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
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- ½ cup julienned carrots
- ½ 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?
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Kathy McDaniel says
Mongolian Beef is one of my favorite Asian dishes. I have never tried making it in the slow cooker so this recipe makes me so excited! A must try for sure!!!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
If you make it, let me know how it turns out! :)
Danielle @ Follow My Gut says
I live in LA and totally agree, it's pretty easy to get whatever type of food you want from basically anywhere. But I love that you managed to make a dish that is just as good as what can be found in a restaurant. It looks so good and noooooow I'm getting hungry!
Danielle | FollowMyGut.com <3
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you! It's definitely nice to be able to make easy meals at home rather than going out all the time :)
Elinor Hill aka Beach Hut Cook says
This looks totally delicious. I love it’s dark colour. Slow cooked meals also taste so rich and flavoursome. This dish certainly will fit that bill.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thanks so much, Elinor!
Hillary Harper says
Chinese food is something that I never think to make at home, but this would be a great start! Looks DELICIOUS!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
It's always nice to change it up! :)
Debi at Life Currents says
Where to start--- well, this looks fabulous. My husband has been trying to find a great recipe for this. I think I found it. And, this is my SIL's favorite Chinese dish. Ha! Two family members will be very impressed!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
What a nice comment! Thank you, Debi :)
Veena Azmanov says
I love Mongolian beef especially for the color. Flak steak always works great for such dishes and the crockpot is the perfect way to make this. Yum. I can almost smell the flavors.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you, Veena! I agree. Flank steak is a favorite of mine :)
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Flank steak is such a great protein to work with. I LOVE using my crockpot. This is an awesome dinner for any night of the week, and leftovers would be great as well.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I agree! Slow cookers are the best! :) Thank you, Gloria!
Pech says
Looks great, I have so many good memories of Mongolian Beef growing up but can't remember the last time I have eaten it, could it have been years!??
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
If it's been that long, you definitely need to make some! ;)
Karen says
This is so gorgeous!! I love take out made at home.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you, Karen! I love it, too! :)
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Making take away favorites at home is the best thing and I love slow cooked meals as they bring out the best in the flavors of the dish. Love the color of the dish.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I agree! The slow cooker is the way to go. Thanks!
Catherine says
I can't even remember the last time I had Mongolian beef but this looks so good! Now I'm craving this for the weekend...how delicious!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thanks so much, Catherine!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
This looks amazing! We love Asian food, and I love finding recipes to make our favorites at home. I will have to give this recipe a go, because this is one of my favorites!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you so much for the nice comment!
Pam Greer says
I love that you made this in the slow cooker. I always make such a mess of my stove when I stir fry! This is great!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you! It's definitely much easier in the slow cooker! :)
Coleen @ The Redhead Baker says
We love Mongolian beef at our house. I need to dig my slow cooker out!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Do it! :)
Taylor Kiser says
This looks so delicious! Would love this for dinner any night of the week! Can't wait to make this slow cooker mongolian beef!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you, Taylor! Let me know how you like it! :)