Ground Beef Lo Mein Recipe

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Ingredients

  • 8 oz lo mein noodles (or spaghetti / linguine)
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 tbsp vegetable or canola oil, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 carrot, julienned or thin strips
  • (Optional) 1 stalk celery (sliced) or ½ bell pepper, or other veggies (e.g. broccoli, cabbage)
  • 2–3 green onions, sliced (for garnish)

For the sauce:

  • ¼ to ⅓ cup soy sauce (low sodium, preferably)
  • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce (optional, for sweetness / depth)
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ cup beef broth or water
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with a little water to make a slurry)

Instructions

  1. Cook the noodles
    • Boil the lo mein / spaghetti / linguine as per package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
    • (You may toss lightly with a bit of oil so they don’t stick.)
  3. Cook the beef
    • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
    • Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spatula, until it’s browned and cooked through.
    • Drain off excess fat if needed.
  5. Aromatics & vegetables
    • Reduce heat to medium. Add the other 1 tbsp oil.
    • Add garlic and ginger, stirring until fragrant (about 30 seconds to 1 minute).
    • Add onion, carrot, celery / bell pepper, or any vegetables you’re using. Sauté until vegetables are just tender (2–3 minutes).
  7. Make / add the sauce
    • In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce (if using), brown sugar, and beef broth or water.
    • Pour this sauce into the skillet with the beef + vegetables. Stir to combine.
    • Add the cornstarch slurry, stir, and let simmer until the sauce thickens slightly (1–2 minutes).
  9. Combine with noodles
    • Add the cooked noodles to the skillet. Toss everything well so the noodles are coated and mixed with beef, veggies, and sauce.
    • Taste and adjust: add more soy sauce, sugar, or a dash of sesame oil if you like.
  11. Finish & serve
    • Garnish with green onions.
    • Serve hot.

Variations & Notes

  • In a Mongolian Ground Beef Lo Mein version, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes are added, and the sauce is soy + brown sugar + oyster sauce + cornstarch.  
  • You can vary vegetables (snow peas, mushrooms, bok choy, cabbage) to make it more colorful and nutritious.
  • If ground beef is very lean, you might need a little extra oil to prevent sticking.
  • Some recipes include velveting or marinating steps for tender meat, but with ground beef that’s less relevant.

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