Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
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Instant Pot Mongolian Beef is a very easy and delicious meal you can make in just under 30 minutes. Sweet, juicy, and garlicky, is the perfect Asian dish to make using Instant Pot, and healthier than takeout.
We love making easy and delicious Asian dishes in the Instant Pot such as our famous Instant Pot Orange Chicken, Instant Pot Mongolian Chicken and Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli.
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef tastes even better than the one you would order at an Asian restaurant. This is our favorite Asian meal to make at home over and over again. If you are addicted to Chinese takeout, I highly recommend trying this Instant Pot Mongolian Beef, as it will be done quicker than your local restaurant can deliver it.
On top of that, you will be rewarded with delicious leftovers that you can enjoy the next day. Sweet and salty, balanced by lots of savory minced garlic and fresh ginger, this will become the favorite Asian dish to make at your home.
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Tips on how to make the perfect Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe:
- Use quality meat. I always say this, but a good meat centered meal starts with quality meat, preferably use organic beef for this meal.
- Best cut of meat for Mongolian Beef is a flank steak, it is also easier to cut it into thin strips.
- You can definitely cut the beef very thinly as it is served in restaurants. I personally prefer to cut it a little thicker, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
- Traditionally, the beef in this recipe should be fried in lots of oil to make it very, very crispy, I decided to reduce the oil, sugar and all the frying in this recipe to make it healthier.
- Cornstarch is a key ingredient in here, do not try to replace it with flour, the results will not be the same.
- I used a LOT of garlic in this recipe, we love garlic in our family and I think it works really well with the sweet and salty flavors. Feel free to use less if you are not a huge garlic fan.
- Red pepper flakes – you can use more if you would like the meal to be spicier.
- Using fresh ginger and garlic will add amazing flavor and taste to the sauce.
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You’ll Enjoy This Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Because:
- It is easy to make and it takes only around 30 minutes!
- Only one pot to clean and that is the Instant Pot, so minimum dishes for you.
- The dish is packed with amazing flavors and lean protein.
- It is perfect for busy weeknights and also for entertaining guests.
- You will have delicious leftovers that can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Can Mongolian Beef be made in your Crock Pot?
This dish can also be made in your Crock Pot or in the Instant Pot using the Slow Cooker function. Add browned beef to the Slow Cooker, add the mixtures except the cornstarch slurry. Cover and cook on High for 3 hours or on Low for 6 hours. Make the cornstarch slurry, gently stir it in and cook on high for 20 more minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Can I substitute chicken for beef for this dish?
Yes, chicken or pork is a great alternative for beef in many recipes including this one. The cooking time will also vary best on the cut that you choose. Chicken recipe can be found on Instant Pot Mongolian Chicken.
What is best to serve with Mongolian Beef?
- White or Brown Rice
- Vegetable such as broccoli, asparagus or bok choy
- Noddles
What wines pair well with Mongolian Beef?
- A nice, fruity red wine such as Zinfandel or Syrah will pair nicely with the flavors in this beef dish.
- If you’re looking for a white option, Riesling or Pinot Grigio are always great matches for bold, somewhat spicy dishes.
What is a 10 Minutes Natural Pressure Release?
A Natural Pressure Release means that the pressure is released gradually. For a Natural Pressure Release, you click on Keep Warm, and wait 10 minutes, after which you open the valve and let any leftover pressure release. Another option is to Turn Off/Unplug the pressure cooker, wait 10 minutes and after that open the valve. A natural release is usually used when cooking soups, meat in a large amount of sauce, pasta or steel cut oats. This method prevents for any foam from the dish to shoot out through the valve, which can happen during a Quick Pressure Release.
Tools/Ingredients I used to make the Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe:
- Instant Pot – I use it all the time, either the Pressure Cooker function or the Slow Cooker function, I also like that I can just sauté / brown the meat and veggies directly in the pot using the Sauté function
- Cornstarch – I prefer using cornstarch instead of flour to thicken sauces, and this organic brand is my favorite
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef is a very easy and delicious meal you can make in just under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 pounds flank steak , sliced across the grain
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup brown sugar or 2/3 cups I prefer the version with more sugar
- 10 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger , minced
- 1/2 cup lite soy sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon rice wine
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup green onions , chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
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Heat up your pressure cooker: press Sauté -> click on the Adjust button -> select More to get the Sauté More function, which means that the food will be sautéed over medium-high heat. Wait for the Instant Pot indicator to read HOT.
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Add sliced beef to a large ziplock bag, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and shake well to coat the beef evenly.
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Add the oil to the hot Instant Pot, once the oil is hot, add the beef and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring a few times. If needed brown the beef in batches, you don't want to add to much as it will start releasing juice and it won't brown well.
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Note: You can also skip browning the beef and just add it to the pot!
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If bits of beef stuck to the pot, add 1/2 cup water and deglaze the pot. Using a wooden spoon scrape the bottom of the pot. You can discard that liquid if wanted.
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Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot: minced garlic, minced ginger, lite soy sauce, brown sugar, water, rice wine and red pepper flakes. You can add less sugar, based on your taste and preference.
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Stir well until all the ingredients are combined and coated in sauce.
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Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 8 minutes + 10 minutes Natural Release. Turn off the heat. Release the remaining pressure after the 10 mins NPR. Open the lid.
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Make the cornstarch slurry, in a small bowl mix cornstarch with water until fully combined. With the Instant Pot on the Sauté function, add the slurry to the pot, stir to combine and cook for 2-3 minutes on Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens. Turn off the Instant Pot and let the Mongolian Beef sit for 8-10 minutes before serving, in this time the sauce will settle and thicken more.
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Serve over rice and garnish with fresh chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
Here is a step-by-step video of how to make the Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe:
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This looks delicious. Is there a way to lower back the sodium content. It’s beyond to much.
Hi, all the sodium comes from the light soy sauce, try using less soy sauce, use 1/2 cup, but also not that it will be sweeter if you use less soy sauce, so you may want to reduce the sugar too.
My hubby would loooove this! Gotta try it!
Why have I not tried this in my instant pot yet?! It looks so good!
I clearly need to get my hands on an Instant Pot because this? Well, we need this in our lives this summer.
Can’t wait to try this one! I love that you gave so many tips on how to I can customize the dish !
This recipe may be the push I needed to go get myself an Instant Pot. Looks incredible!
That beef. That sauce. That color! I have to make this ASAP!!
I’m always looking for new Instant Pot ideas! Bookmarking this to try soon!
30-minute meals are the best! This looks wonderfully flavorful.
Such a quick and easy meal!
I totally have to try this soon! Looks so tender and perfect!
Looks incredibly delicious!!
Thanks 🙂
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did it. loved it. added broccoli!
So happy 🙂 thank you Melanie for letting me know!!
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Yum! I don’t have fresh ginger though. Is powdered okay? How much? Thanks!!
powder is ok, use 1-2 teaspoons, depends how much you like the flavor.
*20* cloves of garlic? That’s quite a bit. Is that a typo?
Its not 🙂 its very garlicky 🙂 you can use less if you want!
Hi, just wondering if I could do this without an instant pot or pressure cooker? Would it need to go in the oven for a long time instead? It looks so tasty I really want to try it!!
Yes, cover beef in cornstarch, start cooking on the stove until nice and golden, mix the sauce ingredients and add to the skillet. Make cornstarch slurry (1tbsp cornstarch and 2tbsps water) and add to the skillet to make the sauce thicker and you are done 🙂
Not really 20 cloves of garlic, isn’t it? Going to do just 2…. thanks
actually I used 10 🙂 let me update that 🙂
Can you just use regular all-purpose soy sauce or will that change the flavor?
It may be too salty, as the recipe is asking for a lot of soy sauce.
My instant pot instructions said to always have at least 1 cup of liquid when doing to the pressure cooking. Wondering how that works with this recipe. Worried I’d burn something
Hi Janelle, the recipe asks for 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup of soy sauce, that is enough.
Fabulous dish, thank you!
Glad that you liked it Joan!
Whenever I sauté with cornstarch, it always sticks and makes a mess. I ended up washing the pot after browning the meat and then put everything back in. It worked fine, but wondered if I did something wrong. The recipe is fabulous btw. No leftovers!!!
Another option is to deglaze the pot with a little water. Glad that you liked the recipe, my family loves it too!
Hi Catalina. I am going to try this with stewing beef tomorrow as that is all I have and a winter storm is a brewing and this sounds just awesome for this kind of weather. I am totally new to the instant pot which this will be my first recipe. Thanks
Hi Kim! I hope you love it, let me know if you have any questions!
It came out delish indeed. I changed some of the sugar only because I am a diabetic, and with other sugar substitutes it was awesome. I will use a leaner meat the next time. thanks again.
Which sugar substitute did you use?
You can do honey.
How much is considered 1 serving?
about 1 cup
Superb, I tried and made it, was really delicious, thanks for this!
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Can this recipe be doubled? We have a quart instant pot.
Yes, sure.
I was looking for ways to cook flank steak in my new Instant Pot. This was delicious, and I’m not a big Mongolian Beef fan, but my son loves it. I used sherry and rice vinegar to mix with cornstarch when thickening at the end, because his favorite Cooking Light recipe uses it. This recipe was SOOO much better than the original Cooking Light version, and in the Instant Pot!! I had a big bag of broccoli on hand, so I steamed it on the side and added at the end (which I was informed makes it not Mongolian Beef, but whatever, it was delicious.) I used three pounds of flank steak and doubled the sauce, which worked great. I also didn’t know about the pre-heating on Saute and getting the HOT indicator. Good to know.
Hi Sara, thank you for the feedback, I am very happy that you loved this recipe 🙂
This was delicious!! Thanks for the recipe!
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This was my second recipe to make in my Instant Pot and it was Out Of This World GREAT!!!
My Mom and Dad were over for dinner that night and they still talk about it!
I tried this last night. It is amazing! The only change I made was adding a tablespoon of seasame oil to the sauce. Also adding fresh spicy peppers, which I put in everything. The sauce is a good mix of sweet, salty, spicy, and savory from the meat. Also very easy to make and clean up.
Yum! Happy that you loved it!
Do you think I can substitute pork shoulder for the beef? Thank you!
Yes, cut it into cubes for this recipe.
Can this recipe be doubled in a 6 qt instant pot? My 8 qt hasn’t arrived yet. Thanks!
Yes, you can.
I just wanted to let you know that I made this for dinner and it was a huge hit! My husband said it was as good or better than what we get at our local restaurant. Thanks for the great recipe! I will definitely be making it again!
I followed the recipe as written, and so yummy. Thank you. Despite some concerns raised, not too salty. So tasty and tender. thanks
so glad that you liked it!
Help! I made this and follows the instructions carefully-my sauce was super saucy and never thickened like I see in pictures. Flavor was great and we loved it, but the meat wasn’t crispy even though I did sauté it, and the sauce wasn’t caramelized at all. What did I do wrong?
To get the meat to brown well, when you add it to the hot pan, don’t move it for 2-3 minutes so it gets a nice sear, after that stir, and again let it cook. If you start stirring too soon, the meat starts releasing water and it just cooks into its own sauce instead of browning. On the sauce issue, are you sure you used enough cornstarch? Also, maybe your beef released too much liquid from the start, since you mentioned that it didn’t brown well.
I have made this a couple times for my family and guests. Comes out fantastic! I use London broil cuts of beef. Lots of fresh garlic and ginger make this recipe a hit. Served with rice, broccoli, and some fresh fruit. Yum, yum, yum!
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This recipe gets thumbs up all round at my place here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I served it for the clan ranging from granny who is nudging eighty, to our daughter who is seven. The whole family loved the meal, and there were no left overs.
There is only one recipe in Mongolia: kill animal, boil, eat. So, while not being authentic Mongolian, it is among the best received meal I have cooked here. It will be on the dinner table again soon!
OMG this is the best comment I have gotten in a while lol I am glad to know what true Mongolian recipes are now haha
Thanks for the feedback and I am happy that you liked the recipe.
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Great recipe. Too bad Canadians are excluded from your contest though.
I am so sorry, its because of regulations 🙁
Very good recipe – I made it, adding celery, peppers, carrots and sugar snap peas at the end. I also made rice at the same time – yum! I did find it a bit sweet – even though I cut wayyyy back on the sugar.
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We made this and the flavor was amazing. The leftovers aren’t even all gone yet and I’m looking forward to making it again.
I made this tonight! It was wonderful! If I double the recipe….sauce and meat do I need to adjust the cooking time?
no, not really, maybe by a minute, it will just take longer to come to pressure.
So Good! I substituted coconut aminos for the lite soy sauce and it came out so good. I also chopped up green onions in large 2 inch chunks and cooked it with the mixture while pressure cooking. This will be a regular!
I made this last night, it was wonderful ! Thank you for the recipe.
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I’ve made this 3 times in the last month. A new favorite! This time my butcher didn’t have any flank so I got flat iron. Oh. My. Goodness. Like butta! It was so tender.
Hi Christine, I am so happy that you like this recipe 🙂 its always a hit with my family too!
I just made this for the second time. First time I felt it was too sweet, but cutting down the sugar didn’t seem the answer to me…. this time I doubled the meat, upped cook time 2 minutes, and added 1 sliced Vidalia onion and some shredded carrots. This seemed to do the trick for us.
My kids absolutely loved this dinner and requested to have it again for Christmas and their birthdays, haha! It makes a LOT of sauce though…I added a bag of steamed broccoli and could probably double the meat and still have enough sauce to go around. Very good flavor. Thanks!
haha happy that they loved it
Hi there! I would love to try this out in the slow cooker, but I’m not sure how to translate it over. Would I need to saute the beef beforehand? And how would I add the cornstarch slurry at the end? Thank you, this looks delicious. Either way, I am excited to try!
search on my blog for slow cooker Mongolian beef 🙂 I have a recipe 🙂
This was one of the best things I’ve ever made in my instant pot. I followed the recipe almost exactly & it came out really well. Keeping it in my recipe book. Thank you! 🙂
This was the first meat recipe that we have made in our Instant Pot and it was beyond delicious! I used round steak that was on sale and cut it as you would flank steak (against the grain). My 10yr old son, who is not a meat fan at all, loved it as well. This recipe is now going into rotation. So happy I found your site and looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
I’m wondering the nutritional content? Thank you
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Can I substitute 1 tbsp of Sirachi for the red pepper flakes?
yes
This looks delicious! I’m wondering how to convert this recipe to slow cooker or stove top, as I don’t have an Instant Pot. Thanks for all your wonderful recipes and mouth-watering photos!