Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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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!
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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

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Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

4.69 from 63 votes

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.

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

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

Why is Mongolian beef so tender? ›

The science behind using baking soda to marinate Mongolian Beef: The alkalinity of baking soda raises the pH of the meat, causing the proteins to move further apart, and that makes it more tender and easier for us to chew or bite into.

What is Mongolian beef sauce made of? ›

Whisk the Mongolian Beef Sauce ingredients together consisting of soy sauce, water, brown sugar, Asian sweet chili sauce, rice wine, hoisin, pepper, sriracha and cornstarch. Stir Fry Beef. Heat 1-2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil a large skillet over high heat until very hot and sizzling.

What is a good substitute for flank steak in a slow cooker? ›

Chuck steak: Chuck steak is a budget-friendly cut of beef that's often used for slow cooking, but it can also be used as a substitute for flank steak in some recipes. It's a bit tougher than flank steak, so it's best to marinate it before cooking to help tenderize it.

Is skirt steak good for slow cooking? ›

A thin, long and versatile cut that tends to be reserved for slow cooking, skirt steak comes from the cow's diaphragm muscles. It's lean and tough, with intense, melt-in-your-mouth flavours that emerge when cooked slowly.

How do Chinese get their beef so soft? ›

In Chinese cooking, proteins like beef, pork or chicken are velveted first before stir-frying them. There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts.

What is PF Chang's Mongolian sauce? ›

Deep and flavorful, our Mongolian Style BBQ Sauce can attribute its flavor profile to smoked black pepper, sweet molasses, soy sauce and garlic making this sauce versatile for marinades and as a finishing sauce.

What is a substitute for cornstarch in Mongolian beef? ›

It gives the Mongolian beef its signature glossy, thick sauce. If you can't find cornstarch, use flour instead, but it may not provide the same clear, glossy finish. Soy sauce: This gives the dish its savory, umami flavor.

What ethnicity is Mongolian beef? ›

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 beef is better for slow cooker? ›

7-Bone Chuck Roast

Identified by the 7-shaped bone it contains. Rich and flavorful, it's ideal for the slow-cooker.

What piece of meat is best for slow cooker? ›

The best cuts of meat for slow cooking
  • Chuck steak.
  • Round steak.
  • Blade steak.
  • Topside.
  • Silverside.
  • Skirt steak.
  • Shin (gravy) beef.
  • Sausages.

Does meat get more tender the longer you cook it in a slow cooker? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

What is the underrated cut of steak that's ideal for slow cooking? ›

Under blade steak maintains its shape even when slow-cooked

But unlike most steak cuts, the under blade takes just as well to slow-cooking — this cut will maintain its integrity through the low and slow cooking process, per The Spruce Eats. Also known as a chuck flat, according to Beef.

Does skirt steak get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The best texture comes with just a few minutes of contact on the heated surface and results in medium-rare doneness. Skirt steak is thin and lean, so going past medium-rare or medium doneness will yield an extremely dry and chewy steak. Cook it hot! Cook it fast with high heat, instead of low heat for slow cooking.

What makes beef really tender? ›

Factors that also influence tenderness and juiciness are: The animal's age at slaughter, the amount of fat and collagen (connective tissue) contained in particular cuts, and, to a small degree, brining. Collagen is a long, stiff protein that is the most prevalent protein in mammals.

What is the most tender beef to eat? ›

Tenderloin Steak

The most tender of all cuts of beef, tenderloin steaks are lean and known for their delicate, butter-like texture and thick cut.

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

Szechuan beef vs Mongolian beef, what's the difference? Szechuan beef has a sweet and spicy flavor, and Mongolian beef has a mild taste. Szechuan beef hails from the Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Its main ingredients are chili peppers, garlic, and Szechuan peppercorn.

How do Chinese restaurants get their chicken so tender? ›

How do Chinese Restaurants tenderise chicken?
  1. marinating in a cornstarch/cornflour sludge then deep frying or blanching in water before proceeding to cook in the stir fry.
  2. egg whites – sometimes the above method is also done using egg whites.
  3. chemical tenderiser.
  4. simple baking soda / bi carbonate method.
Feb 23, 2019

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