Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Jump to RecipeJump to Video

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.

Tender pieces of flank steak are slow-cooked in the tastiest sweet and savory sauce. This slow cooker Mongolian beef is melt-in-your-mouth perfection and bursting with flavor. Quick and easy to prepare and one of our favorite slow cooker meals!

If you love restaurant Mongolian Beef, this super easy make-at-home rendition will be your new favorite dinner. Serve over this easy fried rice for a complete meal. And if you really want to wow your guests, egg rolls and vegetable stir-fry on the side would be amazing!

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (1)

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Mongolian beef made in the slow cooker is life-changing! Slow cooking the beef ensures that it’ll be delicate and succulent. This slow cooker Mongolian beef recipe is an explosion of flavors in every bite! Garlic, soy sauce, and brown sugar come together to create a caramelized sauce that coats the tender juicy pieces of steak.

This is hands down one of the BEST dinners that I have ever made. My family couldn’t get enough of it! It’s so easy to make restaurant-worthy meals for the family at home. If you love this slow cooker Mongolian beef recipe then I can’t wait for you to try more of our favorites. Make this sweet and sour chicken, these lettuce wraps, of this incredible bang bang chicken.

Mongolian Beef Ingredients

Slow cooker Mongolian beef is SO easy to make with minimal ingredients. The ingredients are simple, but the outcome is incredible! Your dinner is prepped and ready to go in under 10 minutes!

  • Flank Steak:Sirloin can be substituted here but avoid stew meat.
  • Corn Starch: This acts as a natural tenderizer for the beef.
  • Olive Oil: Use canola oil if you’d rather.
  • Garlic: Minced or chopped will give the most flavor.
  • Soy Sauce: Either low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos can be used here.
  • Water: This will help make it saucy.
  • Brown Sugar:Light or dark brown sugar is both great in the sauce.
  • Carrots: Grate a carrot or instead use pre-shredded carrots.
  • Green Onions and Sesame Seeds: Optional garnish, but make a stunning topping.

How to Make Mongolian Beef in a Slow Cooker

The beef literally just melts in your mouth! You can always count on the slow cooker for tender beef. The tasty sauce clings to the cornstarch-coated steak and every bite is bursting with flavor. See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

  1. Cut and Coat: Cut the flank steak thinly and across the grain to ensure a tender bite. Place the steak in a ziplock bag with the cornstarch then shake to coat. Make sure to coat the beef evenly.
  2. Add ingredients to the Slow Cooker:Mix the oil, garlic, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, and carrots in the slow cooker.
  3. Coat the Beef: Stir the beef into the slow cooker making sure it’s well-coated
  4. Cook:Set on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours.
  5. Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish with chopped green onion and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture then enjoy over rice!
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (2)

Tips and Variations

Everything about this Mongolian recipe is perfect, and I know that it will become a family favorite at your house just like it did at ours! Here are some ideas and variations to make it your own! I also included instructions for making it in the instant pot when you’re short on time!

  • Slicing the Beef:When slicing the flank steak make sure to slice it against the grain. I like to slice mine about 1/4 inch thick.
  • Veggies: Roast broccoli, green beans or red bell pepper then stir in before serving. Vegetables add texture and nutrition.
  • Instant Pot:This easily converts to a quick Instant Pot recipe. Saute the steak on high until browned. Add the sauce ingredients and cook on “Manual” for 10 minutes. Lastly, quick release the pressure and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (3)

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftover Mongolian beef you may have, because it’s great for heating up and enjoying later! I like to make a little extra rice as well for a quick lunch that’s super satisfying!

  • In the Refrigerator:Place leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
  • In the Freezer:Once cooled, store leftovers in an air-tight container or freezer ziplock bag for up to 4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rewarming.
  • To Reheat: Place leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl then heat for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (4)

More Savory Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow cooker dinners always save the day! They’re easy and SO delicious. Everyone loves coming home to a warm home-cooked dinner. Try some of our favorites this week for dinner. You’ll love them all!

Slow Cooker

Crockpot Salisbury Steak

3 hrs 20 mins

Side Dishes

Crockpot Green Beans

3 hrs 5 mins

Dinner

Slow Cooker Kalua Pulled Pork

16 hrs 5 mins

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (9)

Save

PinPrint

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

By: Alyssa Rivers

Tender pieces of flank steak are slow cooked in the tastiest sweet and savory sauce. This slow cooker Mongolian beef is melt-in-your-mouth perfection and bursting with flavor. Quick and easy to prepare and one of our favorite slow cooker meals!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Slow Cooker: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cut flank steak into thin strips. In a ziplock bag add flank steak pieces and cornstarch. Shake to coat.

  • In a medium-sized bowl, add the olive oil, minced garlic, soy sauce, water, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine and add to the slow cooker.

  • Add the grated carrots and coated flank steak to the slow cooker and stir until coated in the sauce.

  • Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.

  • Serve over rice and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Video

Notes

Updated on November 08, 2023

Originally Posted on August 17, 2015

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 28gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 1705mgPotassium: 555mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 3564IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Asian American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

More Ideas

Appetizers

Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp

30 mins

Dinner

White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

40 mins

Dinner

Classic Honey Glazed Ham

2 hrs 20 mins

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is Mongolian beef sauce made of? ›

Our recipe for Mongolian beef sauce includes oyster sauce, soy sauce, tamari soy sauce (as a replacement for dark soy sauce), chili sauce, sugar, and cooking wine. Check the ingredient list to see precise amounts. Don't forget that you can scale the recipe up and down!

What is the secret to slow cooking meat? ›

Avoid overcrowding: For the best results, fill a slow cooker between one-half and two-thirds full. Go ahead and cook big roasts and whole chickens; just make sure you use a large crock and that the lid fits snugly on top. Trim fat: For silky sauces and gravies, take a minute or two and cut the excess fat from the meat.

Is Mongolian beef from Mongolia? ›

Despite its name, the dish has nothing to do with Mongolian cuisine. Mongolian beef is among the meat dishes developed in Taiwan where Mongolian barbecue restaurants first appeared. Thus, none of the ingredients or the preparation methods are drawn from traditional Mongolian cuisine but rather from Chinese cuisine.

What to pair with Mongolian beef? ›

We also love serving this dish with garlic noodles, chow mein and a side of lightly roasted green beans. In the U.S. Mongolian beef is also commonly served over a bed of fried cellophane noodles, which adds a light, crisp texture to the overall dish.

What do Chinese use to make beef tender? ›

While there are several ways to velvet, a pound of meat needs about two teaspoons of cornstarch and two teaspoons of oil, says Leung. You may also include two to three tablespoons of water. For beef, add a 1/4-teaspoon of baking soda for tenderizing. Additional seasonings are optional and vary from recipe to recipe.

What is the secret ingredient in stir fry beef? ›

Velvet the beef: The velveting technique involves tenderizing, marinating, and a quick searing of the meat. To tenderize: Sprinkle with baking soda (the secret Chinese meat tenderizer). To marinate (a quick marinade): Add basic beef marinade and mix to coat evenly. Let marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight.

Is Mongolian beef unhealthy? ›

In conclusion, Mongolian beef can be a healthy and nutritious dish when prepared with the right ingredients and cooking methods. It's a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and various vitamins and minerals.

Why do Mongolians eat so much meat? ›

That's because as a culture of nomadic herders, they eat what's at hand – and that's whatever their herd supplies. Mongolians have eaten this way for centuries. Mutton (sheep), goat, and beef are their main source of meat and are often refer to red foods.

What is another name for Mongolian beef? ›

Stir-Fried Spicy Beef (Previously: Mongolian Beef)

Sliced beef marinated in soy and then stir-fried with peppers and onions.

What is the number one food in Mongolia? ›

Huushuur - Meat filled, deep fried pancake

One of the most popular and widely eaten dishes in Mongolia, you can find Huushuur wherever you go. Huushuur is a meat-filled deep-fried pancake. Mongolian Huushuur is meaty and flavored with salt and onion. The taste varies depending on the ingredients.

What is the most consumed meat in Mongolia? ›

Mutton is the most commonly used meat all the year around. Mongolian sheep eat 80 species of plants. 30 of the plants are medicinal plants. Therefore, they use mutton to relieve tiredness.

Why is Mongolian food so good? ›

Traditional Mongolian food is heavily influenced by the country's climate and nomadic culture. The majority of its dishes consist of nutrient-rich dairy, meat, and animal fats, particularly from cattle, mutton, horse, goat, and game meat. Due to the nomadic lifestyle, more delicate cuisines weren't prevalent.

What is Mongolian beef from a Chinese restaurant? ›

Mongolian beef is one of the most popular Chinese takeout beef dishes that is believed to be from Taiwan. It is sweet and savory and stir fried with onions, green onions, and served over a bed of fried vermicelli rice noodles or simply with some rice.

What is Mongolian BBQ sauce made of? ›

In a large saucepan, combine 1/2 cup tamari, sugar, vinegar, oil, sake and 1/3 cup water. Bring to a boil. Add ketchup, coriander, ground ginger and chili. Simmer for 10 minutes.

What is the difference between Szechuan beef and Mongolian beef? ›

Szechuan Beef vs Mongolian Beef

Szechuan Beef has a sweet and spicy flavor with added chili peppers and Szechuan peppercorns. The Szechuan peppercorns has a distinctive tingly numbing sensation when eaten. Mongolian beef has a mild and much simpler taste, making it a kids' favorite, outside of broccoli beef.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 6107

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.