Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles
Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles are a comforting, savory-sweet dinner that combines tender noodles with seasoned ground beef, garlic, ginger, and a glossy Mongolian-style sauce. The dish comes together quickly in one skillet, making it especially useful for busy weeknights when you want something hearty without spending hours in the kitchen.
Unlike traditional Mongolian barbecue dishes, this recipe uses ground beef for convenience and pairs it with noodles to create a complete, satisfying meal. The beef becomes deeply flavorful as it cooks in the sauce, while the noodles soak up every bit of the sweet, salty, garlicky mixture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe is simple enough for a beginner but flavorful enough to become a regular dinner favorite. The sauce has a balanced combination of brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, with a little sesame oil adding a warm, nutty finish.
It is also easy to customize. You can add sliced bell peppers, shredded carrots, broccoli, green onions, or other vegetables to make the meal even more substantial.
Ingredients
For the noodles and beef:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces noodles of your choice, such as spaghetti, lo mein, ramen, or rice noodles
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, if needed
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 3–4 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
For the Mongolian-style sauce:
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional vegetables:
- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 small carrot, julienned
Step-by-Step Method
1. Prepare the Noodles
Begin by cooking the noodles according to the package instructions.
Try not to overcook them because they will be added to the skillet with the beef and sauce later. Slightly firm noodles work particularly well because they will absorb some of the sauce without becoming mushy.
Once cooked, drain the noodles well. If you’re using noodles that tend to stick together, toss them with a tiny amount of oil and set them aside.
2. Mix the Sauce
While the noodles are cooking, prepare the sauce.
In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes if using, and black pepper.
Whisk everything together until the brown sugar is mostly dissolved.
Taste the sauce before adding it to the beef. If you prefer a sweeter dish, you can add a little more brown sugar. For more heat, increase the red pepper flakes.
3. Brown the Ground Beef
Place a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook for approximately 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is thoroughly browned.
If there is a large amount of excess grease in the pan, carefully drain some of it. Leaving a small amount behind can help keep the beef flavorful.
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