Spicy Pho-Inspired Beef Rice Noodle Soup

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-24 · Updated 2026-05-24

A fragrant and warming Vietnamese-style beef noodle soup with aromatic spices and tender slices of beef in a savory broth. This Vietnamese-inspired soup recipe, ready in about 260 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 360 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, sliced ginger
• 4 whole star anise
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cardamom pod
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 1 tbsp rock sugar or granulated sugar
• 12 cups water
• 8 oz, dried rice noodles
• 8 oz, thinly sliced beef sirloin
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil
• for serving lime wedges
• 1/4 cup sliced jalapeño
• 2, sliced green onions

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 simmer for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse bones to remove impurities.
2. Step 2: Return cleaned bones to pot with 1 large halved onion and 3-inch sliced ginger. Char onion and ginger under broiler until blackened, about 5 minutes, then add to pot.
3. Step 3: Add 4 star anise, 5 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1 cardamom pod to the pot. Simmer gently for 4 hours, occasionally skimming foam.
4. Step 4: After simmering, strain broth through fine mesh, discard solids, and return broth to pot. Stir in 1/4 cup fish sauce and 1 tbsp rock sugar, adjusting seasoning to taste.
5. Step 5: Prepare 8 oz dried rice noodles according to package instructions, typically soaking in hot water until tender, about 5 minutes, then drain.
6. Step 6: To serve, divide noodles into bowls. Arrange 8 oz thinly sliced raw beef sirloin on top.
7. Step 7: Ladle hot broth over beef and noodles to cook beef slices gently.
8. Step 8: Garnish with 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil, 2 sliced green onions, 1/4 cup sliced jalapeño, and lime wedges for squeezing.