Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles
These Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles are a quick and cozy weeknight dinner made with tender noodles, savory ground beef, garlic, ginger, and a glossy sweet-savory sauce. It has that takeout-style flavor everyone loves, but it comes together easily at home in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti linguine, lo mein noodles, or ramen noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the noodles
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to the package directions until just tender. Drain and set aside. Save about 1/2 cup of pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce later.
- Brown the beef
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain extra grease if needed.
- Add garlic and ginger
- Stir in the sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until fragrant.
- Make the sauce
- Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, beef broth, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Thicken the sauce
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water until smooth. Pour it into the skillet and stir until the sauce thickens slightly and looks glossy.
- Toss with noodles
- Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss until they are fully coated in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce gets too thick.
- Garnish and serve
- Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use low-sodium soy sauce so the sauce does not become too salty.
- Fresh garlic and ginger give the best flavor, but powdered versions can work in a pinch.
- For more heat, add chili garlic sauce, sriracha, or extra red pepper flakes.
- You can add broccoli, shredded carrots, bell peppers, snap peas, mushrooms, or spinach to make it more filling.
- Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork can be used instead of ground beef.