Who needs take-out? This Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is a hearty, flavorful dish packed with yummy veggies and spices. It's easy to make at home - perfect for busy weeknights and fancy weekend dinners alike!
When we lived in Boston, and in Los Angeles, my husband and I used to rely on delicious, fast Chinese food take-out meals for busy weeknight dinners. It was so easy... almost too easy.
Now we live in a city where many restaurants do not deliver. There also aren't nearly the number of delicious Chinese restaurants around. So, I've learned I've learned to make some of the most popular Chinese American dishes at home. Turns out, many are easier to make than ordering take-out!
In fact, some of our favorite Chinese American dishes - like Cashew Chicken, Egg Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce, and Fried Rice - are so downright simple. It's almost silly to even entertain the thought of take-out.
It is oh so satisfying to be able to create these dishes at home. Who needs take-out, when we can stay in and whip up restaurant-style meals with little effort, in no make-up, sweats, and while dancing around the kitchen with the kids?
And, the results are even better than some of the restaurant meals we'd pay three times as much for.
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Mongolian Beef is a popular dish you find commonly at most Chinese American restaurants. Growing up and throughout college, it was almost always one of the dishes that family and friends would order to share, family-style.
You guys: you won't believe how EASY it is to make this dish. I promise you will LOVE it!
How to make Mongolian Beef in the crockpot
Simply add the sliced flank steak and sauce ingredients to your slow cooker, and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
This slow cooker Mongolian Beef recipe has healthy portions of carrots and red bell peppers, which I think adds a nice freshness to the dish.
Adding sliced green onions and sesame seeds before servings not only adds beautiful color to the dish, but also a bit of added tang and texture.
Isn't that gorgeous? You can pat yourself on the back afterward for making such a fancy restaurant dish at home.
But then you'll want to dive right in to this slow cooker Mongolian beef, because this dish smells heavenly and your family – if they're like mine – will be clamoring back for seconds.
What wine pairs with Mongolian beef?
Chinese food is traditionally paired with Riesling and other bright, lively white wines, but I like to think outside of the wine pairing box and challenge you to do the same.
With non-spicy, rich Chinese food dishes, consider fruity red wines like a slightly fuller bodied Pinot Noir. I paired this with a 2015 Knudsen Estate Pinot Noir and it was an incredible match!
This Oregon Pinot Noir is full of bold bright berries that blend beautifully with the richness of the flank steak. The mild acidity in this wine is also just bright enough to help bring out the Asian sauce and spices.
I love the Knudsen Estate Pinot Noirs on their own, but this one really comes to life when paired with this Mongolian Beef recipe. If you can't access the Knudsen Estate Pinot Noir where you live, try pairing it with another Oregon Pinot Noir, and let me know what you think!
More Family Dinner Recipes
- Coconut Curry Shrimp and Mushrooms
- Instant Pot Short Ribs
- Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Meatballs
- Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak sliced into thin strips
- 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch or corn starch
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ยพ cup soy sauce
- ยพ cup brown sugar
- ยฝ cup water
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- ยฝ cup julienned carrots
- ยฝ cup julienned red bell pepper
- 2 Tablespoons sliced green onion
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large ziplock bag, combine sliced flank steak with tapioca or cornstarch and mix it all around until the beef is well covered.
- Add steak to slow cooker.
- Add olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, water, minced garlic, minced ginger, carrots, and red bell pepper to the slow cooker. Stir ingredients.
- Cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 4-5 hours, until beef is cooked through.
- Serve with rice, and top with green onions and sesame seeds.
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Recipe adapted from Once a Month Meals and Recipe Critic.
Do YOU love Chinese food take-out? What's your FAVORITE all-time Chinese food dish?
LB says
Delicious. Modded for a pressure cooker and it was a hit with the entire family.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
So happy to hear the whole family loved it and that it turned out well in the pressure cooker. Thanks, LB!
Cindy Purdie says
I have given up on crockpot recipes because they are tasteless. A Facebook friend of mine posted this and for some crazy reason I decided to try it. Absolutely delicious! The only thing I did off the recipe is to thicken it a bit with 1 T cornstarch/1 T water. I am thrilled to have an easy peasy tasty recipe to add to the meal rotation! Thank you!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Oh Cindy that makes me SO happy to hear! I am glad you loved it, and thank you so much for commenting and letting me know!
swathi says
That is really delicious bowl of rice. your mongolian beef recipe sounds really easy as it is cooked in slow cooker and also with lot of flavors going on.
Katherine says
This is a great recipe for me, as I'm always pressed for time, but what to make really tasty Asian dishes.
Christine - Jar Of Lemons says
This looks SO delicious! Love that it's made in the slow cooker. Perfect for these cooler temps and fall! Would love to make this for dinner soon :)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thanks, Christine! :)
Karyn Ryan says
I think I will have to look into buying a slow cooker! This Mongolian Beef Dish looks delicious โบ
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
You should! Such a handy thing to have around the kitchen!