Description
How to make Mongolian ground beef noodles with tender beef, savory sauce and crispy vegetables that deliver restaurant flavor in 30 minutes at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, 85/15 lean
- 8 oz lo mein noodles or spaghetti
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
Mongolian Sauce
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Vegetables & Garnish
- 2 bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Noodles: Boil noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking, then set aside. This prevents mushy noodles later.
- Make Sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, oyster sauce, cornstarch, beef broth, and sesame oil until smooth. Make sure cornstarch dissolves completely to avoid lumps.
- Brown Beef: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add Aromatics: Push beef to one side of pan. Add onion, garlic, and ginger to empty space. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant, then mix with beef.
- Cook Vegetables: Add bell peppers to the pan and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender. They should still have a slight crunch for perfect texture contrast.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked noodles and sauce to the pan. Toss everything together for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats noodles evenly and beautifully.
- Serve Hot: Remove from heat and garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately while hot for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Don’t skip rinsing the cooked noodles with cold water to prevent overcooking and sticking together.
- Sauce can be made up to a week ahead and stored in the refrigerator for meal prep convenience.
- Ground turkey or chicken can substitute for beef – just add extra oil since they’re leaner.
- Add vegetables like snap peas, carrots, or mushrooms to customize nutrition and flavors.
- Leftover noodles reheat best with a splash of broth to restore sauce consistency.
- Double the recipe easily for meal prep or feeding larger crowds successfully.
Allergy Information: Gluten, Soy, Sesame
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Protein: 28g