Pho-Inspired Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-07 · Updated 2026-05-07

Fragrant beef broth simmered with aromatic spices, served over tender rice noodles with thinly sliced beef and fresh herbs. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 400 minutes, pairs beef bones, onion, ginger for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, 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
• 1 large, halved onion
• 3-inch piece, halved ginger
• 4 whole star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 5 whole cloves
• 3 whole cardamom pods
• 1 tbsp rock sugar
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp salt
• 12 oz rice noodles (pho noodles)
• 8 oz, thinly sliced sirloin steak
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup, chopped cilantro
• 4 lime wedges
• 1, thinly sliced (optional) jalapeño

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Char 1 large halved onion and 3-inch halved ginger over an open flame or under a broiler until slightly blackened, about 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a large stockpot, add 2 lbs beef bones and cover with 5 quarts cold water; bring to a boil and boil vigorously for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse bones and pot.
3. Step 3: Return cleaned bones to pot with charred onion, ginger, 4 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 5 cloves, 3 cardamom pods, 1 tbsp rock sugar, 3 tbsp fish sauce, and 1 tbsp salt; fill with 5 quarts fresh water and simmer gently, uncovered, for 6 hours, skimming impurities occasionally.
4. Step 4: Soak 12 oz rice noodles in warm water for 30 minutes until pliable, then drain.
5. Step 5: To serve, blanch noodles in boiling water for 30 seconds; divide noodles into bowls and top with 8 oz thinly sliced sirloin steak.
6. Step 6: Ladle hot broth over noodles and beef to cook the meat.
7. Step 7: Serve with 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup fresh basil, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and sliced jalapeño on the side for garnish.