Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (2024)

This Homemade Mongolian Beef is a quick and easy 30-minute recipe the whole family will love. The crispy yet tender beef and saucy vegetables are delicious with the sweet and savory garlic and ginger sauce. All you need is a steamy bowl of cooked rice and dinner is made!

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (1)

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The BEST Mongolian Beef Recipe

We love re-creating our favorite takeout recipes like Chow Meinand Chicken Fried Rice. This Chinese restaurant-inspired Mongolian Beef is so EASY to make and tastes just as amazing as P.F. Chang’s. Thinly sliced beef seared until crispy with carrots, bell pepper, and green onion in a sweet and spicy sauce that adds so much flavor to the beef.

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (2)

Ingredients

Beef – Flank steak is best to achieve very thin slices without becoming tough and chewy. You can substitute top sirloin, skirt steak, flat iron steak, top round, or even rib eye steak with great results. Cut the beef against the grain.

VegetablesJulienne the carrot and bell pepper, and slice the green onions into longer pieces which is nice for a stir fry. Authentic Mongolian Beef is made with just the green onion so if you want to skip the veggies, you can but we love the flavor and texture they add.

Cornstarch adds a slightly crisp layer to the outside of the beef, tenderizes the beef and also helps to thicken up and stabilize the sauce.

Saucethe homemade stir fry sauce combines warm aromatic flavors of ginger and garlic with the sweetness of brown sugar and is balanced by savory soy sauce and a hint of spice from sriracha.

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (3)

Pro Tip:

TIP: If you freeze the beef for 30 minutes, it’s easier to achieve even, thin slices.

How to Make Mongolian Beef

This recipe comes together quickly and is best when served fresh. Whenever you are making a stir fry over high heat, it cooks fast so make sure all of the ingredients are measured and prepped before starting the recipe.

  • Coat Beef – Add cornstarch to the beef slices and completely coat.
  • Make the Sauce – In a bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
  • Sautee Vegetables – Add oil and butter to a large wok or skillet over medium/high heat. Once it’s hot, saute the vegetables to your desired doneness, stirring frequently. Remove from the skillet and cover to keep warm.
  • Cook Meat – Add more oil and cook the beef in a single layer until it’s crispy and has a good sear (don’t overcook the meat). TIP: Don’t overcrowd the pan, if needed, cook in batches. Add the vegetables back to the beef.
  • Add Sauce –Pour in the sauce and add the green onion, turn the heat down to medium. Cook until the sauce thickens. TIP: If you prefer a spicier sauce, add additional Sriracha to taste.
Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (4)

What to Serve with Mongolian Beef?

Since this dish is so flavorful and saucy, pair it with simple sides:

  • Ricefluffy white rice, brown rice or even fried rice
  • Steamed Vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, snow peas, or mix of vegetables
  • Quinoa – a great alternative to rice
  • Spring Rolls or Egg Rolls
  • Noodles – such as lo mein, udon, or soba noodles

Leftovers

Storing – The Mongolian Beef is great for meal prep because it will keep well refrigerated for up to three days. This is also a great recipe to use as meal prep and keep in individual portions to take to work and reheat for lunch.

Reheating – It’s always best to reheat using the same method a recipe was cooked so reheat on the stovetop or use the microwave if you’re on the go.

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (5)

Once you give this homemade version of the Classic P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef a try, it will be on repeat for dinner.

More Easy Asian Recipes

Mongolian Beef Recipe

5 from 250 votes

Author: Valentina Ablaev

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (7)

EASY Mongolian Beef recipe with the BEST sauce! Thinly sliced beef with vegetables in flavor-packed sauce ready in under 30 minutes!

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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 4 people

Mongolian Beef Ingredients

  • 1 carrot, peeled and julienned
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 Tbsp neutral oil, divided*
  • 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain*
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup green onions, thickly sliced (from 4 stems)
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds, optional garnish

Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar, (packed)
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce, *
  • 1 tsp Sriracha, or added to taste

Instructions

  • Place beef slices in a bowl, add cornstarch and stir to completely coat.

  • In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce and stir until well combined, set aside.

  • In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 Tbsp oil with 1 Tbsp butter over medium/high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the carrot and peppers and stir fry until crisp-tender or to your desired tenderness, stirring frequently. Remove the vegetables to a separate plate.

  • Increase to high heat and add 1 Tbsp oil. Once hot, add the beef and sear for about 2 minutes per side to create a crispy coating. Add more oil if the skillet seems dry. Do not crowd the pan and cook the beef in batches if needed.

  • Add the vegetables back into the skillet with the green onion. Add the sauce and stir to combine. Turn heat to medium/low and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired and serve.

Notes

Substitutions:
Beef – You can also use top sirloin, skirt steak, flat iron steak, top round, or even rib eye steak. Cut the beef into thin slices across the grain. If you freeze the steak for 30 minutes, it will be easier to thinly slice.
Oil – use an oil with a high smoke point such as peanut oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, avocado oil, or extra light olive oil
Soy Sauce – Use Tamari Sauce for gluten-free Mongolian Beef. If using regular soy sauce, add it to taste since it has more salt.

Nutrition Per Serving

377kcal Calories32g Carbs26g Protein16g Fat5g Saturated Fat76mg Cholesterol816mg Sodium596mg Potassium2g Fiber20g Sugar3651IU Vitamin A42mg Vitamin C59mg Calcium3mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Mongolian Beef Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

377

% Daily Value*

Fat

16

g

25

%

Saturated Fat

5

g

31

%

Cholesterol

76

mg

25

%

Sodium

816

mg

35

%

Carbohydrates

32

g

11

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

20

g

22

%

Protein

26

g

52

%

Vitamin A

3651

IU

73

%

Vitamin C

42

mg

51

%

Calcium

59

mg

6

%

Iron

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Keyword: mongolian beef, PF Changs Mongolian Beef

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $$

Calories: 377

Valentina Ablaev

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (8)

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

Mongolian Beef (Easy, 30-Minute Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the fastest way to prepare beef? ›

PAN-FRY. Thin and tender cuts such as flat iron and cubed steak cook in just a few minutes in the pan. Heat a little bit of oil in the skillet and season but don't salt the cut before adding it to the pan. Adding salt too early will dry out your meat, so wait until it's fully cooked before salting.

Why is Mongolian beef so tender? ›

That's because restaurants use baking soda or cornstarch to tenderize the meat. It's a process called velveting beef. While the beef is tender (artificially so), it's lacking true beefy flavor. I gave up ordering Mongolian Beef years ago once I figured out how to make it better at home.

What makes it Mongolian beef? ›

Mongolian beef is a dish from Taiwan consisting of sliced beef, typically flank steak, usually made with onions. The beef is commonly paired with scallions or mixed vegetables and is often not spicy. The dish is often served over steamed rice, or in the US, over crispy fried cellophane noodles.

Is Mongolian beef healthy for you? ›

It's a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and various vitamins and minerals. By using lean cuts of beef and adding plenty of vegetables, you can make Mongolian beef a part of a healthy and balanced diet.

How to cook beef quickly and tender? ›

8 simple tips to make meat softer
  1. Utilize the meat tenderizer. A quick and easy method is the use of the meat tenderizer. ...
  2. Cover the meat with coarse salt. ...
  3. Acid marinade. ...
  4. Marinade with fruit puree. ...
  5. Slow cooking in a pan. ...
  6. Grilling. ...
  7. Add the coarse salt halfway through cooking. ...
  8. Use baking soda.

How to cook beef fast and tender? ›

8 Simple Ways to Make Tough Meat Tender
  1. Physically tenderize the meat. ...
  2. Use a marinade. ...
  3. Don't forget the salt. ...
  4. Let it come up to room temperature. ...
  5. Cook it low-and-slow. ...
  6. Hit the right internal temperature. ...
  7. Rest your meat. ...
  8. Slice against the grain.
Jan 26, 2018

What do Chinese put on meat to make it 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 to tenderize meat? ›

Whether hosting a holiday cookout, serving up some stir-fry or tackling game meats, baking soda is the go-to meat tenderizer to help make your steak, chicken or turkey silkier, juicier and yummier.

What do Chinese restaurants use to tenderize beef? ›

This is how to tenderise beef with a Chinese restaurant method called “velveting beef”. Also used for chicken, it's a simple, highly effective technique using baking soda that transforms economical beef so it's incredibly tender in stir fries and stir fried noodles.

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 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 Mongolian sauce made of? ›

Ingredients. Organic Sugar, Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol), Sake (Water, Rice, Salt), Water, Rice Vinegar, Garlic Puree, Garlic Powder, Arrowroot, Ginger Puree, Apple Cider Vinegar.

What is the unhealthiest cut of beef? ›

Best cuts: Sirloin tip side steak, eye of round roast, top round steak and bottom round steak. Worst cuts: T-bone steak, rib-eye steak, filet mignon and porterhouse steak. Best cuts: Breast. Worst cuts: Thigh, wing, drumstick and leg.

What is the healthiest beef in the world? ›

Of these, the following are considered the leanest beef cuts:
  • Eye of round roast and steak.
  • Round tip roast and steak.
  • Top round roast and steak.
  • Bottom round roast and steak.
  • Top sirloin steak.
  • Top loin steak.
  • Chuck shoulder and arm roasts.
Nov 21, 2023

How long can you keep Mongolian beef? ›

Leftovers. This Mongolian beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze in single portions in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Just reheat in the microwave or oven straight from the freezer.

How long does it take to prepare beef? ›

The total cooking time depends on the weight of the meat. To cook rare, allow 15-20 minutes per 500g of meat. To cook medium allow 20-25 minutes per 500g of meat. To cook well done allow 25-30 minutes per 500g of meat.

What is the most popular way to cook beef? ›

Best cuts of beef for barbecuing/smoking: whole rump, brisket, shoulder, short ribs, prime rib, ribeye. Grilling: Grilling is the most popular method to cook. Anything from steaks to burgers to even a whole roast can go on the grill. Grilling means cooking over a gas or charcoal grill or other heat source.

Does boiling beef first make it tender? ›

Boiling meat already helps make tough cuts more tender. These cuts of beef often have elastin and collagen marbled within, making it sinewy and chewy. Cooking it with moist heat — such as by boiling or simmering — helps to slowly break down this connective tissue without drying out the meat altogether.

How long does it take for beef to soften? ›

My rule of thumb is 3 to 4 hours on a low simmer. You can dissolve a piece of beef tendon in that time which is about as big as your little finger and probably the toughest piece of the cow. This varies a bit depending on the cut and how much tendon/ligament is present in the roast.

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