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With miles of tender noodles, oodles of vegetables, and quick-cooking pork, this yaki udon recipe is a must-try whenever you’re craving a hearty meal without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Delicious and full of flavor. Make extra because the leftovers are even more delicious!

This yaki udon recipe comes together quickly. Yes, there’s a bit of chopping involved, but you can do all of that while the noodles are cooking. Plus, this easy stir-fry is loaded with flavor and with a terrific savory sauce, my kids even eat all the veggies in it.

This yaki udon stir-fry is one of my go-to busy night meals. It’s ready quickly, and I can mix up the veggies with whatever I have on hand and a great way to clean out the refrigerator..

I also love that the meat in this dish is quick-cooking and affordable – so it’s a budget-friendly dish that’s hearty, satisfying, and fun to eat.

What Is Yaki Udon?

Made with wheat-based udon noodles, yaki udon is a Japanese stir-fry. The Japanese noodles have a chewy texture, the yaki udon sauce is flavorful, and with loads of veggies, this is a terrific all-in-one meal.

You can find dried udon noodles and even fresh or frozen noodles in Asian grocery stores and even in many larger supermarkets.

What You’ll Need To Make Yaki Udon with Pork

There are 2 steps to this recipe of stir-fried noodles: the sauce and the stir-fry. Get the sauce ready, and it can sit until you’re ready to add it to the stir-fry.

(Full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post)

For the sauce ingredients:

• Brown sugar – For a little bit of sweetness.
• Oyster sauce – This gives the sauce a rich, savory flavor.
• Shoyu – A Japanese style soy sauce found in the Asian aisle at most grocery stores or at the Asian market. You can also use dark soy sauce. or regular soy sauce.
• Mirin – Similar to sake. Adds a little tang.
• Rice vinegar – A more mild vinegar-y flavor.
• Sesame oil – Packed with flavor. A little goes a long way.

(Full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post)

For the stir-fry:

• Udon noodles – You’ll need 2 packages. Fresh udon noodles are best, but dried, or frozen will work as well.
• Cooking oil – Whatever you have on hand is fine. Vegetable oil, avocado, canola, etc.
• Ground pork – Substitute with chicken, beef, fish, tofu, or your choice of protein.
• Shiitake mushrooms – If you can’t find these, you can use button mushrooms or the mushrooms of your choice.
• Onion – Sweet onions work best in this dish. You can also use spring onions for a little sweeter, more mellow taste or yellow onion.
• Napa cabbage – Roughly chopped.
• Green onions – Thinly sliced.
• Salt and pepper to taste

How To Make This Easy Yaki Udon Recipe

Make this stir-fried udon noodle recipe in 2 steps: make the sauce, then make the rest of the stir-fry. Add the sauce at the end.

1. Make the sauce by mixing the sugar, oyster sauce, shoyu, mirin, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Set it aside.
2. Cook the udon noodles according to the directions on the package. Rinse with cold water once done to stop the cooking process.
3. Add the cooking oil to a large skillet or large pan and brown the ground pork until it is no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper, and discard any extra oil.
4. Add the mushrooms and onions to the pork and cook until the onions are soft and translucent.
5. Stir in the cabbage and cook until slightly wilted.
6. Add the noodles to the skillet and toss to combine.
7. Stir in the sauce, garnish with the green onions or some sesame seeds, and serve.

Tips

• This is an easy meal to make in stages. The yaki udon noodle sauce and noodles can be prepared ahead of time and chilled in the fridge, and the veggies can be prepped. Then, the dish comes together in hardly any time.
• Adjust the sauce to make it as tangy or sweet as you like.
• Make sure your skillet or wok is big enough to hold all the ingredients for this noodle dish!
• You can use frozen udon noodles – prepare them according to package instructions.

Variations

This is an easy recipe to switch up. Here are some of my favorite ways:

• Use ground chicken, turkey, or beef instead of ground pork.
• Add carrots, kale, bok choy, snow peas, and all of your favorite fresh vegetables.
• Go vegetarian! Skip the pork and make this a vegetarian stir-fry.
• A pinch of red pepper flakes will add some heat if you like it spicy.

Storage

Leftover yaki udon with pork can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Just reheat any leftovers in the microwave for another delicious meal! 

What To Serve With Yaki Udon

I love that this is a complete 1-skillet meal, so it doesn’t need much else with it! If we’re ravenous or dinner will be a while, I’ll put out some edamame to nibble on, or I’ll dish up a light soup while I’m getting the rest of the meal ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other great noodle dishes to try

• Somen salad
• Chinese crispy noodle
• Chicken hekka
• Chow fun
• Dry mein

https://youtu.be/XxFixJYDFz8

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