Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe: Tasty Family Dinner

Slow cooker Mongolian beef reinvents tough meat into a mouthwatering delicacy that melts on your tongue.

Rich, savory flavors infuse every tender bite with an irresistible charm.

Home cooks adore this dish for its incredible simplicity and remarkable depth of taste.

The magic happens when robust ingredients mingle and develop complex layers of umami goodness.

Tender strips of beef bathe in a silky, caramelized sauce that promises restaurant-quality results with minimal effort.

Families gather around the table, eagerly anticipating this comforting meal that brings warmth and satisfaction to any evening.

The aroma will fill your kitchen with an enticing promise of deliciousness.

Cooking Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Without the Fuss

Step 1: Prepare Beef Coating

In a large resealable plastic bag, add sliced flank steak and cornstarch. Seal and shake vigorously until beef is evenly coated with a light cornstarch layer.

Step 2: Create Flavor Base

In the slow cooker, combine:
  • Vegetable oil
  • Minced garlic
  • Fresh grated ginger
  • Water
  • Soy sauce
  • Brown sugar
  • Sriracha sauce

Whisk ingredients together to create a rich, tangy sauce.

Step 3: Add Beef and Vegetables

Gently place cornstarch-coated beef into the sauce. Add:
  • Shredded carrots

Stir carefully to ensure all ingredients are well mixed and coated with sauce.

Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cover slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4 hours. Beef will become tender and absorb all delicious flavors.

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

Spoon beef and sauce over fluffy white rice. Top with:
  • Chopped green onions
  • Sprinkle of sesame seeds

Enjoy your homemade Mongolian beef with its rich, complex flavors!

Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

  • Slice Against the Grain: Cut flank steak into thin slices perpendicular to the meat's natural lines for maximum tenderness.
  • Prevent Cornstarch Clumping: Shake meat and cornstarch thoroughly in the bag to ensure even, light coating that helps thicken sauce.
  • Control Spice Level: Adjust Sriracha sauce amount to match your personal heat preference, adding more or less as desired.
  • Maximize Flavor Absorption: Let meat marinate in sauce for 15-20 minutes before cooking to enhance overall taste profile.
  • Enhance Texture: If sauce seems thin after cooking, mix a small amount of cornstarch with cold water and stir into slow cooker during last 30 minutes to create richer consistency.

Storing Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Without Drying Out

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover Mongolian beef in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days to maintain optimal flavor and food safety.
  • Freeze: Transfer cooled beef to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
  • Reheat: Warm refrigerated beef in microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until heated through. Alternatively, gently reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water to prevent drying out. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.

What to Serve with Mongolian Beef

  • Pair with Bold Red Wine: Choose a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec to complement the rich, savory flavors of the Mongolian beef, cutting through its slightly sweet and spicy sauce.
  • Crisp Asian-Inspired Beer Match: Select a light Asian lager like Tsingtao or Sapporo, which will refresh your palate and balance the dish's intense umami and ginger notes.
  • Brighten with Cucumber Salad: Create a cool side salad with thinly sliced cucumbers, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to provide a refreshing contrast to the hearty beef's deep flavors.
  • Enhance with Jasmine Rice Pairing: Serve the beef over fragrant jasmine rice, allowing its delicate floral aroma to subtly elevate the dish's complex Mongolian-style seasoning.

Flavor Upgrades for Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

  • Spicy Beef Remix: Replace Sriracha with chili garlic sauce and add diced jalapeños for an extra kick of heat.
  • Beef and Veggie Fusion: Incorporate bell peppers, broccoli, and snow peas to boost nutrition and add colorful texture.
  • Ginger Citrus Burst: Enhance the sauce with fresh orange zest and a splash of orange juice for a bright, tangy flavor profile.
  • Low-Carb Lettuce Wrap Edition: Skip the rice and serve the beef inside crisp lettuce leaves for a lighter, carb-conscious meal option.

Why Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Is a Set-It-and-Forget-It Hero

  • Effortless Flavor Explosion: This slow cooker Mongolian beef delivers bold, restaurant-quality taste with minimal kitchen effort, letting you enjoy a complex Asian-inspired dish without complicated cooking techniques.
  • Tender Meat Magic: The slow cooking method transforms tough flank steak into melt-in-your-mouth meat, ensuring each bite is incredibly soft and perfectly seasoned with a harmonious blend of sweet, spicy, and savory notes.
  • Quick Weeknight Warrior: With just 10 minutes of prep and minimal ingredients, this recipe becomes a lifesaver for busy families craving a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen, making dinner stress-free and satisfying.
  • Customizable Comfort: The flexible recipe allows easy adjustments for spice levels and serves as a versatile base for creating your own signature twist, perfect for pleasing different taste preferences in one meal.

Ingredients for Tender Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Main Proteins:
  • Flank Steak: Tender cut with rich beef flavor, best when thinly sliced against the grain for maximum tenderness.
  • Cornstarch: Creates a light crispy coating on meat, helps thicken sauce and provides golden texture.
Sauce Ingredients:
  • Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce, Light Brown Sugar: Perfect balance of salty and sweet, forming the classic Mongolian sauce base.
  • Water: Helps create smooth sauce consistency and prevents ingredients from burning.
  • Sriracha Sauce: Adds gentle heat and complex spicy undertone to the dish.
  • Garlic, Fresh Ginger: Aromatic ingredients that provide deep, authentic Asian flavor profile.
Garnish and Vegetable Ingredients:
  • Green Onions, Shredded Carrots: Fresh, colorful additions that provide crunch and visual appeal.
  • Sesame Seeds: Nutty garnish that adds subtle texture and traditional Asian presentation.
  • Vegetable Oil: Helps prevent meat from sticking and supports initial cooking process.
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Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef Recipe


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4.8 from 35 reviews

  • Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Mongolian beef slow-simmered in a rich, savory sauce brings restaurant-quality comfort to home kitchens. Tender strips of beef meld with sweet and tangy flavors, inviting you to savor a classic Asian-inspired dish that satisfies deeply.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 1 ½ lbs flank steak, thinly sliced (¼ inch thick)

Seasoning and Sauce Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ¾ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • ¾ cup water
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 12 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
  • 34 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced

Garnish and Additional Ingredients:

  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 46 green onions, thinly sliced
  • Sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Tenderize the flank steak by thoroughly coating it with cornstarch inside a large resealable plastic bag, ensuring each slice is evenly dusted.
  2. Create a vibrant sauce base in the slow cooker by whisking together aromatic garlic, zesty ginger, savory soy sauce, sweet brown sugar, spicy Sriracha, water, and a splash of vegetable oil.
  3. Gently introduce the cornstarch-coated steak slices and julienned carrots into the sauce, carefully mixing to ensure every piece is generously coated with the flavorful liquid.
  4. Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the meat to simmer and develop rich flavors, cooking on HIGH setting for 2-3 hours or LOW setting for approximately 4 hours until the beef becomes meltingly tender.
  5. Once cooking is complete, carefully transfer the succulent Mongolian beef onto a bed of fluffy white rice, creating an inviting presentation.
  6. Enhance the dish’s visual appeal and add a fresh, crisp element by sprinkling chopped green onions and a generous scattering of toasted sesame seeds over the top before serving.

Notes

  • Achieve a mouth-watering result by evenly coating the beef with cornstarch, which helps create a thick, glossy sauce.
  • Use fresh garlic and ginger for maximum flavor complexity that elevates this classic Asian-inspired dish.
  • Cooking on low heat allows the meat to become incredibly tender while absorbing all the rich, sweet, and spicy sauce ingredients.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 410
  • Sugar: 21 g
  • Sodium: 800 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 57 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 24 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg
Alex Reed

Alex Reed

Founder & Lead Content Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development and Testing​, Culinary Education​, Food Writing and Blogging​, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Global Cuisine Exploration

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and contemporary cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development. Emphasized hands-on experience in diverse culinary traditions.​

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Program: Diplôme de Cuisine
  • Focus: Advanced instruction in French culinary techniques, including sauce preparation, pâtisserie, and haute cuisine.​

Alex Reed is an inventive chef and food creator with a passion for dishes that balance taste, health, and sustainability. 

Trained at Portland Community College and holding an Advanced Pastry Arts certificate from Oregon Culinary Institute, Alex brings more than 10 years of practical culinary experience to every recipe he develops. 

His background uniquely blends traditional cooking skills with modern, mindful eating principles. As the founder of Beard and Bonnet, Alex creates recipes that encourage readers to cook confidently.

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