Bacon and Broccoli Yaki Udon is a savory Japanese stir-fry dish that combines the smoky flavor of crispy bacon with fresh, vibrant broccoli and chewy udon noodles, all coated in a rich umami sauce. This easy udon noodle recipe is perfect for quick weeknight dinners when you’re craving Japanese cuisine but don’t want to order takeout.
What Makes This Bacon Udon Stir-Fry Special
Authentic yaki udon dishes traditionally use thick, chewy Japanese wheat noodles as their base. These fresh udon noodles are briefly cooked until tender, then rinsed under cold water to prevent sticking and halt the cooking process. This crucial step preserves their signature chewy texture that makes Japanese udon dishes so satisfying.
The broccoli in this healthy udon recipe is blanched briefly in salted boiling water, followed by an ice bath to lock in its vibrant green color and maintain a perfect tender-crisp texture. This professional cooking technique ensures your broccoli remains bright and crisp-tender even after being incorporated into the stir-fry.
The Perfect Balance of Flavors
The star ingredient of this bacon stir-fry is, of course, the bacon itself. Crispy chopped bacon pieces are cooked until perfectly rendered, and the flavorful bacon fat becomes the cooking base for the vegetables. This technique adds incredible smoky depth to the entire dish, creating a savory udon stir-fry that’s bursting with umami flavors.
Sweet onions and carrots are sautéed in the rendered bacon fat until softened, creating an aromatic foundation that balances the salty bacon. The blanched broccoli is then incorporated, adding color, texture, and nutritional value to this balanced one-pan meal.
Fresh minced garlic and ginger are added at precisely the right moment, infusing the dish with their aromatic qualities without burning. This timing is essential for developing the complex flavor profile that makes Japanese stir-fried noodles so irresistible.
The Secret to an Amazing Yaki Udon Sauce
The cooked udon noodles are tossed with a perfectly balanced sauce combining soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, and sesame oil. This classic yaki udon sauce creates a glossy coating that clings to every noodle and vegetable, delivering the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavors in every bite.
Each serving is finished with fresh green onions and toasted sesame seeds, adding brightness and a delightful crunch that completes this authentic Japanese noodle dish. The visual appeal of the finished dish—with its colorful vegetables, glistening noodles, and appetizing garnishes—makes it as beautiful as it is delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Bacon Broccoli Udon Recipe
This quick Asian noodle dish demonstrates how simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavor when combined thoughtfully. Ready in under 40 minutes, it’s faster than delivery and features the perfect balance of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates for a complete weeknight dinner.
Whether you’re an experienced cook looking to expand your Asian noodle recipes repertoire or a beginner seeking an approachable entry point into Japanese home cooking, this Bacon and Broccoli Yaki Udon delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.
Bacon and Broccoli Yaki Udon
4
servings15
minutes25
minutes40
minutesBacon and Broccoli Yaki Udon features thick udon noodles stir-fried with crispy bacon, tender broccoli, and vegetables in a savory, umami-packed sauce. This quick and flavorful dish is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
12 ounces udon noodles
1/2 pound bacon, chopped
1 head of broccoli, cut into florets
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 large carrot, julienned
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ginger, freshly grated
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 teaspoon sesame oil
for garnish, chopped green onion
for garnish, sesame seeds
Directions
- Prepare the Udon Noodles:
Cook the udon noodles according to its package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside. - Blanch the Broccoli:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and blanch for 3 minutes until slightly tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside. - Cook the Bacon:
In a deep skillet or wok, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, 5-6 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan. - Sauté the Vegetables:
Add the sliced onion and julienned carrot to the bacon fat in the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent and the carrot softens. Add the blanched broccoli to the skillet and stir for another 1-2 minutes to heat through. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. - Combine:
Return the cooked bacon to the skillet. Then, add the udon noodles. Stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, and sesame oil. Mix to evenly coat the noodles and vegetables with the sauce. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until heated through and fully blended. - Serve:
Divide the yaki udon into serving bowls. Garnish with chopped green onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
SUGGESTED RECIPE: Spicy Garlic Shrimp Udon
If you enjoy this recipe, you might also love this Spicy Garlic Shrimp Udon, which features plump shrimp, plenty of garlic, and a hint of heat for those who appreciate spicier Japanese-inspired dishes.
Great stuff!