Description
Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles is a quick and flavorful stir-fried noodle dish featuring tender ground beef simmered in a savory-sweet sauce made of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and hoisin sauce. Tossed with perfectly cooked spaghetti or your favorite noodles and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, this 30-minute meal offers a delicious Asian-inspired dinner option that’s perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or your favorite noodles
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Garnish
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook the Noodles: Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the noodles thoroughly and set them aside to prevent overcooking.
- Prepare the Beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it’s fully browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Stir continuously for about 1 minute until fragrant. Then mix in the low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and hoisin sauce. Let the mixture simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Thicken the Sauce: Stir the prepared cornstarch slurry into the skillet and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened into a glossy glaze coat.
- Add Spice: Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes according to your heat preference and stir well to incorporate them evenly into the sauce.
- Combine with Noodles: Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat all the noodles with the thickened sauce. Cook together for another 1-2 minutes to heat through and allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve: Transfer the Mongolian ground beef noodles to serving plates or a large dish. Garnish generously with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute spaghetti with udon, lo mein, or rice noodles for a different texture.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spiciness of the dish.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to manage the saltiness and keep it healthier.
- For a gluten-free option, replace soy sauce with tamari and noodles with gluten-free varieties.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; reheat gently on the stovetop.
