Mongolian Ground Beef
Equipment
Ingredients
Beef
- 16 oz ground beef, see note 1
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
Optional Garnishes
- Sesame seeds
- Scallions
- Fried egg
Instructions
- Add oil to a pan over medium heat and add your minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add in the ground beef, breaking it apart gently. Let it sit undisturbed for 2 minutes to build some color, then stir and cook for another 2–3 minutes until mostly cooked through.
- Add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and sugar, stirring to combine. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and coats the beef evenly.
- Serve the beef over a fresh bowl of rice and optionally garnish with sesame seeds, scallions, and a fried egg.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Why I Love Mongolian Ground Beef On Weeknights
Whenever I don’t know what to make on those busy weeknights, I usually default to Mongolian Ground Beef because it’s so easy yet satisfying. There’s no cutting boards or marinating needed. All you need is garlic, beef, and a simple sauce that is ready in literally 10 seconds. The best part is that the sauce is super simple, yet it hits those crucial taste profiles of sweet and salty, which means you get maximum flavor with minimum effort. This Mongolian Ground Beef is simple, healthy, and will save you money because you’ll take this over takeout any day!
The Beauty Of Simplicity
The beauty of this dish is in its simplicity. All you need is a little bit of sugar, two types of soy sauce, and garlic to bring that sweet and salty flavor to your beef. The reason we let the beef sit for the first couple minutes of cooking is to develop a sear and lock in those juices, which adds more beefy flavor to every bite. This Mongolian Ground Beef is the definition of simple but delicious, and when you throw a fried egg on top, it becomes a meal that you’ll come back to everyday.
What You’ll Need To Make Ground Beef
Beef
- 16 oz ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
Optional Garnishes
- Sesame seeds
- Scallions
- Fried egg
How to Make Mongolian Ground Beef
Heat a bit of oil in a pan over medium heat and add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add the ground beef and gently break it apart. Let it cook undisturbed for 2 minutes to build some browning. Stir and continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes until mostly cooked through.
Add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and sugar. Stir to combine and let the sauce reduce slightly until glossy and coating the beef.
Serve over rice and garnish with sesame seeds, scallions, or a fried egg.
Tips & Variations
The initial sear adds a ton of flavor to your ground beef, so it’s super important to let the beef sit before mixing around. The browned bits are what make this dish special!
If you’re not a huge fan of ground beef, use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version. Just make sure to keep an eye on your ground meat as leaner meats tend to dry out faster.
Sometimes if your heat is too high, your sauce may thicken too quickly, so it’s important to thin out your sauce if needed with a splash of water.
In my opinion, a fried egg is what takes this dish from good to great. The runny yolk mixes with the sauce, beef, and rice, which adds an additional layer of richness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this less sweet?
Definitely! I personally like my food on the sweeter side, and your tastes may differ! Start with 1½ tablespoons of sugar and adjust to your preference 🙂
Do I really need dark soy sauce?
It gives the dish that rich color and a little bit extra umami flavor, but if you don’t have it, substitute in more light soy sauce or regular soy sauce and reduce the sugar just a bit.
What’s the best way to serve this?
I personally love to serve this over rice because the sauce soaks into all of the grains, but it’s also amazing over wheat noodles or served with lettuce cups!
Can I meal prep this?
Absolutely! You can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes.
Try These Next
• Want another quick beef dish? Try my Beef Chow Fun!
• Craving more ground beef but don’t want rice? Check out my Garlic Beef Noodles!
• Need even more noodles? Don’t miss my Chili Garlic Butter Noodles!
