Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Mongolian ground beef noodles are the ultimate comfort food—a savory, slightly sweet stir-fry tossed with tender noodles and a rich, flavorful sauce. I whipped these up last week when we were craving takeout, and let me tell you, we didn’t miss the restaurant one bit! This dish is budget-friendly, easy to make, and comes together in just 30 minutes. Perfect when you want to impress your family with something delicious.

This dish is budget-friendly, easy to make, and comes together in just 30 minutes. Perfect when you want to impress your family with something delicious.

If you love asian-inspired recipes, you’ll want to try this Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken ; it’s juicy, flavorful, and so easy to make.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and easy: You can have dinner set on the table in under 30 minutes.
• Family-friendly: The sweet and savory flavors are a hit with kids and adults alike.
• One-pan meal: Fewer dishes to wash—YES, PLEASE.
• Customizable: You can add your roasted or air fried veggies or adjust the spice level to suit your taste.

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Ingredients for Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles

Forget takeout and create this yummy Mongolian ground beef and noodles recipe at home! You’ll only need simple ingredients to easily make this dish. It’s all about basic pantry items, fresh aromatics, and noodles that soak up the tasty sauce.

• Ground Beef: I prefer using lean ground beef since it reduces the grease while keeping the dish hearty. That said, you can use whatever ground meat you like, such as turkey or chicken, for a lighter option.
• Udon Noodles: These thick, chewy noodles are the perfect base for this dish because they absorb the sauce beautifully. If you don’t have udon, any noodle you love will work—like spaghetti, linguine, or even rice noodles.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds bold, warm flavors that blend perfectly with the sauce.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is the real secret to the savory base of the sauce. I like to go with low-sodium soy sauce so I can better control the saltiness.
• Brown Sugar: This balances the savory flavors with just the right amount of sweetness.
• Beef Broth: A touch of broth adds depth to the sauce while giving it the perfect consistency.
• Hoisin Sauce: This ingredient brings a sweet, tangy, and slightly salty kick to the dish.
• Ginger: Grated ginger or ginger paste gives the sauce a bright, zesty flavor with a little peppery heat.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional but adds a subtle heat that takes the dish to another level. You can skip this if you’re cooking for kids or prefer a milder flavor.
• Cornstarch and Water: This slurry is used to thicken the sauce so it clings perfectly to the beef and noodles.

Equipment Needed for Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles

To make this easy and flavorful Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles, you’ll need just a few basic kitchen tools:

• Large Skillet or Wok: Essential for cooking the ground beef and combining all the ingredients. A skillet with high sides works best to prevent spills when tossing the noodles.
• Medium Pot: To boil the noodles.
• Mixing Bowl: For whisking together the sauce ingredients.
• Whisk: To mix the sauce and ensure the cornstarch slurry is smooth.
• Tongs or Pasta Fork: For tossing the noodles with the sauce and beef.
• Knife and Cutting Board: So you can chop the garlic and prepare any other fresh ingredients.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: For exact measurements of the sauce components and seasonings.

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How to Make Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles

Get ready to make a dinner that tastes like it came straight from your most favorite restaurant! This dish is a go-to for me because it’s quick, delicious, and satisfies everyone at the table—even on busy weeknights.

Cook the Noodles: You prepare the noodles according to the directions on the package. Once cooked, drain and set aside while you work on the rest of the dish.

Brown the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat then cook your ground beef until mostly browned. You add minced garlic and cook for about a minute, until fragrant. Drain off excess grease before moving on.

Make the Sauce: While the beef is cooking, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, beef broth, hoisin sauce, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. This sauce is the heart of the dish—it’s savory, sweet, and full of umami flavor.

Toss the Sauce and Beef: Pour the sauce into the skillet with the beef and stir everything together. Let it simmer for a few minutes, allowing the beef to cook thoroughly and absorb the flavors.

Combine with Noodles: You add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss them with the beef and sauce until evenly coated.

Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Pour it into the skillet and stir until the sauce thickens and coats beautifully the noodles and beef .

Serve and Enjoy: Take the skillet off the heat and serve immediately while it’s hot and fresh.

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Tips for the Best Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Use fresh aromatics: Fresh garlic and ginger elevate the flavor—skip the pre-minced stuff if you can.

Don’t overcook the noodles: Slightly undercook them so they don’t get mushy when tossed in the sauce.

Adjust sweetness: If you like it less sweet, reduce the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons.

Prep everything beforehand: This dish cooks quickly, so have all your ingredients ready to go.

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What to Serve with Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Pair these noodles with easy side dishes for a full meal. Frozen Broccoli in Air Fryer, snow peas, or Air Fryer Butternut Squash are great for balancing out the richness of the main dish. For a nice change, try serving with egg rolls or a refreshing cucumber salad. And if you want a really special meal, add a side of dumplings!

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Storing and Freezing Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Storing

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing

Freeze the cooked beef and sauce separately from the noodles for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, you reheat the beef mixture and cook fresh noodles to toss together.

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How to Reheat Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

To reheat the noodles, use a skillet over medium heat then add a little water or broth to loosen the sauce. Alternatively, you can also microwave them in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until they’re heated all the way through.

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Recipe Variations & Substitutions

• Protein Swap: Use ground turkey, chicken, or pork instead of beef.
• Veggie Boost: Add bell peppers, mushrooms, or snap peas for extra crunch.
• Low-Carb Option: Replace noodles with spiralized zucchini or cauliflower rice.
• Gluten-Free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce and rice noodles instead of regular pasta.

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FAQs About Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

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