Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles
Mongolian Beef Noodles are a quick, savory-sweet dinner made with ground beef, tender noodles, garlic, ginger, green onions, and a glossy Mongolian-style sauce. They are easy enough for busy weeknights but flavorful enough to feel like takeout at home. Mongolian Beef Noodles come together in one skillet after the noodles are cooked, making cleanup simple and dinner fast.
The sauce is made with soy sauce, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, and a little sesame oil. It coats the beef and noodles beautifully, giving every bite a balance of salty, sweet, and savory flavor.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: About 35 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
For the Noodles
- 12 ounces lo mein noodles, spaghetti, linguine, or ramen noodles
- Water for boiling
- Pinch of salt
For the Ground Beef
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil or neutral oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely grated
- 4 green onions, sliced, white and green parts separated
Ingredients For the Mongolian Sauce
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup beef broth or water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For Garnish
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Red pepper flakes, optional
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Mongolian Beef Noodles are fast, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor. Ground beef cooks much faster than sliced steak, which makes this version especially convenient for weeknight meals.
Another reason to love Mongolian Beef Noodles is their flexibility. You can add broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, snap peas, or spinach without changing the basic method.
The sauce also has a familiar takeout-style flavor, but making it at home allows you to control the sweetness, saltiness, and spice level.
How to Make Mongolian Beef Noodles
Step 1: Cook the Noodles
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Add the noodles and cook according to the package directions until just al dente.
Drain well and set aside.
Avoid overcooking because the noodles will continue to soften slightly when tossed with the hot sauce.
Step 2: Prepare the Sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, beef broth, cornstarch, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
Whisk until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.
The sauce for Mongolian Beef Noodles should look smooth and thin at this stage because it will thicken in the skillet.
Step 3: Heat the Skillet
Place a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
Add the oil and let it heat for about 30 seconds.
Step 4: Brown the Ground Beef
Add the ground beef.
Break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and fully cooked.
Drain excess grease if necessary.
Step 5: Add Garlic and Ginger
Push the beef slightly to one side of the skillet.
Add the garlic, ginger, and white parts of the green onions.
Cook for about 30 to 60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
This step gives Mongolian Beef Noodles their signature aromatic flavor.
Step 6: Add the Sauce
Pour the prepared Mongolian sauce into the skillet.
Stir well so the beef is evenly coated.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Step 7: Let the Sauce Thicken
Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
The cornstarch will thicken the sauce until it becomes glossy and coats the beef.
If it becomes too thick, add a small splash of broth or water.
Step 8: Add the Noodles
Add the cooked noodles directly to the skillet.
Use tongs to toss them gently through the beef and sauce.
At this stage, Mongolian Beef Noodles should look glossy, saucy, and evenly coated.
Step 9: Adjust the Flavor
Taste the noodles.
Add a little extra soy sauce if you want more saltiness, rice vinegar for more tang, or red pepper flakes for more heat.
If the sauce tastes too strong, a splash of water or broth can soften the flavor.
Step 10: Finish with Green Onions
Add most of the green onion tops.
Toss once more until everything is combined.
Step 11: Garnish
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, remaining green onions, and extra red pepper flakes if desired.
Step 12: Serve
Serve Mongolian Beef Noodles immediately while the noodles are hot and the sauce is glossy.
Serving Suggestions
Mongolian Beef Noodles are filling enough to serve as a complete dinner.
Pair Mongolian Beef Noodles with steamed broccoli, garlic bok choy, roasted green beans, cucumber salad, or sesame vegetables.
For a lighter meal, serve smaller portions with a crisp cabbage slaw.
You can also serve the noodles with spring rolls, dumplings, or a simple vegetable soup for a takeout-style dinner at home.
For another cheesy vegetable dish, try our Crispy Cheesy Zucchini Roll-Ups with tender zucchini, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, herbs, and marinara.
Recipe Tips
Cook the noodles only until al dente so they do not become mushy when tossed in the sauce.
Use low-sodium soy sauce because the hoisin sauce and broth can also contain salt.
Break the ground beef into small pieces so it mixes evenly with the noodles.
Fresh garlic and ginger give the best flavor.
For the best Mongolian Beef Noodles texture, let the sauce thicken before adding the noodles.
Do not let the sauce reduce too far, or the noodles may become sticky and dry.
Use a large skillet or wok so there is enough room to toss everything evenly.
Easy Variations
Mongolian Beef Noodles can be customized with different vegetables, proteins, and noodle types.
Add broccoli florets, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, or zucchini for extra vegetables.
For a spicy version, add chili garlic sauce, sriracha, or more red pepper flakes.
You can make Mongolian Beef Noodles with ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef.
For a richer flavor, add a teaspoon of oyster sauce to the sauce.
Ramen noodles, udon noodles, lo mein noodles, spaghetti, or linguine can all work.
You can also add chopped peanuts or cashews for extra crunch.
You may also enjoy our Cranberry Brie Sourdough Pull-Apart Bread for a festive appetizer with creamy Brie, tart cranberry sauce, garlic butter, rosemary, and golden sourdough.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Mongolian Beef Noodles can be partially prepared ahead.
Cook the ground beef and make the sauce up to 2 days in advance.
Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
The noodles can also be cooked ahead, tossed lightly with oil, and refrigerated.
When ready to serve, reheat the beef and sauce in a skillet, then add the noodles and toss until hot.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover Mongolian Beef Noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
Individual portions can also be microwaved in short intervals.
Avoid overheating because noodles can become overly soft.
Freezing is possible, but freshly refrigerated leftovers usually have the best texture.
Nutrition Information
Approximate nutrition per serving:
Calories: 560
Protein: 31 g
Carbohydrates: 64 g
Fat: 21 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 18 g
Sodium: 920 mg
Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on the noodles, beef, sauces, and serving size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use spaghetti instead of Asian noodles?
Yes. Spaghetti or linguine works very well if lo mein or ramen noodles are unavailable.
Can I reduce the sugar?
Yes. Reduce the brown sugar to 1/4 cup or less according to your preference.
Can I make this spicy?
Yes. Add chili garlic sauce, sriracha, cayenne, or extra red pepper flakes.
Can I add vegetables?
Yes. Broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, carrots, snap peas, and spinach all work well.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. Ground turkey or chicken can replace ground beef.
Why is my sauce too thick?
The cornstarch may have thickened too much. Add broth or water, one tablespoon at a time, until the consistency improves.
Can I make Mongolian Beef Noodles ahead?
Yes. For the best texture, prepare the components separately and combine them when reheating.
Final Thoughts
Mongolian Beef Noodles are an easy way to turn ground beef and simple pantry ingredients into a fast, flavorful dinner.
Because Mongolian Beef Noodles combine savory beef, tender noodles, garlic, ginger, green onions, and a glossy sweet-and-savory sauce, they are satisfying without requiring complicated cooking.
Keep this Mongolian Beef Noodles recipe handy whenever you want an easy weeknight dinner with takeout-inspired flavor.
With browned beef, tender noodles, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onions, Mongolian Beef Noodles deliver a comforting meal that comes together quickly and is easy to customize.