Sizzling Mongolian Beef Recipe Ready in 30 Minutes

Sizzling and packed with bold Asian-inspired flavors, this lightning-fast 30-minute Mongolian beef recipe delivers restaurant-quality excitement right to your dinner table.

Tender strips of beef dance in a glossy, savory sauce that promises to tantalize every taste bud.

Home cooks can whip up this delectable dish faster than ordering takeout, with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.

The rich, umami-packed sauce coats each morsel of meat with irresistible depth and character.

Weeknight dinners never looked so impressive or tasted so incredible.

Serve this mouthwatering beef over steamed rice, and watch as everyone at the table becomes an instant fan of your culinary skills.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 470 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients You’ll Need for Mongolian Beef

• Sirloin Steak: Choose a well-marbled cut for maximum tenderness and rich flavor, ensuring even cooking and juicy results.
• Cornstarch: Creates a delicate, crispy coating that locks in moisture and helps achieve that signature glossy restaurant-style finish.

• Ginger, Garlic: Fresh ingredients that provide a vibrant, aromatic backbone with deep, warming notes that elevate the entire dish.
• Red Pepper Flakes, Chili Oil: Add customizable heat and a spicy kick, allowing each diner to adjust the intensity of the recipe.
• Tamari Sauce or Soy Sauce: Delivers a robust, umami-rich base that brings authentic Asian-inspired depth to the beef.
• Brown Sugar: Balances the savory elements with a subtle sweetness, creating a harmonious and complex sauce.

• Water: Helps create the perfect sauce consistency and helps blend the other liquid ingredients smoothly.
• Scallions: Fresh, crisp green onions that provide a bright, mild onion flavor and attractive green color as a final garnish.
• Canola Oil: Neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point, ideal for achieving a perfect sear on the beef.
• Salt: Enhances and amplifies the overall flavor profile of the dish.

Tools to Cook This Dish in 30 Minutes

• Large Frying Pan: Essential for perfectly searing and cooking the steak slices.
• Meat Pounder: Helps flatten steak for tender, even cooking.
• Cutting Board: Provides a safe surface for slicing steak.
• Sharp Knife: Critical for cutting sirloin into thin, uniform slices.
• Ziploc Bag: Convenient for coating steak with cornstarch.
• Grater: Needed for grating fresh ginger.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Perfect for stirring sauce and combining ingredients.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure sauce ingredients.
• Plate: Used for setting aside cooked steak batches.

Stir-Fry Instructions That Keep Beef Tender

• Steak Preparation

Slice sirloin into thin pieces and flatten with a meat pounder. Coat each slice completely with cornstarch by shaking in a sealed bag.

• Quick Searing

Heat oil in a large pan over high temperature. Cook meat in batches, ensuring each slice gets crispy edges. Sprinkle with salt after removing from pan.

• Flavor Base

In the same pan, quickly sauté fresh ginger, garlic, and optional spicy elements until aromatic. Add liquid seasonings and sweetener, bringing mixture to a rapid boil.

• Final Fusion

Return seared meat to pan, coating each piece with the glossy sauce. Allow sauce to thicken for a brief moment. Toss in fresh green onions for a bright finish.

• Serving Style

Present the sizzling beef over fluffy rice or wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves for a restaurant-quality meal that comes together in record time.

Sauce Tweaks That Enhance Sweet and Savory Notes

• Cooking Tips & Variations
• Meat Magic: Choose high-quality sirloin or flank steak for the most tender results. Freeze the meat for 15-20 minutes before slicing to get super thin, even cuts that cook quickly.
• Spice Control: Adjust red pepper flakes or chili oil to match your heat preference. For milder versions, use just a pinch; for fire lovers, add extra spice to dial up the intensity.
• Low-Carb Option: Skip rice and serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a lighter, low-carb meal that still packs incredible flavor.
• Quick Protein Switch: Replace beef with chicken breast, tofu, or plant-based protein alternatives if you want to mix up the protein while keeping the delicious Mongolian sauce intact.
• Meal Prep Hack: Double the sauce recipe and store extra in the refrigerator for up to one week. This means you can whip up a quick stir-fry with minimal preparation time on busy weeknights.

Serve This Over Rice or Noodles with Greens

• Flavor Fusion Plating: Layer the beef over steamed jasmine rice, creating a golden-brown cascade of meat draped across the white canvas for a stunning visual presentation.
• Spicy Crunch Topper: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and thin-sliced green onions on top to add a delightful texture and extra kick of fresh flavor that complements the savory beef.
• Quick Veggie Companion: Pair the dish with quick-sautéed bok choy or steamed broccoli florets to balance the rich meat and provide a light, nutritious side that absorbs the delicious sauce.
• Wrap Adventure: Transform the beef into lettuce cups using crisp butter lettuce leaves, allowing guests to create their own handheld bites with a fun, interactive dining experience.

Store Mongolian Beef in Great Condition

• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Cool the Mongolian beef completely before storing in an airtight container. Seal tightly to maintain flavor and prevent moisture loss. Refrigerate within two hours of cooking to ensure food safety.
• Smart Reheating Technique: Warm leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat to restore the beef's original texture. Add a splash of water or extra sauce to prevent drying out. Stir gently to distribute heat evenly and maintain the meat's tenderness.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Package individual portions in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Store for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best results.
• Meal Prep Recommendation: Prepare extra beef and sauce to create quick weeknight meals. Slice additional green onions and store separately to maintain their crisp texture. Keep components separate until ready to serve for maximum freshness and flavor.

Sizzling Mongolian Beef Recipe

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4.6 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Savory Mongolian beef promises a quick, delicious dinner that brings classic Asian flavors to your table. Home cooks can easily prepare this restaurant-style dish with simple ingredients and minimal cooking time.

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Ingredients

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• 1.5 lbs (680 g) sirloin steak (1-inch thick)
• 4 tbsps garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup canola oil
• ⅓ cup reduced sodium tamari sauce (gluten-free) or soy sauce
• ½ cup water
• 8 stalks scallions, green parts only, cut into 2-inch pieces
• ¼ tsp salt
• Red pepper flakes or chili oil, to taste

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Slice sirloin steak into ultra-thin strips and gently tenderize each piece with a meat mallet to enhance texture and ensure even cooking.
2. Coating: Transfer meat into a sealed container, dust with cornstarch, and massage thoroughly to create a light, even coating that will develop a crispy exterior during cooking.
3. Searing: Heat canola oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, creating a sizzling surface. Place meat slices in a single layer, allowing each piece to caramelize quickly for about 30 seconds per side. Work in strategic batches to prevent overcrowding and maintain optimal cooking temperature.
4. Seasoning: Remove seared meat and lightly season with salt, preserving its golden-brown finish. In the same skillet, quickly sauté minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, and red pepper flakes for 10-15 seconds to release their aromatic essence.
5. Sauce Development: Pour tamari, water, and brown sugar into the pan, bringing the liquid to a vigorous boil to create a rich, glossy sauce. Reintroduce seared meat strips, gently folding to ensure complete coverage and allowing cornstarch to naturally thicken the mixture.
6. Finishing: Sprinkle chopped scallions over the dish for a fresh, vibrant garnish. Serve immediately atop steamed white rice, delicate rice noodles, or crisp lettuce wraps for a dynamic culinary experience.

Notes

• Meat Preparation Tip: Slicing against the grain and using a meat mallet helps break down tough muscle fibers, ensuring tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat strips.
• Cornstarch Coating Technique: The light cornstarch dusting creates a protective layer that locks in moisture and develops a golden, crispy exterior during searing.
• Searing Strategy: Cook meat in small batches to maintain high skillet temperature, preventing steaming and achieving perfect caramelization.
• Sauce Enhancement: Quickly sautéing aromatics like garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes before adding liquid ingredients intensifies the overall flavor profile of the dish.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 470
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 580 mg
• Fat: 23 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg