Easy Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles Recipe | 20-Minute Dinner

Are you craving the rich, savory flavors of Mongolian beef but don’t have the time for a complex recipe? Our Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe offers the perfect solution! This delicious dish combines the classic sweet and savory Mongolian sauce with affordable ground beef and tender noodles for a quick weeknight dinner that tastes like it came from your favorite restaurant.

Why You’ll Love This Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles Recipe

Traditional Mongolian beef typically uses flank steak or thinly sliced beef, but substituting ground beef makes this dish more affordable and significantly faster to prepare. The Mongolian recipe come together in just 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights when you need a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Despite the name, Mongolian beef (and by extension, our Mongolian noodles recipe) isn’t actually from Mongolia. It’s an American-Chinese creation that has gained tremendous popularity for its irresistible combination of sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavors. The rich sauce clings perfectly to both the ground beef and the noodles, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.

Quick Recipe Card

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 4 servings

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 380 | Fat: 18g | Carbs: 36g | Sugar: 12g | Protein: 22g

Key Equipment:

• Large skillet or wok
• Mixing bowl (for sauce)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Tongs or spatula

Ingredients for Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

For the Noodles and Beef:

• 8 ounces of noodles (lo mein, udon, or spaghetti work well)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1/2 cup green onions, sliced (plus more for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

For the Mongolian Sauce:

• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoons sriracha or red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice preference)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water (for cornstarch slurry)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Noodles

Start by cooking your noodles according to the package instructions. For a truly authentic Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe, lo mein or udon noodles work wonderfully, but regular spaghetti is a great alternative if that’s what you have on hand. Cook them about 1 minute less than the package directions for the perfect texture, as they’ll finish cooking in the sauce. Once done, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then set aside.

Step 2: Make the Mongolian Sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, 1/4 cup water, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha or red pepper flakes. This forms the base of your delicious Mongolian sauce. In a separate small bowl, combine the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry that will thicken your sauce. Set both aside for now.

Step 3: Cook the Ground Beef

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5-7 minutes. Using lean ground beef reduces the need to drain excess fat, saving you time in preparing these noodles.

Step 4: Add Aromatics

Once the beef is browned, add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. These aromatics are essential in giving your recipe an authentic flavor profile.

Step 5: Combine with Sauce

Pour the Mongolian sauce mixture over the beef and bring to a simmer. Give the cornstarch slurry a quick stir to recombine, then pour it into the skillet as well. Stir continuously as the sauce thickens, which should take about 1-2 minutes.

Step 6: Add Noodles and Finish

Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss well to combine, ensuring they’re evenly coated with the sauce. This is where your Mongolian recipe comes together beautifully! Stir in the green onions and continue to cook for an additional minute until everything is heated through.

Step 7: Serve and Garnish

Transfer your noodles to serving plates or bowls. Garnish with additional sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Tips for Perfect Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Choose the Right Noodles

While this Mongolian noodles dish is versatile when it comes to noodle selection, thicker noodles like lo mein or udon tend to hold up better to the robust sauce. If using thinner noodles like spaghetti, be careful not to overcook them as they can become mushy when tossed with the sauce.

Balance the Flavors

The perfect Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe strikes a balance between sweet, savory, and spicy. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a bit more brown sugar. For more heat, increase the amount of sriracha or red pepper flakes. The beauty of making these noodles at home is that you can adjust the flavors to suit your taste perfectly.

Don’t Skip the Cornstarch

The cornstarch slurry is crucial for achieving that signature thick, glossy sauce that characterizes Mongolian ground beef noodles. Without it, the sauce will remain thin and won’t cling as well to the beef and noodles.

Cook in Batches if Needed

If your skillet isn’t large enough to comfortably hold all the ingredients, consider cooking in batches or using a larger pot. Overcrowding the pan can cause the ingredients to steam rather than stir-fry, affecting the final texture of your noodles.

Variations on the Classic Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles Recipe

Vegetable-Packed Version

For a more nutritionally balanced meal, add vegetables to your ground beef noodles. Broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, and snap peas all work wonderfully. Add firmer vegetables like carrots after browning the beef but before adding the sauce, and more delicate vegetables like bell peppers closer to the end of cooking.

Spicy Mongolian Noodles

If you love heat, transform this into a spicy Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe by doubling the sriracha or red pepper flakes and adding a tablespoon of chili oil at the end.

Mongolian Beef with Rice Noodles

For a gluten-free option (using gluten-free soy sauce as well), substitute rice noodles in your noodles dish. Rice noodles offer a lighter texture and absorb the rich sauce beautifully.

Mongolian Turkey or Chicken Noodles

Don’t have ground beef on hand? This Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe works just as well with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version that still packs all the flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Can I make this Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe ahead of time?

Yes! This dish reheats wonderfully, making it perfect for meal prep. Store the cooled Mongolian ground beef noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to revitalize the sauce if it has thickened too much.

Is this Mongolian noodles dish spicy?

The recipe as written has a mild to medium spice level. The heat comes from the sriracha or red pepper flakes, which you can adjust according to your preference. For a kid-friendly version of Mongolian ground beef noodles, simply reduce or omit the spicy components.

What can I substitute for hoisin sauce in this Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe?

If you don’t have hoisin sauce, you can make a substitute by mixing 2 tablespoons of soy sauce with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a pinch of five-spice powder (if available). This won’t perfectly replicate hoisin’s flavor in your noodles, but it will provide a similar sweet and savory element.

Can I use different types of noodles?

Absolutely! While lo mein or udon noodles are traditional for Mongolian ground beef noodles, you can use spaghetti, fettuccine, soba, or even rice noodles. Each will give your noodles dish a slightly different texture but will still work beautifully with the sauce.

What can I serve with Mongolian ground beef noodles?

This Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe is a complete meal on its own, but if you’d like to serve it with sides, consider steamed broccoli, a simple Asian cucumber salad, or vegetable spring rolls to complement the rich flavors of the noodles.

The History Behind Mongolian Beef

Despite its name, Mongolian beef—the inspiration for our Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe—has little connection to Mongolia. It was actually created in Taiwanese restaurants before gaining popularity in Chinese-American cuisine. The dish gets its name from the cooking method that uses high heat and minimal oil, similar to how nomadic Mongolians might have prepared food.

Traditional Mongolian beef typically features thinly sliced flank steak stir-fried with green onions in a sweet and savory sauce. Our Mongolian ground beef noodles adaptation maintains all those beloved flavors while making the dish more accessible and quicker to prepare by using ground beef instead of steak.

Why Ground Beef Works So Well in Mongolian Noodles

Using ground beef in this noodles recipe offers several advantages:

1. Cost-Effective: Ground beef is typically more affordable than cuts like flank or sirloin steak traditionally used in Mongolian beef.
2. Faster Cooking: Ground beef cooks in minutes, significantly reducing the preparation time for your Mongolian ground beef noodles.
3. Flavor Absorption: The small pieces of ground beef absorb the Mongolian sauce more thoroughly than larger pieces of steak, creating a more flavorful Mongolian ground beef noodles dish.
4. Texture: When combined with noodles, the ground beef creates a satisfying texture in every bite of your noodles.

Nutritional Benefits of Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

While this Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe is undeniably delicious, it also offers several nutritional benefits:

• Protein: The ground beef provides ample protein, making these Mongolian noodles a satisfying meal that will keep you full longer.
• Complex Carbohydrates: If you choose whole grain noodles for your Mongolian ground beef noodles, you’ll add fiber and additional nutrients to the dish.
• Vitamins and Minerals: The green onions, garlic, and ginger in this Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe provide vitamins A and C, as well as beneficial compounds with anti-inflammatory properties.

To make this Mongolian dish even healthier, consider using lean ground beef (90% lean or higher) and reducing the brown sugar slightly. You can also add a variety of colorful vegetables to boost the nutritional profile.

Perfect Occasions for Serving Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

This versatile Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe is perfect for various occasions:

• Weeknight Dinners: When you need a quick yet satisfying meal, these noodles come together in just 20 minutes.
• Meal Prep: Make a double batch of Mongolian ground beef noodles on Sunday, and you’ll have delicious lunches or dinners ready for the busy week ahead.
• Family Gatherings: This crowd-pleasing dish can easily be scaled up to feed a larger group. Set up a noodles bar with the base recipe and additional toppings like crushed peanuts, extra green onions, and varying levels of hot sauce so everyone can customize their bowl.
• Asian-Inspired Dinner Parties: Serve these Mongolian ground beef noodles alongside spring rolls, dumplings, and a simple Asian slaw for an impressive Asian-fusion feast.

Conclusion

Our Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe offers the perfect combination of convenience, affordability, and incredible flavor. By substituting ground beef for the traditional sliced steak, we’ve created a version of Mongolian noodles that’s accessible for home cooks of all skill levels, without compromising on the bold, crave-worthy taste that makes Mongolian beef so popular.

Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight dinner, meal prepping for the week ahead, or simply craving the sweet and savory flavors of your favorite takeout, these Mongolian ground beef noodles deliver satisfaction in every bite. The glossy sauce perfectly coats each strand of noodle and morsel of beef, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that will leave you reaching for seconds.

So the next time you’re wondering what to make for dinner, remember this 20-minute Mongolian ground beef noodles recipe—it might just become your new go-to meal!