Pho-Inspired Beef Noodle Soup with Fresh Herbs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-10 · Updated 2026-05-10

A fragrant and soothing beef noodle soup featuring tender slices of beef, rich broth infused with warm spices, and fresh Vietnamese herbs. This Vietnamese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 200 minutes, pairs beef bones, water, ginger for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef bones
• 12 cups water
• 3-inch piece, halved and charred ginger
• 1 large, halved and charred onion
• 4 whole star anise
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp rock sugar
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 8 oz, flat pho noodles rice noodles
• 8 oz, thinly sliced beef sirloin
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup, roughly chopped cilantro
• 3, sliced green onions
• 4 lime wedges
• 1/4 cup jalapeño slices

The stock pot we’d simmer this in → Best Stock Pots for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 2 lbs beef bones in a large stockpot and cover with 12 cups water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse bones to remove impurities.
2. Step 2: Return bones to the pot with 12 cups fresh water, add 3-inch piece of halved charred ginger, 1 large halved charred onion, 4 star anise, 5 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1 tbsp rock sugar. Simmer gently for at least 3 hours, skimming foam occasionally.
3. Step 3: After simmering, strain the broth through a fine sieve into a clean pot. Stir in 1/4 cup fish sauce and keep warm.
4. Step 4: Cook 8 oz flat rice noodles in boiling water for 3 minutes until tender, drain and divide among 4 bowls.
5. Step 5: Arrange 8 oz thinly sliced raw beef sirloin over noodles. Ladle the hot broth over the beef and noodles, which will cook the beef gently.
6. Step 6: Serve with 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 3 sliced green onions, lime wedges, and 1/4 cup jalapeño slices for guests to customize their bowls.