Keep a jar of Beef Noodle Dinner Mix in the pantry and you’re halfway to dinner before the skillet even gets warm. This savory homemade mix turns egg noodles, ground beef, mushrooms, and water into a budget-friendly one-pot meal with a light gravy-style sauce.
It also saves you from buying another box of something mostly made of starch and salt. You can mix a batch in minutes, then scoop out exactly what you need for a fast beef noodle supper on a busy night.
What You’ll Need
For the seasoning mix, you’ll combine dry nonfat milk, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, basil, oregano, paprika, cayenne, brown gravy mix, ground celery seed, and cornstarch. That gives you about 26 tablespoons of mix, which is enough for roughly 3 dinners at 7 1/2 tablespoons per batch, with a little extra for measuring wiggle room.
To make the finished meal, you’ll need a 12-ounce package of egg noodles, 1/2 pound lean ground beef, 1 can of drained mushroom stems and pieces, 6 1/2 cups water, and 7 1/2 tablespoons of the prepared mix. If you like pantry cooking that actually tastes like supper, this one earns its keep.
How to Make the Mix
- Measure the dry nonfat milk, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, basil, oregano, paprika, cayenne, brown gravy mix, ground celery seed, and cornstarch into a large zip-top bag or airtight container.
- Seal and shake until the mixture is evenly blended and no pockets of spice or cornstarch remain.
- Label the container and store it in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to make dinner.
This mix makes approximately 26 tablespoons total. If you prefer a pantry jar over a plastic bag, use one with a tight-fitting lid so the dry milk stays dry and the mix doesn’t pick up humidity from the room.
How to Make Beef Noodle Dinner
- Brown 1/2 pound lean ground beef in a large skillet or Dutch oven, then drain well.
- Add the drained mushrooms and 6 1/2 cups hot water to the pan.
- Stir in 7 1/2 tablespoons of Beef Noodle Dinner Mix until fully dissolved.
- Add the egg noodles and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 to 17 minutes.
- Remove the lid and continue simmering gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
The finished dish makes about 8 cups, or roughly 4 generous 2-cup servings. If you want a similar shortcut pantry meal with a different flavor profile, take a look at Alfredo Noodles Mix or Seasoned Noodle Mix.
Helpful Tips
Use a large enough pot. The noodles need room to move so they cook evenly and don’t glue themselves into one stubborn clump at the bottom.
Whisk the mix into hot water well. The dry milk, gravy mix, and cornstarch need a good stir at the start or you’ll get little lumps that never quite take the hint.
Let the sauce finish thickening uncovered. The last few minutes matter. Once the noodles are tender, removing the lid lets excess moisture cook off so the sauce turns silky instead of soupy.
Drain the mushrooms. That keeps the seasoning balanced and prevents the gravy from tasting washed out.
Easy Variations
Swap the ground beef for ground turkey if that’s what you have. The flavor will be a little lighter, so keep the mushrooms in place because they help add savory depth.
Want more bulk? Stir in peas during the last few minutes of cooking. They fit the flavor and stretch the meal without making you dirty another pan, which is always a pleasant surprise.
If your family likes beefy noodle skillet meals, you might also enjoy Beef & Broccoli Ramen for another fast noodle dinner idea.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store the dry mix in an airtight jar or sealed zip-top bag in a cool, dark, dry cupboard. Because the blend includes dry milk and ground spices, a good conservative estimate is up to 6 months for best quality. Keep moisture out of it, and don’t use a damp spoon. For the finished beef noodle dinner, refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours in a covered container and use them within 3 to 4 days, which follows USDA leftover food safety guidance.
If you want to freeze the cooked dish, portion it first so it cools faster and reheats more evenly. Expect the noodles to soften a bit after thawing, but the flavor still holds just fine for a practical weeknight lunch.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this beef noodle dinner as a simple main dish with buttered green beans, peas, or a crisp side salad. The sauce is mild, savory, and family-friendly, so it also works well with carrots or a basic dinner roll.
For a heartier plate, spoon it alongside extra cooked vegetables or top each serving with a little chopped parsley and black pepper. Nothing fancy required. Dinner just needs to get to the table while everyone still likes each other.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Beef Noodle Dinner Mix
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, 9.6 oz
- Onion Powder, 3.25 oz
- Garlic Powder, 3.4 oz
- Ground Black Pepper, 3 oz
- Iodized Salt, 26 oz
- Basil Leaves, 0.62 oz
- Oregano Leaves, 0.87 oz
- Paprika, 2.12 oz
- Cayenne Pepper, 1.75 oz
- Brown Gravy Mix, 0.87 oz Packet
- Ground Celery Seed, 1.87 oz
- Cornstarch, 16 oz
- Egg Noodles, 12 oz
- Lean Ground Beef, 1 lb
- Mushroom Pieces and Stems, 4 oz Can
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Beef Noodle Dinner Mix
Use 7 1/2 tablespoons for one full batch. That amount seasons 12 ounces of egg noodles, 1/2 pound of ground beef, 1 can of drained mushrooms, and 6 1/2 cups of water, so if you scoop less than that the finished sauce will taste thin and under-seasoned.
You’ll get about 3 dinners from one batch. The mix makes roughly 26 tablespoons total, and each dinner uses 7 1/2 tablespoons, so you have enough for three full meals with a little left over for measuring slack.
Absolutely. Just leave them out if somebody at your table thinks mushrooms are suspicious. You’ll lose a bit of savory flavor and texture, so the finished dish tastes best if you replace them with a small handful of peas or a few spoonfuls of sautéed onion.
Wide egg noodles are the easiest swap because they cook at a similar rate, but other dried noodles can work if you watch the liquid. Start with the same 12-ounce amount and check the package cook time, since thinner pasta may need less simmering and a little less uncovered thickening at the end.
Most of the time, it just needs a few extra minutes uncovered. The cornstarch and gravy mix thicken as the liquid simmers down, so keep the heat gentle and stir occasionally after you remove the lid instead of cranking the burner and scorching dinner for sport.
Yes, as long as your pot is big enough. Double everything evenly, including the 15 tablespoons of seasoning mix, and expect the pot to take a little longer to return to a boil before you start the 15 to 17 minute covered simmer.
Yes, and it’s often easier to scoop from. Use a clean, dry pint-size jar with a tight lid and shake it well before each use, because finer ingredients like cornstarch and gravy mix settle while the herbs sit higher like they own the place.
Keep moisture out and use a dry spoon every time. If your kitchen runs humid, store the mix in the coolest cupboard you have and break up any small lumps by shaking the jar before measuring, since dry milk and cornstarch both grab water from the air pretty quickly.
You can, and it’s a straight swap by weight. Use the same 1/2 pound amount, but know the flavor will be milder, so browning the turkey well before adding the water helps build a better savory base.
Pair it with something green or crisp to balance the rich, savory noodles. Buttered peas, green beans, glazed carrots, or a simple salad all work well, especially since the main dish already covers your starch and protein in one pot.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Beef Noodle Dinner Mix
Beef Noodle Dinner Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry nonfat milk
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon basil
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- 4 tablespoons brown gravy mix
- ¼ teaspoon ground celery seed
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 12- ounce package egg noodles
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- 7 ½ tablespoons Beef Noodle Dinner Mix
- 1 4- ounce can mushroom stems and pieces drained
- 6 ½ cups water
Equipment
Instructions
- Measure the dry nonfat milk, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, basil, oregano, paprika, cayenne, brown gravy mix, ground celery seed, and cornstarch into a large zip-top bag or airtight container.
- Seal and shake until the mixture is well combined.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or Dutch oven and drain well.
- Add the drained mushrooms and hot water.
- Stir in 7 1/2 tablespoons of Beef Noodle Dinner Mix until dissolved.
- Add the egg noodles and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook 15 to 17 minutes.
- Remove the lid and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
One batch of prepared dinner yields about 8 cups, or 4 generous 2-cup servings.
Store the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard for up to 6 months for best quality.
Refrigerate cooked leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days.
Cook time includes an estimated 8 minutes to brown the beef and bring the pot to a boil, since the original directions list only the 15 to 17 minute simmer.
Estimated cost uses current online Walmart pricing and amount-used calculations, so your actual total may vary by store and date.
My kids love this!!! This is a staple in our house
You should also be able to use dried mushrooms in the mix and just increase the water a bit. You could also add other vegetables, dried or fresh