Description
This Garlic Butter Steak Lightning Noodles recipe is a quick, flavorful weeknight meal combining tender seared flank steak with buttery garlic sauce and savory noodles. Ready in just 20 minutes, it balances rich umami from soy, oyster, and Worcestershire sauces with a hint of heat from optional red pepper flakes, topped with fresh green onions and sesame seeds for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak and Noodles
- 8 oz flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 8 oz egg noodles or ramen noodles, cooked according to package instructions
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Garnish
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Steak: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the thinly sliced flank steak in a single layer and sear for 2-3 minutes until browned and just cooked through. Avoid overcrowding—cook in batches if necessary. Remove steak from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic & Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium in the same skillet with steak drippings. Add butter and let it melt. Add minced garlic and sauté 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Optionally, add red pepper flakes and cook for another 15 seconds to release heat.
- Build the Sauce: Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and honey. Scrape browned bits off the skillet bottom and combine. Season with salt and black pepper. Simmer for 1 minute until sauce thickens slightly.
- Toss Noodles & Steak: Add cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the garlic butter sauce. Return steak slices and any accumulated juices to the pan, gently tossing everything together.
- Garnish & Serve: Cook an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring gently until heated through. Remove from heat and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if using. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase red pepper flakes to taste.
- Flank steak can be substituted with skirt steak or sirloin, thinly sliced.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor; avoid pre-minced for more aromatic results.
- Egg noodles are preferred but ramen noodles provide a similar texture and taste.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce and oyster sauce substitutes.
- Do not overcook the steak to maintain tenderness.
- Garnish additions like chopped cilantro or a squeeze of lime can add freshness.
