Looking for a simple ground beef and ramen noodles for dinner tonight? In just 15 minutes this super easy Mongolian beef noodles is made with simple ground beef and ramen noodles. Pair with fresh or frozen vegetables for the perfect last-minute dinner idea!
Why this ground beef ramen works on a weeknight
Are you always on the hunt for a quick, simple and no-fuss dinner idea? If so, this super easy ground beef dinner option is a must-make. This ground beef ramen noodle dish is super easy to make, and everyone in the family will love it. Here’s why it will work for you, too:
- Simple ingredients: Made with ground beef, ramen noodles and a few other ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge and pantry. It comes together without having to make an extra trip to the grocery store.
- Quick prep: This dinner is made in just under 15 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight or anytime you’re looking for a simple dinner option. Ideal for nights that your kids have sports practice, games or music lessions.
- Affortable: This simple noodle dish is pretty affordable, using inexpensive ramen noodles, ground beef and pantry staples. If you’re looking for a less expensive protein, this can also be made with ground pork or turkey.
- Alternative hamburger option: Many of us have hamburger in our refrigerator or freezer, but don’t feel like making tacos or spaghetti. This Mongolian beef ramen recipe is a great alternative from the hamburger recipes, with a sweet sauce that goes wonderfully with the noodles.
What do I need to make beef and ramen noodles?
- Ground beef – I chose a 10% fat content ground beef, however you could also go leaner. Additionally, you can also substitute ground turkey in this recipe. You can get Organic Grass fed Ground Beef at Target for a reasonable price. If you would prefer to buy ground beef in bulk, I recommend Costco. Check out my 15 Things I Buy at Costco for Easy Meals and Snacks.
- Ramen Noodles – you can find ramen noodles at just about any grocery or discount store. They are a low-cost noodle that’s great staple to keep in your pantry.
- Honey – the honey adds a nice sweetness to the ground beef and creates that Mongolian beef sticky sauce.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – an essential pantry staple, soy sauce can be found in the Asian cooking section of most grocery stores.
- Hoisin Sauce – great for Asian cooking, hoisin sauce will add richness to the beef sauce.
- Garlic – minced garlic is great for pairing with ground beef and adds some nice flavor to this dinner.
- Fresh ginger – feel free to use fresh or frozen ground ginger. Ginger root can be found in the produce section. It needs to be peeled and then grated.
- Hot Sauce – a hot sauce, like Frank’s is a perfect addition to this Mongolian beef sauce. It adds just a bit of mild spiciness that balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Black pepper – a great spice that adds some nice flavor to the ground beef.
- Corn starch – a needed thickening agent, corn starch will help thicken the sauce as it is added to the ground beef.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe. Thanks!
What is Mongolian beef sauce made of?
This simple Mongolian beef sauce is super easy to whisk together. It includes water, soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, hot sauce, honey, ginger, black pepper and corn starch. The honey is the sweetener in this sauce and makes it slightly sticky, which works perfectly with the noodles. The corn starch acts as a thickener once it is added to the beef and heated. The Hoisin will add some nice depth of flavor.
Note of authenticity, this sauce is more of a Taiwanese-American restaurant creation rather than Mongolian cuisine. Regardless, it has wonderful flavor, and works really well with the beef and noodles.
How do I make Mongolian beef noodles?
To make Mongolian beef, start by mixing together the sauce. To a medium bowl whisk together the water, soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, ginger, black pepper and corn starch. Whisk well until the corn starch is completely dissolved into the liquid. Set the sauce aside.
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, draining off any excess fat that is rendered. Add in the garlic and cook alongside the ground beef.
Pour in the prepared sauce to the browned ground beef, and cook on medium low. The sauce will thicken.
Cook the ramen noodles for about three minutes in boiling water. Add the cooked noodles to the beef mixture. Toss the meat and noodles together.
Love cooking with noodles and pasta? Check out our Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti, Shrimp Rossini Pasta and Shrimp Stir Fry with Noodles.
Add vegetables without adding time
This is an ideal recipe for mixing in vegetables without adding any time cook time to your dish. Here’s what my family loves, and is a simple addition:
- Frozen broccoli: while the water boils for cooking the noodles, I will begin cooking a package of frozen broccoli in the microwave. I always keep packages of frozen vegetables in my freezer, and broccoli is ideal for this dish. Heat in the microwave according to package directions, and add right into the beef, sauce and noodles. Stir together to coat with the sauce.
- Frozen Stir Fry vegetables: just like the broccoli, a package of frozen stir fry vegetables is ideal for this dish. You can find frozen stir fry vegetables in the frozen vegetable section. This vegetable medly typically includes carrots, snow peas, broccoli, baby corn, bell peppers and mushrooms.
- Cole Slaw Mix: found in the fresh produce section, cole slaw mix is fantastic in stir fries. Heat it alongside the beef and sauce for about 5 minutes before adding the noodles. It will be warmed through, but still slightly firm for a great crunch.
Ingredient Substitutions and Recommendations for beef and ramen noodles:
- Swap the Noodles – you can substitute the ramen noodles with spaghetti or linguini. Cook the noodles to al dente before adding to the beef mixture. Not a noddle person? The beef mixture can also be served over rice or cauliflower rice.
- Topping – chopped nuts – this dish is great with adding chopped peanuts or cashews for a great crunch. Simply sprinkle on top of the finished beef and noodles just before serving.
- Change the Protein – do you prefer ground turkey, pork or chicken in place of ground beef? These are an easy swap and a way to make this dish extra lean.
- Sesame Oil – while I don’t feel it is completely necessary, many love the depth of flavor that sesame oil adds to a stir fry. If you want to add it, I recommend about 1-2 teaspoons of sesame oil to the sauce.
- Fresh Ginger – I’ve added dried ginger to the sauce, however, if you have fresh ginger to grate into the sauce, it is a fantastic swap for amazing flavor. I don’t recommend much though – about 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons will be plenty. Grated ginger can also be found in the frozen foods section, and frozen into cubes. Add 1-2 cubes based on how much you enjoy ginger.
For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions be sure to scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of the post. Thanks!
Tools needed to make ground beef and ramen noodles:
- Small mixing bowl – these glass mixing bowls from Target are perfect for mixing together sauces. They’re microwave and dishwasher safe, too.
- Mini Whisk – this small mini whisk is perfect for mixing together small-batch items like sauces and marinades. I use mine almost daily!
- Large Skillet – I use and love this large Calphalon non-stick skillet. Its fantastic for large one-skillet meals, making hearty meat sauces and fried rice.
- Pasta Utensil – this is very handy for transferring the noodles from the water to the meat sauce. A pasta utensil makes it much easier to stir together the noodles and meat sauce without breaking the noodles.
Storing, reheating, and making it ahead
This beef and ramen recipe is fantastic for eating as leftovers or as a meal prepped lunch. Here’s what you need to know:
- Storage: store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. When kept refrigerated, this Mongolian beef noodle recipe will keep for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: If your reheating your beef and noodles, start by placing on a microwave-safe plate or bowl. Heat a serving on 1 minute increments, stopping half-way to stir. Heat until fully heated through and steaming.
- Meal Prepping: Need to meal prep this beef and noodle dish for lunches? This is a great recipe for meal prepping for lunches to take to work or school. Start by making the recipe as directed. Divide into individual servings into microwave-safe meal prep containers, securing the lids in place. Refrigerate until ready to pack your lunch. Looking to do more meal prepping? Be sure to check out my post on Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for the Week.
Ground beef ramen noodles: your questions answered
Ramen noodles can be interchanged with a number of options, including spaghetti, linguini, Phad Thai noodles, soba noodles, or any other Asian noodle that you enjoy. You can also omit the noodles completely and serve this over rice.
While the sauce does contain a small amount of hot sauce, the sauce is not spicy, and considered more sweet. The hot sauce and honey work together to created a nicely balance flavor that is not overly spicy.
Yes, this dish can be made gluten-free by using a gluten-free noodle (like a gluten-free rice noodle) and substituting the soy sauce with tamari. There are also gluten-free soy sauces available, should you want to make this swap as well.
No, for this recipe you can discard or set aside the seasoning packet from the ramen noodles. The seasoning packet is not used.
Yes, you can definitely use another protein option instead of beef for this recipe. Swap ground chicken, turkey or pork for the ground beef as a 1:1 swap.
To prevent the ramen from getting mushy, make sure you are not overcooking the noodles. A typical cook time for ramen noodles is typically 2-3 minutes, but be sure to reference the package for exact cook times.
If your sauce is not thickening, first make sure you have added the corn starch into the sauce and whisked it in appropriately. The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of corn starch. Make sure you whisk this into the sauce before adding it to the cooked ground beef. Heat over low, stirring often. The sauce will begin to thicken within a couple minutes of being heated.
What can I serve with beef and ramen noodles?
Fresh or frozen vegetables are a great option as a side for beef and ramen noodles. Serving steamed, sauteed or roasted vegetables are all a great option to add flavor, texture and color to this dish. Here are some of our favorite vegetable sides:
- Sauteed Broccoli with Garlic
- Roasted Rainbow Carrots
- Sauteed Green Beans
- Sauteed Carrots
- Lemon Asparagus with Rosemary and Garlic at Kylee Cooks
Love this Mongolian beef noodles recipe? Check out our other Asian-inspired recipes:
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe
- Shrimp Stir Fry with Noodles
- Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice
- Vegetable Beef Stir Fry
- Healthy Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice
- Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Shrimp
- Honey Sesame Chicken
If you loved this ground beef recipe, check out these other easy recipes using ground beef:
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Easy Ground Beef Ramen Noodles with Ginger
Equipment
- Large Skillet This large Anolon 12" Skillet is ideal for making one-pan meals!
- Mixing Bowls Great for mixing together sauces, marinades and more!
- Mini Whisk Fantastic for small batch recipes, this mini whisk is ideal for dressings, sauces and marinades.
- Pasta Utensil Great for cooking and serving long pasta and noodles.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef 90% lean
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 (3 oz. pkg.) ramen noodles discard the flavor packet
Sauce:
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Hoisin sauce
- 1 Tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 Tablespoon corn starch
- 2 teaspoons fresh ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
Prepare the sauce:
- In a small mixing bowl add the water, honey, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, hot sauce, ginger, and corn starch. Whisk together well so the corn starch is completely dissolved into the liquid with no visible lumps. Set sauce aside.
Prepare the meat:
- To a large skillet add the ground beef. Add in the minced garlic and cook alongside the beef. Brown the beef and drain off any excess fat that is rendered.
- Over medium-low heat pour the prepared sauce into the beef mixture. Bring to a simmer. The sauce will thicken. Reduce heat to low.
Prepare noodles:
- To a large stock pot or Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. (This can be done while the beef is browning.) Add the ramen noodles (the flavor packet will not be needed). Cook the noodles for 2 1/2 – 3 minutes. Be careful to not overcook the noodles, as they will become overly soft and sticky if cooked too long.
- Transfer the cooked noodles to the beef mixture. Using a pasta utensil, toss the ground beef and noodles together. Top with sliced green onions or sesame seeds for a garnish, if desired. Enjoy right away while hot. Serve with your preferred vegetables.
Notes
Nutrition
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