15 Minute Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles

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 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Pinch of red pepper flake (optional)

10 oz linguine

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

4 green onions, sliced

Instructions

Preparing the Noodles

Cook the Pasta:

In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of the pasta.

Add 10 oz of linguine to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions, typically around 8-10 minutes, until al dente.

Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside.

Preparing the Beef and Sauce

Brown the Ground Beef:

While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add 1 lb of ground beef to the skillet. Cook the beef, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.

Drain any excess fat from the skillet to avoid a greasy dish.

Add Garlic:

Add 5 cloves of minced garlic to the browned beef. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn, as it can become bitter.

Combine Sauce Ingredients:

Add 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of beef broth, 1/3 cup of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of hoisin sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper to the skillet.

If you prefer a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir everything together until well combined.

Thicken the Sauce:

In a small bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of cold water. This will act as a thickening agent for the sauce.

Pour the cornstarch mixture into the skillet with the beef and sauce. Stir continuously until the sauce comes to a gentle boil and starts to thicken.