Slow-Simmered Beef Noodle Soup with Star Anise

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A deeply flavorful broth simmered for hours with aromatic spices, featuring tender beef and chewy noodles in a rich, golden broth. This asian-inspired soups ready in about 230 minutes pairs beef chuck, large, diced onion, diced carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 210 min Serves 6 Asian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large stockpot, combine 1.5 lbs beef chuck, 1 large diced onion, 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, 3 inches sliced ginger, and 3 star anise. Add 8 cups water, then bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface for 5 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 3 hours, skimming occasionally, until the beef is fork-tender and the broth is richly flavored.
  3. Step 3: Remove the beef chuck and set aside to cool. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot, discarding the solids. Return the broth to low heat.
  4. Step 4: Add 3 tbsp soy sauce and 2 tbsp rice wine to the broth, stirring to dissolve.
  5. Step 5: Add 8 oz dried Chinese noodles and 4 cups chopped bok choy to the simmering broth. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the noodles are tender and the bok choy is wilted.
  6. Step 6: Cut the cooked beef into 1/4-inch thick slices. Divide the soup among bowls, top with the sliced beef, and garnish with 3 sliced green onions.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Slow-Simmered Beef Noodle Soup with Star Anise take to make?

Total time is about 230 minutes (20 min prep + 210 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Slow-Simmered Beef Noodle Soup with Star Anise?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef chuck from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Simmered Beef Noodle Soup with Star Anise?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Slow-Simmered Beef Noodle Soup with Star Anise for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Slow-Simmered Beef Noodle Soup with Star Anise?

Asian soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

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