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Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

A comforting and quick dish featuring savory ground beef, garlic, and ginger, tossed with noodles in a rich sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Comfort Food
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound 90 percent lean ground beef Keeps the dish lighter but full of flavor.
  • 8 ounces linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti noodles Choose your favorite.
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger Adds a lovely zing.
  • 5 cloves minced garlic Fresh garlic gives it that extra flavor boost.
Sauce Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons light soy sauce For that classic umami.
  • 1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce Adds depth and color.
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar Balances the salty with a hint of sweetness.
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce Bring in the rich, complex flavor.
  • 1/4 cup water To mix it all together.
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch Helps thicken the sauce.
  • 2 tablespoons cold water (for cornstarch slurry) A little trick to achieve the perfect sauce consistency.
Garnish
  • to taste Chopped scallions Adds a pop of color and freshness.

Method
 

Cooking the Beef
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, and as it sizzles, break it into small, uniform pieces. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes until browned, then drain excess fat and set aside.
Making the Sauce
  1. In a small bowl, combine the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, and 1/4 cup water.
  2. In another bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water to form a slurry.
Cooking the Noodles
  1. In a pot, cook noodles according to package directions until al dente, remembering to reserve about 6 tablespoons of noodle water.
Combining Ingredients
  1. In the same skillet used for beef, sauté minced garlic and ginger for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Return the cooked beef to the pan.
  3. Pour in the sauce mixture and add the cornstarch slurry, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  4. If too thick, add reserved noodle water to reach desired consistency.
Final Steps
  1. Toss the cooked noodles in the pan with the sauce and beef until well-coated.
  2. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped scallions.

Notes

You can prep the sauce and garlic/ginger mix ahead of time. If the sauce is too salty, balance with more brown sugar or a splash of water. Add vegetables like bell peppers or broccoli for extra crunch.