriyaki Stir-Fry
The success of any stir-fry hinges on the quality and preparation of its protein, and for this Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles, choosing the right cut of beef is key to achieving that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. You want a cut that cooks quickly and remains succulent under high heat.
When I’m at the butcher counter, I generally look for what’s freshest or on sale, but my go-to choices for stir-fries include **sirloin**, **tri-tip**, **tenderloin**, **ribeye**, or even a **strip steak**. These cuts are known for their tenderness and ability to cook rapidly, which is essential for a quick weeknight meal. For a slightly more economical option that still performs beautifully in a stir-fry, **flank steak** is an excellent choice. While sometimes a bit less tender than the premium cuts, when prepared correctly, it yields fantastic results.
Regardless of the cut you choose, proper slicing is paramount. Always slice the beef **against the grain** into thin strips. The “grain” refers to the direction of the muscle fibers. Cutting against it shortens these fibers, making the beef much more tender and easier to chew. Thin strips also ensure quick and even cooking, allowing the beef to brown beautifully on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside.
Essential Equipment for Crafting Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles
While a basic nonstick skillet can certainly get the job done, for truly exceptional browning and flavor development in this Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles, I wholeheartedly recommend using a **stainless steel skillet**. The reason is simple: stainless steel allows for superior caramelization and the formation of a delicious ‘fond’ (those browned bits at the bottom of the pan), which then deglazes into your sauce, adding incredible depth of flavor that a nonstick pan simply can’t achieve.
My personal favorite is a **12-inch stainless steel skillet** with high sides, much like this Cuisinart skillet. The high sides are incredibly useful for one-pot meals like this, preventing ingredients from spilling out as you stir and ensuring all the liquid is contained. This design also helps steam the noodles and peas more efficiently, leading to perfectly cooked results.
Beyond the skillet, a few other basic kitchen tools will make your cooking process seamless:
- **Sharp Chef’s Knife:** Essential for thinly slicing the beef against the grain and preparing any additional vegetables.
- **Cutting Board:** A sturdy surface for safe and efficient ingredient preparation.
- **Tongs:** Indispensable for flipping beef strips quickly and for tossing the noodles and vegetables in the sauce.
- **Measuring Cups and Spoons:** For accurate ingredient proportions, especially for the sauce.
- **A Lid for Your Skillet:** Crucial for allowing the pasta and sugar snap peas to cook evenly in the simmering sauce.
Having these tools at hand ensures a smooth and enjoyable cooking experience, leading to a perfectly executed Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles every time.
The Magic of Orange Teriyaki Sauce
The heart of this dish lies in its exquisite Orange Teriyaki sauce – a masterful blend of sweet, savory, and tangy notes that truly elevate the beef and noodles. It’s a flavor profile that’s vibrant and complex, yet incredibly simple to create, making it a perfect example of how a few key ingredients can achieve culinary greatness.
The star ingredient, **orange marmalade**, brings a delightful sweetness and a bright, zesty citrus punch. This isn’t just about adding sugar; the marmalade’s inherent tanginess from the orange peel perfectly balances the rich savory notes of the teriyaki sauce, preventing the dish from becoming overly heavy. It also contributes to the sauce’s lovely thick consistency as it cooks down.
Next, the **teriyaki sauce** forms the umami-rich foundation. Its savory depth, often infused with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, provides that classic Asian-inspired base that we all love. For the best results, especially in a one-pot dish where the sauce needs to coat everything beautifully, I highly recommend using a thicker teriyaki glaze rather than a thin, watery liquid teriyaki. Alternatively, my homemade teriyaki sauce recipe is a fantastic choice, designed to be robust and flavorful.
Finally, a **dash of cayenne pepper** is added to introduce a subtle warmth and a hint of spice. This isn’t meant to make the dish overtly hot, but rather to awaken the palate and provide a counterpoint to the sweetness of the orange and marmalade. It creates a well-rounded flavor experience that is both comforting and exciting.
Together, these ingredients simmer down to create a glossy, flavorful sauce that perfectly coats every strand of noodle and every strip of tender beef, ensuring a harmonious bite every time.
Noodles and Veggies: Completing the Dish
Choosing the right pasta is crucial for a 30-minute one-pot meal, and **angel hair pasta** is an ideal candidate for this Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles. Its thin strands cook incredibly quickly, absorbing the rich teriyaki sauce and becoming perfectly tender in just 5-7 minutes. Breaking the pasta in half before adding it to the skillet makes it easier to manage and ensures it fits neatly into your one-pot setup. While angel hair is fantastic, you could also experiment with other thin pasta varieties like vermicelli or even instant ramen noodles (discarding the seasoning packet) for a similar effect.
The vibrant **sugar snap peas** are another indispensable component of this dish. They provide a wonderful crisp-tender texture and a burst of fresh sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the savory beef and noodles. Their quick cooking time means they can be added directly to the simmering sauce along with the pasta, simplifying the cooking process even further. Plus, their bright green color adds an appealing visual element to the meal.
If you’re looking to add more vegetables or don’t have sugar snap peas on hand, consider these fantastic alternatives or additions:
- **Broccoli Florets:** Add them with the peas for a hearty green crunch.
- **Sliced Carrots:** Their natural sweetness and firm texture hold up well in a stir-fry.
- **Bell Peppers:** Red, yellow, or orange bell peppers add color and a mild, sweet flavor.
- **Snow Peas:** A close cousin to sugar snap peas, offering a similar crisp texture.
- **Mushrooms:** Sliced cremini or shiitake mushrooms add an earthy umami depth.
- **Bok Choy:** Quartered or sliced, it wilts beautifully in the sauce.
Remember to cut any additional vegetables into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. This versatility makes the Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles a truly adaptable recipe, allowing you to customize it with your favorite seasonal produce.
Looking for More Quick Weeknight Recipes?
If you love the convenience and flavor of this one-pot Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles, you’re in for a treat! Discover more effortless dinner ideas that promise deliciousness without the fuss:
- One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff: A hearty and comforting classic, simplified for busy evenings.
- One Pan Pasta with Bacon and Peas: A delightful combination of savory bacon, sweet peas, and tender pasta, all cooked in a single pan.
- One Pan Enchilada Pasta: All the zesty flavors of enchiladas, transformed into a quick and easy pasta dish.
LOOKING FOR MORE FREE RECIPES AND CULINARY INSPIRATION?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family-friendly recipes delivered straight to your inbox each week! Join our community for more delicious ideas and inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles
Great Asian flavors in a hurry – this Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles is not only fast, but full of flavor. Plus, it’s a kid friendly dinner that everyone will love!
- Author:
- Deborah Harroun
- Prep Time:
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time:
- 20 minutes
- Total Time:
- 30 minutes
- Servings:
- 4 servings
- Course:
- Main Dish
- Cuisine:
- Asian
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1.25 lbs boneless beef sirloin, trimmed and thinly sliced against the grain
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 14.5 oz can beef broth
- 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce*
- 1/4 cup orange marmalade
- Dash of cayenne pepper (optional, for a hint of heat)
- 5 oz angel hair pasta, broken in half
- 1 1/2 cups sugar snap peas (about 5 oz)
Instructions
- Cut the beef into thin strips, ensuring to slice against the grain for maximum tenderness. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Place a 12-inch stainless steel skillet over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Once the oil shimmers, add half of the seasoned beef in a single layer to the hot pan. Cook until the beef is deeply browned on one side, then flip with tongs to brown the second side. The goal is a good sear on the exterior while keeping the beef tender. Remove the cooked beef to a plate. If needed, add the second teaspoon of vegetable oil and cook the remaining beef, then add it to the plate with the first batch.
- Into the same skillet, add the beef broth, teriyaki sauce, orange marmalade, and the dash of cayenne pepper. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Add the broken angel hair pasta and the sugar snap peas to the boiling liquid and stir to combine, ensuring the pasta is submerged. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the skillet with a lid, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. If the pasta is not yet tender and the liquid has completely evaporated, you may add up to 1/4 cup of water.
- Return the cooked beef to the skillet with the pasta and peas. Stir everything together. Cook uncovered for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat all the ingredients beautifully.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles!
Recipe Notes:
Adapted from Betty Crocker’s Quick and Easy Cookbook.
*For the best results, especially in this one-pot recipe, use a thicker teriyaki glaze rather than a thin, watery liquid teriyaki sauce. My homemade teriyaki sauce is perfect as it has the ideal consistency and flavor.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 622 kcal (31%), Carbohydrates: 61g (20%), Protein: 44g (88%), Fat: 23g (35%), Saturated Fat: 8g (50%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 130mg (43%), Sodium: 1147mg (50%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 30g (33%)
Keywords: teriyaki, teriyaki beef, orange teriyaki, beef and noodles, weeknight dinner, quick meals, family-friendly