Easy and Delicious Ground Beef Mongolian Beef Recipe You Need to Try
Learn how to make delicious ground beef mongolian beef recipe. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (preferably 80/20 for good flavor and moisture)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any neutral oil like canola or sunflower)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark works, dark gives a deeper molasses flavor)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for a gentle kick)
- 3 green onions, sliced thin on the diagonal
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (for finishing)
- Cooked rice or steamed vegetables for serving
Substitution tips: If you want to make this dish gluten-free, swap soy sauce for tamari. For a touch of extra depth, a splash of hoisin sauce or oyster sauce can be added, but keep it light so the flavor stays balanced and true to the original inspiration.
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil. When the oil shimmers, add the ground beef. Break it up with a wooden spoon and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary, but keep a little for flavor.
- Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Stir constantly for about 1 minute, until fragrant. This step is key — it’s where the aroma fills the kitchen and reminds me of Mama Lu stirring her cast iron skillet on a summer evening.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, and cornstarch until smooth. Pour this mixture over the beef in the skillet.
- Reduce the heat to medium and stir continuously as the sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes. You’ll see it go from thin and glossy to thick and sticky, coating every bit of beef. Add the crushed red pepper flakes here if you want a little warmth — just like the slow burn of a summer night breeze back in the mountains.
- Stir in the sliced green onions and drizzle the toasted sesame oil over the top. Give it one last stir to combine.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately over a bed of hot, fluffy rice or alongside steamed greens. I always think of this moment as the one where the kitchen feels full — full of warmth, good smells, and the promise of a shared meal.
Find it online: https://claracooking.com/ground-beef-mongolian-beef-recipe/
