This Ground Beef Lo Mein is a quick and flavorful stir-fry—tender noodles tossed with savory ground beef, vegetables, and a rich, garlicky sauce. An easy weeknight dinner that’s better than takeout!
Ingredients
- 12 oz lo mein noodles or spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil for extra flavor
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup carrots julienned (matchstick style)
- 2 cups cabbage shredded (or coleslaw mix)
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 3 green onions chopped
- Sauce
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce optional, adds richness
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce or extra soy sauce if not available
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- 1/4 cup beef broth or water
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp cornstarch to thicken sauce
Instructions
- Cook the noodles:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- Brown the beef:
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon (about 5–6 minutes). Drain excess grease if needed and transfer beef to a plate.
- Sauté vegetables:
- In the same skillet, add remaining oil. Stir in onion, garlic, carrots, cabbage, and bell pepper. Cook for 4–5 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Make the sauce:
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, beef broth, black pepper, and cornstarch.
- Combine everything:
- Return cooked beef to the skillet. Add noodles and pour sauce over. Toss well until noodles are evenly coated and sauce thickens slightly, 2–3 minutes.
- Finish & serve:
- Sprinkle green onions on top. Serve hot.