Spanish Noodles

Egg noodles make any dish a little more fun, and these Spanish noodles are no exception. This contest-winning Spanish noodles recipe features ground beef, tomatoes, peppers and onions for a dish reminiscent of those packaged “helper” meals that were designed to dress up ground beef back in the day—but of course, this version is so much better. It’s also a one-skillet meal that takes just 25 minutes in total prep and cooking time, making it a great go-to dish when “busy” fills just about every block on your schedule.

Ingredients for Spanish Noodles

• Ground beef: The ground beef adds protein and flavor, plus it makes this noodle dish a hearty one.
• Green pepper and onion: Green pepper adds color and crunch to the dish, along with nutrients including vitamins A and C. The chopped onion flavors the ground beef and the dish as a whole.
• Egg noodles: These fun-sized noodles are ideal in a dish like this one, as they’re easy to manage on a fork. There’s no need to cook them ahead of time, and if you’re feeling ambitious, make the noodles from scratch.
• Diced tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes save time in this recipe, and there’s no need to drain the juice, since it adds flavor to the dish.
• Chili sauce: This zesty sauce adds a little kick to the dish. It’s flavorful and a bit unexpected.
• Bacon: Cooked bacon is crumbled over the dish to add a salty, smoky flavor in nearly every bite.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the ground beef

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In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with the green pepper and onion over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink, five to seven minutes. Crumble the beef and drain the liquid from the skillet.

Step 2: Finish the dish

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Stir in the egg noodles, tomatoes, water, chili sauce, salt and pepper, then bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the noodles are tender, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Top the dish with crumbled bacon before serving.

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Spanish Noodle Variations

• Try it with olives: Add 1/4 cup or so of diced olives for a little more flavor. If you’re using canned olives, drain and rinse them first.
• Add some salsa: If you can’t find chili sauce, use a medium salsa in its place, or use both for even more zest! Salsa contains diced tomatoes plus onions and seasonings, so it’s similar to ingredients already in this dish.
• Kick up the chili flavor: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of chili powder or smoked paprika to give this dish a hint of chili-like flavor.
• Top it with cheese: Top each serving with shredded cheddar or pepper Jack cheese to crank up the “yum!” factor.

How to Store Spanish Noodles

Once the dish cools, transfer it to an airtight food-storage container and pop it into the refrigerator. Enjoy it within three to five days.

Can you make Spanish noodles ahead of time?

Sure, and the flavors in the sauce will blend together even more if you make the dish hours or even a day ahead. Keep it in the refrigerator up until you’re ready to reheat and eat it. To reheat, place it in a skillet or saucepan and heat it over medium until it’s hot. Add a tablespoon or two of water if necessary while cooking.

Spanish Noodle Tips

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This sounds tasty, but how can I make it vegan?

Turn this dish into a vegan-friendly meal by replacing the ground beef with plant-based meatless crumbles. They look similar and cook in similar fashion to ground beef, and they have a comparable texture once cooked. Replace the bacon with cooked plant-based bacon, broken into small bits.

Could I use ground turkey or chicken instead?

As with many Spanish recipes using ground beef, you can sub in ground turkey or chicken. Once it’s cooked, the poultry has a similar texture to cooked ground beef, and the flavor won’t be significantly different in the finished dish.

Could I make this with macaroni instead?

Absolutely! Elbow macaroni is ideal for this type of dish, as it’s easy to get both pasta and meat on the fork in the same bite. Rotini, or corkscrew pasta, is another type of pasta that works well in Spanish noodles.