If you’re looking for a fast and simple one-bowl dinner, this bacon kimchi fried noodle dish is the perfect option. It uses minimal ingredients and prep to create the boldest flavor using the magic ingredient kimchi. My husband and I both love kimchi and we always keep a huge jar of it in the fridge. I’ve posted many kimchi recipes in the past, such as Easy Kimchi Fried Rice, Kimchi Stew with Tofu and Meatballs, Egg and Kimchi Quesadilla, and Easy Kimchi Pizza. The magic about kimchi is, because it is packed with flavor and texture itself, you don’t need a ton of other ingredients to make your dish super flavorful. And of course, who can say no to crispy bacon!
That Noodle Life Cookbook
Before jumping into the recipe, I want to give a shout out for the new cookbook That Noodle Life from Mike Le & Stephanie Le. Stephanie Le is the blogger behind I Am a Food Blog, sharing colorful and simple recipes that will brighten your day. I was super excited to receive her latest cookbook, which focuses on everything about noodles. It has a lot of fun recipes from spaghetti to ramen, inspired by many cultures including those in Asia, Italy, the US, and Mexico. You will find recipes such as Oven-Roasted Yaki Udon Al Pastor, Roasted Bone Marrow and Beef Brisket Pho, and Philly Cheesesteak Instant Mazemen. And this kimchi fried udon recipe is from this cookbook, with some tiny modifications made to suit my own preferences.
Bacon kimchi fried udon ingredients
Gochujang
Udon noodles and alternatives
Stephanie mentioned in her book that it’s important to select a high quality udon noodle – Sanuki style udon if possible. It is a cooked frozen udon that you can directly use in a stir fry after thawing. A high quality udon should be extra thick and chewy. On the other hand, some of the lower quality ones can get very mushy once heated up. If you cannot find a good udon noodle, I would recommend using spaghetti or bucatini, which have a chewy texture that works well for this dish.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
Mixed gochujang and soy sauceKimchiThawed (or cooked) udon noodlesKale, with stem and leaves separated (I like to reserve the stem and slice it into very thin slices so it cooks evenly and quickly)Cooked and chopped bacon
Tip for fast prep I prefer to get the bacon going while preparing the other ingredients because frying bacon takes a bit of time. I like to fry bacon using medium-low heat, to render out as much fat as I can for a crispy result. It also creates less splatter this way.
How to make bacon kimchi fried udon
That’s it! It takes no time to put together and it’s so easy to make. And don’t forget to put an egg on it to make it extra tasty. I hope you enjoy this super fast and delicious dish! And don’t forget to check out the cookbook That Noodle Life if you like noodles! 🙂
Other delicious Korean recipes
Sundubu Jjigae (Korean Soft Tofu Stew)Korean Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon)Korean Instant Pot Short Ribs (Galbi Jjim)Japchae (Korean Sweet Potato Noodles)Oven Fried Chicken Wings with Korean BBQ Sauce
75 fun, easy, comforting recipes that go way beyond spaghetti and ramen. Inspired by the noodle-crazed cuisines of Asia, Italy, and the American melting pot, these recipes dish up high-impact, slurpable flavor and minimal fuss.
