Name: 15 Minute Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles: A Quick and Flavorful Weeknight Dinner
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 5 cloves garlic (minced); 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup beef broth; 1/3 cup soy sauce; 3 tbsp hoisin sauce; 1/2 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, for heat); 10 oz linguine; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 2 tbsp water (cold, for cornstarch slurry); 4 green onions (sliced, for garnish)

This 15-Minute Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles recipe brings together tender linguine, savory ground beef, a savory soy-based sauce, and a light sweetness from brown sugar. Perfumed with garlic, hoisin and, if you desire, red pepper flakes, it’s appropriately flavored with just a scrap of spiciness. Topped with fresh green onions, it’s a quick-to-prepare but hearty dish that will come together in no time.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish hits all the comforting notes of takeout but can be made in your own kitchen!

Why You’ll Love It:

User-Friendly: This one’s all about speedy: It comes together in 15 minutes, so is great for one of those busy weeknight evenings when you want something tummy but don’t want to make too much of a mess.

One-Skillet Wonder: The less you have to clean up, the more time you can spend enjoying your meal and the less time you have to scrub pans.

Family-Friendly: Children and grown-ups enjoy the mild, savory flavors, and you can definitely adjust the level of spice to your preference.

Inexpensive: This is a dish you can put together for very little money, thanks to ground beef and pantry staples, but it’s also a hearty, satisfying dinner.

Key Ingredients:

Ground Beef: Use Lean Ground Beef (85/15 or 90/10) to Reduce Excess Grease If using a fattier beef, drain the fat after browning.

Pasta: Linguine is called for here, but please substitute with spaghetti, fettuccine or even rice noodles for a twist.

Soy Sauce: If you’re monitoring your salt intake, use low-sodium soy sauce.

Hoisin Sauce: This also gives a little sweetness and savory depth to the sauce. If you don’t have hoisin, oyster sauce or a combination of soy sauce and a little honey can do in a pinch.

Green Onions: They provide both freshness and a mild onion element. Add more to brighten it even further if you like.

Full list of ingredients with weights and measurements and step by step instructions located in the recipe card at the bottom of the page

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Prepare the Noodles

Bring Water to a Boil Fill a large pot with water and bring the water to a boil. Add a bit of salt to the pasta.

Add the Pasta: Add 10 oz of linguine to the boiling water. Prepare them as per package direction, roughly 8-10 minutes, or until al dente.

Drain the pasta and reserve.

Prepare the Beef and Sauce

Brown the Beef:

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add 1 lb ground meat sauté for 5-7 minutes breaking apart with a spatula until browned all the way through.

Drain any excess fat.

Add Garlic:

Add 5 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Take care not to burn the garlic.

Combine Sauce Ingredients:

Into the skillet add the following:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup beef broth

1/3 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

If desired, a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat

Stir to mix all the ingredients together.

Thicken the Sauce:

In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and dissolve.

Into the skillet, stir in the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly.

You want the sauce to come to a very gentle boil, and let the sauce thicken, about 1-2 minutes.

Combine Noodles and Sauce

Add Noodles:

Transfer the drained linguine to the skillet with the sauce-beef mixture.

Toss the noodles with the sauce until they are evenly sauced and coated with the beef.

Let Sit:

Let the noodles sit in the skillet for about 2–3 minutes at a time, so they soak up more flavor.

Garnish and Serve

Garnish: Top with 4 sliced green onions.

Serve Immediately: Serve hot and enjoy the rich flavors of Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles.

Serving Suggestions:

These Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles are a meal in and of themselves, but they also pair beautifully with basic sides:

Vegetables: If you like, serve with a side of stir-fried broccoli, snap peas or bok choy for some greenery.

Salad: A crisp salad of cucumber with sesame dressing cleanses the richness of the noodles.

Egg Rolls or Dumplings: Serve with crispy egg rolls or steamed dumplings for takeout-style meal.

Rice Substitute: Replace the noodles with steamed rice if you want a classic Mongolian beef meal.

Storage and Reheating:

Refrigerate: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Reheat: Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash or two of water or broth to loosen the sauce. Or prepare in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until all the way heated through.

Freezing: The noodles are at their best fresh, but you can freeze the beef-and-sauce mixture, separately, for 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight; cook fresh pasta just before serving.

Variations:

For a vegetarian version, swap the ground beef for plant-based crumbles or sautéed mushrooms. For their part, if you want to turn up the heat, whisk some sriracha or chili paste into the vita mayonnaise. Want to pack in more veggies? Add a protein-rich, low-fat topping, such as sautéed bell peppers, shredded carrots or baby spinach for additional nutrition. A splash of rice vinegar or a drizzle of honey will make it taste tangier or a bit sweeter, if you want that. And as a lighter or more flavorful change of pace, ground chicken, turkey or pork are all tasty substitutes for beef.

Conclusion:

These 15-Minute Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles are evidence that weeknight dinner doesn’t have to be convoluted to be delicious. With her tender noodles and savory-sweet beef, combined with a sauce that coats every bite, this dish is a sure-fire family pleaser.

Whether you’re looking for takeout-style flavors or just need something quick to fix after a long workday, this one-skillet wonder is here for you. Dress it up to your taste, serve it with easy sides, and you’ll have a comforting, delicious meal in short order.