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Sweet Asian Beef Bowl

Brown your ground beef in a hot pan till it's all crumbly and good. While that's going, get your noodles cooking in another pot. Mix up the sweet sauce with soy, brown sugar, and garlic - maybe some ginger if you like it. Once the meat's done, pour that sauce right in and let it bubble up and get thick. Could add some cornstarch if you want it thicker. Drain those noodles when they're just right, not too soft. Mix everything together in the big pan, letting the noodles soak up all that good sauce. Top it with green onions, maybe some sesame seeds. Takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, and makes enough for four hungry folks. Save some noodle water in case sauce gets too thick.

Featured in Family Dinner Ideas.

Fatiha
Updated on Sun, 05 Jan 2025 01:25:25 GMT
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A close-up of a bowl of spaghetti topped with a meat sauce and garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Pin it
A close-up of a bowl of spaghetti topped with a meat sauce and garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. | zestplate.com

Make this Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles when you want something fast but filling. It's the perfect meal after a long day - quick to cook but tastes like you spent hours making it. Even kids who don't like trying new foods love this one.

Why Make This

This dish mixes sweet and salty flavors that everyone likes, and you can have it ready in about 20 minutes. That means more time to relax after work. Use any ground meat you have, add whatever veggies you like, and don't worry if you're missing something - there are easy swaps that work just fine.

What You Need

  • Ground Beef: Or turkey if you want
  • Linguine: Regular pasta works too
  • Pasta Water: Save some when cooking
  • Garlic: Fresh minced
  • Ginger Paste: Adds zip
  • Soy Sauce: For salt and flavor
  • Brown Sugar: Makes it sweet
  • Red Pepper: If you like heat
  • Hoisin Sauce: Makes it rich
  • Black Pepper: Just a bit
  • Cornstarch: Thickens sauce
  • Cold Water: For mixing
  • Green Onions: For the top
  • Sesame Seeds: Sprinkle on last

How to Make It

Cook Your Pasta:
Boil pasta in salty water until just tender. Before draining, save 2 cups of the water - you'll need it later.
Cook the Beef:
Put beef and garlic in a pan over medium heat. Break up meat while it cooks. When it's brown, drain off the extra fat.
Add the Good Stuff:
Stir in ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, pepper flakes, hoisin, and black pepper. Mix so meat gets coated with everything.
Make Sauce Thick:
Mix cornstarch with cold water in a cup. Pour into meat and let it bubble until sauce gets thick.
Mix It All:
Add a cup of that pasta water you saved and the cooked noodles. Stir everything together. Add more water if it's too thick.
Finish Up:
Top with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve while it's hot.

Fast and Easy

Got 20 minutes? That's all you need for this meal. Perfect when you're tired but still want real food. Everything cooks in one pan after the pasta, so cleanup is quick too. Even better - it tastes just as good as takeout but costs way less.

Use What You Have

Check your kitchen - you probably have most of what you need already. Got soy sauce, sugar, and pasta? You're halfway there. If you're missing something, there's usually an easy swap. No hoisin? Use extra soy sauce and sugar. No fresh garlic? Powder works too.

Mix It Up

Try different meats like turkey or pork. Switch up the noodles - any kind works. Throw in some broccoli or peppers if you want veggies. Make it spicier or sweeter - it's your dinner, so make it how you like it.

Get Sauce Right

Here's the trick to smooth sauce - mix cornstarch with cold water first, then add it to the pan. This stops lumps from forming. Stir while it bubbles and watch it get thick. That pasta water you saved helps make the sauce silky.

A close-up of a bowl of noodles topped with seasoned ground beef, green onions, and sesame seeds. Pin it
A close-up of a bowl of noodles topped with seasoned ground beef, green onions, and sesame seeds. | zestplate.com

Feed the Family

This fills everyone up without a lot of work. Serve it alone or add garlic bread on the side. Want to stretch it? Throw in more veggies. Make extra - it heats up great the next day for lunch.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Need different meat?

Turkey works fine. Chicken too. Even pork's good. Cook it the same way. Just drain the fat well.

→ Want more heat?

Add hot pepper bits. More black pepper. Spicy sauce works. Start slow though. Can't take the heat out.

→ Sauce too thin?

Mix corn starch up. Add bit by bit. Keep stirring well. Let it bubble some. Thickens up quick.

→ Can't eat wheat?

Get special noodles. Use tamari sauce. Check all your ingredients. Rice noodles work well. Still tastes right.

→ Skip the meat?

Tofu works nicely. More veggies help. Mushrooms too. Season them well. Keep the sauce the same.

→ Getting too dry?

Save pasta water. More sauce helps. Don't cook too hot. Add a splash of oil. Stir more often.

→ Taking it places?

Pack ingredients separately. Mix there maybe. Keep sauce handy. Bring extra bits. Heat up quick.

→ Need it faster?

Buy pre-cut veggies. Quick cook noodles. Have the sauce ready. One pan works. Still tastes good.

→ Making a big batch?

Double works fine. Need a bigger pan. More sauce maybe. Watch cooking time. Don't crowd the pan.

→ Want more taste?

Add fresh ginger. More garlic helps. Try sesame oil. Green onions are nice. Even nuts work.

→ Noodles sticky?

Oil them quickly. Keep them moving. Don't overcook. Rinse if needed. Toss them well.

→ Too sweet or salty?

Use less sweet sauce. More water helps. Taste as you go. Add a bit of acid. Balance with heat.

Conclusion

Like this? Try beef stir fry next. Same good taste with crispy veggies.

Mongolian Ground Beef And Noodles

Fast sweet beef bowl.

Prep Time
5 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
20 Minutes
By: Fatiha

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Asian

Yield: 4 Servings (4 servings)

Dietary: Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1 lb Ground Beef (Ground turkey, chicken or pork will also work).
02 12 oz Linguine Pasta (Spaghetti or Fettuccine also work great).
03 2 cups Pasta Water, reserved from cooking the pasta.
04 4-5 Garlic Cloves, minced.
05 1 tsp Ginger Paste (or 1 teaspoon dried ginger).
06 1/4 cup Soy Sauce.
07 1/4 cup Brown Sugar.
08 1 pinch Red pepper flakes (optional, for a slight hint of spice).
09 3 tbsp Hoisin Sauce.
10 1/2 tsp Ground Black pepper.
11 1 tbsp Cornstarch.
12 2 tbsp Cold Water.
13 2-3 Green Onions, sliced (optional as garnish).
14 1-2 tsp Sesame Seeds (optional as garnish).

Instructions

Step 01

Start cooking your pasta in some salted boiling water, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Don't forget to reserve 2 cups of the water before draining the pasta.

Step 02

In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the minced garlic, enjoying the aroma as they cook together. Drain any excess grease, if necessary, to keep the dish from becoming too oily.

Step 03

Stir in the ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, hoisin sauce, and black pepper, fully integrating them into the beef until the mixture is evenly coated.

Step 04

In a small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch until it's smooth. Stir this into the meat and let it simmer for a couple of minutes, watching as your sauce thickens beautifully.

Step 05

Add in 1 cup of the pasta water along with the cooked pasta, stirring well until the noodles are enveloped in the luscious sauce. Feel free to add more pasta water upon preference for consistency.

Step 06

Finish with garnishing your dish using the sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired, and serve hot. Relish each bite!.

Notes

  1. Feel free to swap out the protein for turkey, chicken, or pork to suit your taste or dietary needs.
  2. The level of spice can be adjusted by the amount of red pepper flakes you choose to use.
  3. For a slightly thicker sauce, you may use additional cornstarch mixed in water.

Tools You'll Need

  • Skillet.
  • Pot.
  • Strainer.
  • Small bowl.
  • Knife.
  • Cutting Board.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Gluten.
  • Soy.
  • Sesame.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~