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Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles

Featured in Family Dinner Ideas.

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.

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Fatiha
Updated on Fri, 02 May 2025 12:23:23 GMT
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

Whip up this Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles when you're hungry but short on time. It's the ideal dinner after a tough day - takes minutes to throw together but tastes like you slaved away in the kitchen. Even picky eaters who normally turn up their noses at new dishes can't resist this one.

Benefits of This Dish

This meal blends delicious sweet and savory flavors that appeal to everyone, and you'll have it on the table in under 20 minutes. That gives you extra downtime after a long workday. Toss in whatever ground meat is handy, add any vegetables lying around, and don't stress if you're short an ingredient or two - plenty of simple substitutions work wonderfully.

Ingredients List

  • Ground Beef: Turkey makes a nice substitute
  • Linguine: Any pasta shape does the job
  • Pasta Water: Remember to set some aside
  • Garlic: Freshly chopped is best
  • Ginger Paste: For that tangy kick
  • Soy Sauce: Brings umami depth
  • Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness
  • Red Pepper: Optional for spice lovers
  • Hoisin Sauce: Creates richness
  • Black Pepper: Just a pinch
  • Cornstarch: To thicken everything up
  • Cold Water: For cornstarch mixture
  • Green Onions: Sprinkled on top
  • Sesame Seeds: Final crunchy touch

How To Make Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles

Prepare The Noodles:
Cook linguine in well-salted water until al dente. Don't forget to reserve 2 cups of cooking water before draining - you'll need this later.
Brown The Meat:
Toss beef and garlic into a skillet over medium heat. Break meat apart as it cooks. Once fully browned, pour off any excess grease.
Mix In Flavors:
Add ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, pepper flakes, hoisin, and black pepper. Stir until meat is completely coated with the mixture.
Thicken Your Sauce:
Blend cornstarch with cold water in a small bowl. Pour into meat mixture and let it simmer until sauce thickens up nicely.
Combine Everything:
Pour in one cup of reserved pasta water plus cooked noodles. Mix thoroughly. Add extra water if sauce seems too thick.
Garnish And Serve:
Scatter green onions and sesame seeds over the top. Dish it up while still hot.

Quick Meal Solution

Only have 20 minutes? That's plenty for this tasty dish. It's perfect when you're exhausted but want something homemade. Everything cooks in a single pan after the pasta's done, so there's barely any cleanup. Plus, it tastes just as good as restaurant food but costs a fraction of the price.

Pantry-Friendly Option

Take a look around your kitchen - you've probably got most ingredients already. If you've got soy sauce, some sugar, and pasta, you're off to a great start. Missing something? No worries. No hoisin? Just add more soy sauce with a touch of sugar. Out of fresh garlic? Garlic powder will do in a pinch.

Customization Ideas

Go ahead with different meats like ground turkey or pork. Swap out the linguine for whatever pasta you've got. Toss in some crunchy broccoli or colorful peppers for extra nutrition. Crank up the heat or make it sweeter - adjust everything to match your family's taste preferences.

Sauce Techniques

Want to know the key to perfect sauce? Always mix cornstarch with cold water separately before adding to your pan. This prevents those annoying lumps. Keep stirring as it bubbles and watch the magic happen as it thickens. That saved pasta water is the secret to making your sauce incredibly smooth.

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

Crowd-Pleasing Dinner

This dish satisfies everyone without much effort on your part. Enjoy it solo or with some buttery garlic bread alongside. Need to feed more folks? Just throw in extra vegetables. Cook a bigger batch - it warms up beautifully for tomorrow's lunch too.

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: ~