Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Sweet and saucy, these Mongolian ground beef noodles are one of our favorite weeknight meals that is quick to put together but has exceptional flavor thanks to the beefy ground beef and simple savory sauce.

Meat and Noodle Fusion: Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

Mongolian beef is a classic Chinese takeout dish that many love due to its flavor. The traditional dish is made with thin sliced beef whereas I made these Mongolian ground beef noodles with ground beef! It makes the dish come together a lot quicker and when served over rice noodles, it’s so filling and satisfies all your takeout cravings! I also typically tend to have more ground beef in the freezer than I do large pieces of beef so this was a no-brainer when trying to figure out dinner one night! Mongolian ground beef noodles it is!

We love this Mongolian ground beef noodle fusion in our household and make it at least once a month. Tossing the hearty ground beef in the sweet and savory sauce along with tender rice noodles makes this dish so satisfying.

What Exactly Is Mongolian Beef?

Mongolian beef is a popular dish served in Chinese restaurants. Contrary to the name, this dish comes from Taiwan, not Mongolia. The typical Mongolian beef found in American-Chinese restaurants consists of thinly sliced beef stir-fried in a wok with green onions and finished in a luscious, sweet, and savory sauce.

Recipe Tips and Variations

• Ground pork or ground turkey are great options if you don’t want to use ground beef.
• Try to use rice noodles for this recipe. I don’t think using linguine or spaghetti is the same, but I understand the accessibility may be an issue! I like using rice noodles for Asian-style recipes because it soaks up the sauce better and the texture is a bit better than regular pasta.

Ingredients

• 8 oz (225 g) shirataki noodles or low-calorie noodles, rinsed and drained
• 1 lb (454 g) 96% lean ground beef
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 3 green onions, sliced
• Sesame seeds, optional

Instructions

1. Rinse and drain the noodles well. Set aside.
2. Cook the lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned. Drain any excess liquid.
3. Add garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, brown sugar, cornstarch, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
5. Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir until it thickens, about 2–3 minutes.
6. Add the noodles and toss everything together until well coated and heated through.
7. Top with sliced green onions and a small sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Serves: 6
Estimated Points: ~5–6 per serving