Whip up this easy and flavorful Ground Beef Lo Mein for a quick weeknight dinner! Juicy ground beef, tender noodles, and a savory soy-based sauce come together in just 30 minutes. Packed with colorful veggies and bursting with mouthwatering flavor, this dish is perfect for satisfying your takeout cravings at home. Simple, delicious, and family-approved.
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Key Ingredients
- Noodles
- Ground Beef
- Vegetables
- Sesame Oil
- Soy Sauce
- Rice Vinegar
- Brown Sugar or Sweetener
- Cornstarch
- Spices
What Type of Noodles to Use
I use lo mein noodles, which are fresh egg noodles. They are yellow, soft, and have a slightly chewy texture. They are thicker than other types of Chinese noodles, such as chow mein noodles, which are usually thinner and crispier when cooked.
You can also use spaghetti, linguine, or udon noodles.
What Type of Vegetables to Use
“Stir Fry Vegetables” will work great, they are often labeled that way in grocery stores. You can also use whatever leftover veggies you have in the fridge that will go bad soon or experiment with other seasonal or favorite veggies you have on hand.
Here are some options and substitutions:
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Snap Peas or Snow Peas
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini or Yellow Squash
- Water Chestnuts
- Cabbage
- Baby Corn
- Bean Sprouts
- Green Onions
Flavor and Seasoning
Lo mein typically features a savory sauce that is a blend of several key ingredients, giving it a rich and slightly sweet flavor. I walk you through how to make your own simple sauce, but feel free to use store-bought Hoisin or Oyster sauce if you wish.
How to Make Ground Beef Lo Mein
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cook the noodles in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- Heat a skillet on medium heat and add the ground beef. Break down the ground beef into smaller pieces and cook.
- Drain any excess fat from the beef. Season the beef with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Remove the beef and set it aside.
- In the same pan, add vegetables and garlic to the pan and cook. Remove the vegetables and set them aside.
- Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar or sweetener to the pan at medium heat. Stir until the sweetener has fully dissolved.
- Combine cornstarch and cold water separately in a bowl. Make sure the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated. Then add it to the sauce ingredients and stir. Stir for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Add the cooked beef, vegetables, and noodles to the pan. Stir and cook until the sauce is incorporated.
How to Thicken the Sauce
A cornstarch slurry will thicken the sauce. The recipe calls for 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1/2 tablespoon of cold water. Mix these two together, separately in a bowl. Make sure the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated. Then add it to the sauce ingredients and stir.
Cornstarch tends to settle quickly, especially if not mixed thoroughly. If you add cornstarch to hot liquid without creating a smooth slurry first, it will form lumps. Adding cornstarch directly to hot liquid can cause it to clump because the starch granules seize up when they come into contact with heat. This is why it is important to use cold water.
Do not use old, expired cornstarch. Cornstarch has a shelf life, and if it’s old or has been exposed to moisture, it will clump more easily.
How to Make it Spicy
You can make it spicy by adding Sriracha, sweet chili sauce, or even hot sauce.
What Type of Pan to Use
It’s ideal to use a pan or wok that provides even heat distribution and has enough space for the ingredients to cook quickly and evenly. This is the pan I used for the recipe.
Stir-Fry Pan or Skillet: A flat-bottomed stir-fry pan or skillet is a more versatile option that works well on various stovetops, including electric and flat surfaces. It has a wide cooking surface, which is beneficial for stir-frying without overcrowding the pan. Look for a pan with sloping sides to facilitate easy stirring and tossing of ingredients.
Wok: A wok is a traditional choice for stir-frying due to its shape and design. It has high, sloping sides that allow for easy tossing and flipping of ingredients. The wide surface area at the bottom ensures that heat is distributed evenly, allowing for quick cooking. Carbon steel or cast iron woks are commonly used and can withstand high heat. Make sure the wok is well oiled to prevent sticking.
How to Store Leftovers
I recommend separating the noodles from the other ingredients before storing. If you know you will have leftovers, consider this, and don’t add all of the noodles to the pot while cooking.
This helps prevent the noodles from becoming too soggy as they absorb moisture from the sauce and vegetables.
Choose a container that provides an airtight seal to keep the dish fresh. If using a plastic bag, remove as much air as possible before sealing.
Leftovers can be stored tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat
Reheating on the stove at medium heat works best and won’t compromise the quality of the original texture.
If using the microwave, use medium heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval. Be careful not to overheat as this will result in a mushy texture.
More Ground Beef Recipes
Beef and Noodles
Beef and Rice Skillet
Dirty Rice with Ground Beef
Ground Beef Taco Casserole Bake
Rotel Dip with Ground Beef
Be sure to check out our full list of 25 Recipes with Ground Beef.
Watch full instructions in the Youtube video here.
Ground Beef Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 6-7 oz lo mein noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 cups fresh or frozen mixed vegetables
- 3 garlic cloves Minced
Sauce (You can also use a store-bought Hoisin or Oyster sauce if you wish).
- ¼ cup soy sauce or liquid aminos
- ¼ cup brown sugar or sweetener
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Cook the noodles in accordance with the instructions on the package. Once cooked, drain the noodles and set them aside.While the noodles cook, prepare the rest of the dish.
- Heat a skillet at medium heat and add the ground beef. Break down the ground beef into smaller pieces and cook for 4-5 minutes or until it is cooked through and no longer pink.
- Drain any excess fat from the beef. Season the beef with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Remove the beef and set it aside.
- In the same pan, add the vegetables and garlic to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Remove the vegetables and set them aside.You should have a little fat from the beef to keep the vegetables from sticking to the pan. If not, add a little oil to the pan.
- Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar or sweetener to the pan at medium heat. Stir until the sweetener has fully dissolved.
- Combine the cornstarch and cold water separately in a bowl. Make sure the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated. Then add it to the sauce ingredients and stir. Stir for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Add the cooked beef, vegetables, and noodles to the pan. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is incorporated.
Nat
Thursday 22nd of August 2024
Amazing delicious recipe. This is one of my favorite dishes it’s super easy and yummy.
staysnatched
Friday 23rd of August 2024
Yay! So glad to hear it.