Ground Beef Chow Mein is one of those dinners that feels like a takeout win… without ever leaving your kitchen! It's quick, packed with savory flavor, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand (yes, even that bag of coleslaw hanging out in the fridge).
The ground beef keeps it hearty, the noodles soak up all that sweet-and-savory sauce, and the whole thing comes together in about the time it takes to debate what to order. This is the kind of meal that saves dinner AND makes you look like you had a plan all along.
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What makes this recipe irresistible
This recipe leans hard into smart shortcuts that actually work. Using spaghetti instead of traditional noodles keeps things simple, and that bag of coleslaw mix pulls double duty. No chopping, no fuss, just straight into the pan!
It's the kind of meal you can throw together without overthinking it, but it still lands on the table looking (and tasting) like you had a plan. Pair it with something like Honey Walnut Shrimp to round out the whole takeout-at-home vibe.
Ground Beef Chow Mein Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 stockpot
Ingredients
- 8 ounce spaghetti broken in half
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger or ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 12 ounce bag coleslaw mix, I used a bag of tri-color coleslaw.
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce or hoisin if that's what you've got
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ cup pasta water
- optional toppings thinly sliced green onions, sriracha sauce, or chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- Boil the spaghetti in salted water until just tender. Drain, saving ½ cup of the pasta water and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add garlic and ginger to the skillet. Stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in soy sauce, brown sugar, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and broth. Let it bubble for 2-3 minutes so everything gets cozy.
- Add the coleslaw mix and cooked noodles. Toss well and cook another 2-3 minutes until the cabbage softens but still has a little bite.
- Taste, and adjust seasoning if needed. Top with green onions or a little heat if that's your thing.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card for the exact measurements for this recipe.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
Absolutely. Spaghetti keeps it simple, but you can swap in lo mein noodles, ramen (ditch the seasoning packet), or even linguine if that's what you've got on hand.
This recipe is super flexible. Try bell peppers, mushrooms, snap peas, broccoli, or even a handful of spinach stirred in at the end like you mentioned-it adds a nice pop of color.
Hoisin sauce works great as a substitute and keeps that rich, slightly sweet flavor. In a pinch, you can even use a little extra soy sauce with a touch more brown sugar.
Deb's top tip
Cook the spaghetti until just tender, not soft, and get it into the skillet soon after draining. That little bit of bite holds up better once it's tossed with the sauce and keeps everything from turning into a mushy mess.
Related recipes
If this Ground Beef Chow Mein hit the spot, I've got a few more easy dinners that bring those same bold flavors without making a mess of your kitchen. My teriyaki noodles are a go-to when you want something saucy and satisfying with minimal effort. Chicken teriyaki ramen noodles lean into that sweet-savory combo with a quick shortcut using ramen-fast, cozy, and always a hit.
And if you're in the mood for something a little lighter (but still loaded with flavor), egg roll in a bowl skips the wrapper and keeps all the good stuff in one skillet.
Give one...or all of these a try and keep dinner feeling easy and anything but boring!
Serving suggestions
Ground Beef Chow Mein is a full meal on its own, but a few simple sides can round things out and make dinner feel a little more put together. A batch of crispy egg rolls or potstickers on the side adds that takeout-style vibe without much extra effort.
If you want to keep things lighter, a quick cucumber salad or some steamed green beans with a drizzle of soy sauce works really well to balance the richness. And if you're feeding a hungry crowd, a scoop of fluffy white rice on the side stretches the meal just a bit further (and soaks up every last drop of that sauce, which is never a bad thing)!
Dinner's handled (and you barely broke a sweat)
This is one of those recipes you'll come back to again and again because it just works! Quick to make, easy to tweak, and always hits the spot. Keep the ingredients on hand and you're never far from a solid dinner that doesn't feel like a scramble.
Give it a try, make it your own with a few add-ins, and don't forget to pin it for later. You're going to want this one in your back pocket.
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