Mongolian Beef and Noodles | Easy Asian Ground Beef Recipe

Mongolian Beef and Noodles is a terrific way to use up that ground beef in your refrigerator! You’ll forget all about spaghetti and tacos when you taste these irresistible noodles and beef swimming in a delicious homemade Asian-inspired sauce.

What Makes This Ground Beef Dish Great

• It’s budget-friendly. We all love slurping noodles from our favorite hibachi restaurant, but when you’re cooking for a lot of people, the cost can add up quickly. This recipe provides all of your favorite flavors without breaking the bank.
• You can customize it. Feel free to customize this lovely homemade sauce to suit your tastebuds. Use some of my variations below to tweak it to your liking.
• It’ll feed a crowd. If you’re expecting extra guests at the dinner table or have a lot of loved ones in the kitchen every night, this dish won’t leave anyone hungry.
• It’s great for meal prep. This Mongolian Beef and Noodles is a fantastic option to make ahead of time and take for lunches or portion out of dinners later in the week. It reheats like a dream!

Whether you’re looking for a dish that you can whip up in a rush or something that will cure that craving for takeout, this Mongolian Ground Beef and Noodles recipe is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

What Does Mongolian Beef And Noodles Taste Like?

The sauce in this Asian beef and noodles recipe is what makes it extra special. It is a delightful combination of sweet, salty, and umami flavors. Sprinkle in a few red pepper flakes for a hint of heat and let the ground beef and noodles simmer in it before digging in. It’s so good you’ll want to lick the plate!

Ingredients To Grab

• Ground Beef– This is the main protein for the dish. It provides a hearty texture and rich flavor that carries the sauce well.
• Spaghetti Noodles– Spaghetti noodles are used as a substitute for traditional Asian noodles. Swap out the variety of noodles to use what you have in your kitchen.
• Beef Broth– Adds depth and richness to the sauce, enhancing the overall meaty flavor of the dish.
• Soy Sauce– Soy sauce provides saltiness and umami flavor. It forms part of the base for the Mongolian sauce.
• Hoisin Sauce– This sauce adds a sweet and slightly tangy taste. It also helps thicken the sauce.
• Brown Sugar– Used to add sweetness, balancing the saltiness of the soy sauce. It enhances the depth of flavor.
• Garlic Paste– Garlic paste infuses the dish with a strong, aromatic flavor. Swap it out with minced garlic if you don’t have garlic paste.
• Ground Ginger– Adds a hint of spice to the dish without being overpowering.
• Black Pepper– Brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.
• Sesame Seeds and Green Onions – Used for garnishes and also provide freshness and additional texture to the plate.
• Red Pepper Flakes (optional) – For those who enjoy heat, red pepper flakes can be added to introduce a spicy kick to the dish.

How To Make Mongolian Ground Beef Pasta

Cook the pasta. Place the pasta in a pot of boiling water and cook it according to the package instructions. For regular spaghetti noodles, this should be about 7 minutes. Drain the water when they are al dente.

Brown the ground beef. While the pasta is cooking, brown and crumble the ground beef for 5-7 minutes or until there is no pink remaining. Remove any excess fat from the skillet that may have cooked out.

Create the sauce. Once the ground beef renderings are removed, add in the beef broth, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, garlic paste, ground ginger, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Allow it to simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.

Combine the Mongolian Beef and Noodles. Once the sauce has slightly thickened, place the cooked noodles into the ground beef and sauce mixture. Toss in the sauce until the noodles are completely coated.

Garnish, serve, and enjoy! Sprinkle chopped green onions and sesame seeds over the Mongolian Beef and Noodles and serve.

Tips And Tricks

This recipe is wonderfully easy and perfect for beginners. Here are a few tips and tricks to guarantee it turns out perfect every time:

• Remove the extra fat. After you cook the ground beef, use a paper towel to remove any excess fat from the skillet before creating the sauce. This will improve the taste and mouthfeel of the dish.
• Don’t overcook the pasta. Overcooked pasta is extremely delicate and can easily break when it is stirred into the beef and sauce. To prevent your Mongolian Beef and Noodles from turning into a pan full of pasta mush, watch your pasta carefully.
• Adjust the sauce. Taste and adjust your sauce before adding it to the pasta. This dish is on the sweet side compared to some of the restaurant versions I’ve tried. If you aren’t a fan of sweeter sauces, use half of the amount of brown sugar the recipe calls for and add more a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the sweetness you desire.

Variations

Who doesn’t love a versatile dish? There are countless ways to switch up this dish to make it perfect for your palate. Here are some of my favorite ways to switch it up:

• Make it spicy. Stir in some red chili paste or gochujang when creating the sauce to turn up the heat.
• Toss in some veggies. Steam some fresh vegetables and fold them into the sauce before adding in the pasta and serving for added nutrition.
• Switch out the starch. Not a fan of noodles? Prepare some steamed or fried rice and fold them into the ground beef and homemade sauce instead of the pasta.

What To Serve With Mongolian Beef And Noodles

If you’re looking for the perfect side dishes to make this Mongolian Beef and Noodles recipe a complete meal, try one of these tasty options:

• Steamed vegetables
• Crab rangoon
• Egg rolls

Storage and Reheating

If you want to make this dish ahead of time or double up the portion to enjoy the leftovers later, you won’t be disappointed. Separate the Mongolian Beef and Noodles into individual portions and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay as good as the day you made them for 3-4 days.

When you’re ready to reheat the noodles, place them in a skillet on the stovetop over low heat for 3-5 minutes, or until they are warmed through. If you’re worried about the noodles drying out, you can add a splash of water or beef broth during the warming process. Alternatively, you can place them in the microwave for 90 seconds until warm.

Can You Freeze It?

While it is possible to freeze Mongolian Beef and Noodles, it doesn’t always yield the best results. The pasta has a tendency to change texture when frozen and reheated.

If you choose to freeze your leftovers for later, place them in freezer-safe containers. They should last up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, place them in the refrigerator overnight to defrost them and then warm them using one of the methods listed above.

More Asian-Inspired Recipes

• Pork Lo Mein
• Springfield Style Cashew Chicken
• Hunan Chicken
• Cashew Chicken Dip
• Honey Soy Chicken Thighs

If you love this Mongolian Beef and Noodles recipe as much as our family does, make sure you share it on social media so your friends can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make it again the next time you’re craving a flavorful pasta dish.