Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

I’m obsessed with these mongolian ground beef noodles! Made this last night and literally couldn’t stop eating it. If ur looking for that perfect weeknight dinner that’s ready in like 30 mins but tastes like u spent hours cooking it, this is IT. The savory sauce coats every strand of noodle and the ground beef soaks up all those amazing flavors. My kids who r super picky eaters even asked for seconds! It’s way better than takeout and so much cheaper too.

Why You’ll Love This Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles Recipe

Ever had one of those days when u need dinner on the table fast but don’t wanna sacrifice flavor? That’s when this mongolian ground beef comes to the rescue! I first tried making this when my mother-in-law surprised us with a visit and I had nothing planned. She’s usually pretty critical of my cooking (ugh) but even she couldn’t stop raving about these noodles!

What makes these mongolian noodles with ground beef special:

• Ready in under 30 mins from start to finish
• Uses ingredients u probably already have
• Cheaper than ordering takeout
• Perfect for meal prep (tastes even better next day!)
• Can be customized based on what veggies u have

I’ve been making different versions of this mongolian beef and noodles for years now. Started with steak slices but honestly switched to ground beef cuz it’s cheaper and absorbs flavor better. Plus my kids prefer the texture of mongolian ground beef noodles anyway!

What You’ll Need For These Mongolian Noodles

For The Noodles:

• 8 oz lo mein or ramen noodles (the fresh ones work best but dried are fine too)
• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 is what I use but leaner works if ur watching fat)
• 1 onion sliced thin
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated (can sub 1 tsp powder if u don’t have fresh)
• 2-3 green onions chopped
• 1 bell pepper sliced (any color works but red gives nice color)
• 2 carrots julienned or shredded
• 1 tbsp oil for cooking (any neutral oil works)

The noodles r super important in mongolian ground beef noodles. Traditional mongolian beef uses lo mein but honestly I’ve used ramen, udon, even spaghetti in a pinch! Whatever u have works.

For The Mongolian Sauce:

• 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce (regular works too but might be saltier)
• 3 tbsp brown sugar (this gives that signature sweetness)
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce (adds depth but can skip if u don’t have it)
• 1 tsp sesame oil (don’t skip this! gives authentic flavor)
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (helps thicken everything up)

This sauce is what makes mongolian ground beef so special. The combo of sweet, salty and umami is absolutely addictive! If u like spicier food add more red pepper flakes or even some sriracha.

How To Make Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Making these mongolian noodles with ground beef is super simple! Even if ur not confident in kitchen u can totally handle this.

Step 1: Prep Everything

Before u start cooking get everything ready. Slice ur veggies, mix the sauce ingredients in a bowl (except cornstarch and water – mix those separately), and cook noodles according to package directions but make em slightly undercooked. They’ll finish cooking in the sauce later.

Step 2: Cook The Beef

1. Heat oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat
2. Add ground beef and break it up with spoon
3. Cook until no longer pink (about 5-6 mins)
4. Remove excess fat if needed (I usually keep some for flavor)

When cooking mongolian ground beef make sure not to overcrowd the pan. If ur pan is small maybe cook meat in batches.

Step 3: Add Aromatics and Veggies

1. Add onions to the same pan and cook till softened (about 2 mins)
2. Throw in garlic and ginger, stir for 30 seconds till fragrant
3. Add bell peppers and carrots, cook another 2-3 mins till slightly softened but still crisp

The veggies should still have some bite to them. Nobody likes mushy veggies in their mongolian beef with ground beef!

Step 4: Combine Everything

1. Pour the sauce mixture over the beef and veggies
2. Add the cornstarch slurry (water + cornstarch)
3. Stir well and bring to simmer till sauce thickens (about 1-2 mins)
4. Add cooked noodles to the pan and toss everything together
5. Sprinkle with green onions and give it one final toss

The sauce will thicken as it cools so don’t worry if it seems a bit thin at first. By the time u serve these mongolian ground beef noodle recipe, it’ll be perfect!

Tasty Variations of Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Spicy Version

Like it hot? Add 1-2 tbsp of chili garlic sauce or sriracha to the mongolian sauce. U could also add sliced fresh chilis while cooking the veggies.

Veggie Packed

For extra nutrition, add broccoli florets, snow peas, mushrooms, or bok choy to your mongolian ground beef and noodles. Just adjust cooking time so everything’s tender-crisp.

Mongolian Beef Noodle Soup

Add extra broth to the sauce (about 2 cups) and skip the cornstarch for a delicious soup version of this mongolian ground beef noodles recipe.

Turkey or Chicken Substitute

Not a beef fan? Ground turkey or chicken works great in this recipe too! Just add a bit more oil since they’re leaner than beef.

Gluten-Free Option

Use rice noodles and tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free version of these mongolian noodles with ground beef.

Time-Saving Tips for Busy Weeknights

When making mongolian ground beef noodles on busy nights:

• Prep veggies ahead of time and store in fridge
• Make sauce up to 3 days in advance
• Use pre-minced garlic and ginger from jar
• Buy pre-shredded carrots

If ur really short on time, this mongolian ground beef recipe still comes together fast even without prep!

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles

These mongolian noodles with ground beef actually taste even better next day! Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge for up to 3 days.

To reheat:

• Microwave: 1-2 mins stirring halfway
• Stovetop: Add splash of water and heat on medium-low until hot

The mongolian ground beef noodle recipe makes great meal prep too. I often double batch on Sunday for lunches during week.

More Asian-Inspired Recipes You’ll Love

If u enjoyed these mongolian ground beef noodles, u might also like:

• Kung Pao Beef – another quick weeknight favorite
• Creamy Shrimp Scampi – perfect for seafood lovers
• Chipotle Bowl Recipe – for when ur craving something different
• Fajitas De Pollo – quick and flavorful chicken dish
• Focaccia Pizza – great for pizza night!

Serve These Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles Tonight!

Honestly this dish brings me back to when I was in college and would save up to order takeout. Now I make these mongolian ground beef noodles at home for fraction of cost! My husband says its better than restaurant version and always goes for seconds.

The best part about cooking mongolian noodles with ground beef at home is u control ingredients. Less sodium, no MSG, and can add whatever veggies ur family likes. Plus leftovers taste amazing cold straight from fridge (don’t judge me lol).

Next time ur craving takeout but don’t wanna spend the money, try these mongolian ground beef noodles instead. Ur family will thank u and ur wallet will too! Let me know how it turns out if u try the recipe.

Don’t forget to check out my Marry Me Chicken Pasta and Smothered Chicken And Rice for more easy dinner ideas!

Q&A bout this recipe (stuff ppl wanna kno)

whats in the sauce for mongolian beef??

k so my mongolian sauce is just soy sauce (like 1/3 cup) + bout 3 spoons brown sugar + splash water + lil hoisin if u got it + drop of sesame oil which smells AMAZING + red pepper if u like spicy food.

i dont measure perfect lol just taste as i go. sometimes i toss garlic+ginger straight in the sauce when im in a hurry. the magic is the sweet+salty combo!! that sticky sauce is what makes mongolian ground beef noodles sooo addictive. gotta add cornstarch tho or sauce stays runny

noodle type for mongolian??

so ur supposed to use lo mein (those chinese egg noodles) but between us i grab whatever noodles r in my cabinet when making mongolian ground beef noodles!! used udon last week. ramen works gr8 (toss that seasoning packet tho). even used angel hair pasta once when i was desperate lol

my mom would prob be horrified but fresh noodles r best if u can find em at store. dry ones work fine tho. my gluten free friend makes it w rice noodles n says its still yummy

what makes it mongolian ground beef??

its just a lazy version of the fancy restaurant dish!! normal mongolian beef uses those thin strips of steak but ground beef is WAY cheaper n faster.

same awesome sauce tho – soy, sugar, etc. my hubby says ground beef actually tastes better cuz it soaks up more flavor. our mongolian ground beef noodles r ready in like 20 mins vs forever w/ sliced beef. plus i hate slicing raw meat (grosses me out tbh)

difference between mongolian beef n other beef dishes??

its ALL in the sauce!!

mongolian beef w/ ground beef has this sweet+salty thing happening. not crazy spicy like szechuan (tho u can add heat if u want). not loaded w/ veg like beef/broccoli.

the sauce gets all sticky n coats everything. once u try mongolian ground beef noodles u can spot that flavor anywhere!! my kids call it “the sweet meat” lol. its like takeout but WAY better homemade

best meat for mongolian beef???

depends what ur making!!

for classic mongolian – flank steak sliced SUPER thin (freeze it little bit first so easier to slice)

but for our mongolian ground beef noodles recipe obvs we use ground beef duh!! i always grab 80/20 cuz leaner beef gets dry n weird. tried the fancy organic 90/10 once n everyone complained.

ground turkey works ok if ur watching red meat but needs more oil. beef just tastes better in mongolian ground beef noodles imo!!