Instant Pot Mongolian Beef [VIDEO]

Name: Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1-1.5 pounds flank steak (sliced across the grain); 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (or sesame oil); 1/2 cup brown sugar (or 2/3 cups - I prefer the version with more sugar); 8-10 cloves garlic (minced - use less if you prefer it less garlicky); 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced); 1/2 cup lite soy sauce; 1 cup water; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup green onions (chopped); 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

By Catalina Castravet

Published: Jun 8, 2023

4.96 from 84 reviews

100 Best Instant Pot Recipes Asian food recipes Beef Recipes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef is a sweet and slightly spicy Asian dish made with tender beef, in sticky garlic and brown sugar sauce that has an incredible flavor. This is a very easy and delicious meal you can make in just under 30 minutes.

We love making easy and delicious Asian dishes in the Instant Pot such as our famous IP Orange Chicken, IP Mongolian Chicken, and IP Beef and Broccoli. These will quickly become your favorite recipes and you will find yourself making more Chinese food and relying less on Chinese restaurants. Pressure cooking takes less time and adds incredible flavor!

Mongolian Beef on top of rice garnished with diced green onions

This is our favorite Asian meal and it will quickly become one of your favorite instant pot recipes to make at home over and over again. Actually, this tastes even better than the one you would order at an Asian restaurant.

If you love Chinese takeout, I highly recommend trying this delicious recipe that your entire family will love, also, it will be done quicker than your local restaurant can deliver it.

Made with perfectly cooked tender beef in a sweet and savory Asian sauce. This recipe is better than the famous restaurant version you can find at PF Chang’s.

This delicious recipe is easy to make with little prep time and with low sodium soy sauce, you don’t have to worry about the salt content as you would with the restaurant variety.

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 simple and full of flavor recipe, made with real ingredients, will win you over as it tastes like it has been slowly cooked for a long time.

Another flavorful Asian dish you may enjoy is this Instant Pot Garlic Sesame Chicken with tender chicken thighs and plenty of garlic. For other instant pot beef recipes, try our Ultimate Instant Pot Beef Stew made with stew meat, pearl onions, and veggies or Instant Pot Meatloaf with mashed potatoes.

sliced beef in a bowl and other ingredients in bowls on a table

Ingredients Needed:

These are the simple ingredients for this instant pot Mongolian beef. Scroll down to our recipe card for complete instructions and exact measurements.

Flank steak: London broil, skirt steak also work great in this recipe, make sure to slice it thinly across the grain. You don’t have to get an expensive cut of meat for this easy pressure cooker recipe to work.
Corn starch: To coat the beef, it makes it crispier when sautéing it. As an alternative, use tapioca flour.
Extra virgin olive oil: We used extra virgin olive oil but you can use your favorite. Alternatively, use sesame oil for extra flavor.
Dark brown sugar: A key ingredient in making the Mongolian sauce. You can use light or dark brown sugar for this recipe but we used dark.
Garlic cloves: Minced garlic.
Fresh ginger: Minced.
Low sodium soy sauce: If you use regular soy sauce it will be too salty.
A cup of Water
Rice vinegar
Red pepper flakes

Cornstarch Slurry:

Corn starch
Water

Garnish:

Fresh green onions: Chopped green onions or scallions.
Sesame seeds
Red pepper flakes

How to Make Instant Pot Mongolian Beef recipe from scratch?

This Mongolian beef recipe can be made in your instant pot, on the stove, or in your slow cooker.

Velveting the beef: To begin, place beef strips in a large resealable baggie with corn starch and shake until the meat is evenly coated. This creates an extremely tender beef.
Searing the beef: After, add olive oil to the bottom of your instant pot and heat it up using the saute setting. Sear the beef strips for two or three minutes on each side. You will probably have to cook in batches because you do not want to crowd the meat.
Cook: Once that is done, add the brown sugar, garlic, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and vinegar. Stir with a wooden spoon and close the lid. Set it for pressure cook for eight minutes.
Release the steam: Then, let it do a natural pressure release for 10 minutes before doing a quick release to allow the rest of the pressure to escape.
Make the corn starch mixture: To thicken the sauce, mix the corn starch with water in a small bowl until it dissolves. Pour the cornstarch mixture into the instant pot and cook for two more minutes on the saute setting, stirring occasionally.
Serve: Best to serve warm over white rice. Top it with fresh green onions, and garnish with sesame seeds.

photo collage of steps how to make instant pot mongolian beef

How to make slow cooker Mongolian beef:

Sear the beef: Start by searing the beef in the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once it is brown on both sides, add it to the slow cooker.
Add all ingredients: Then, add all the other ingredients except for the corn starch. Stir with a wooden spoon and put the lid on.
Slow cooker version: Let your slow cooker Mongolian beef cook for six hours on high or three hours on low.
Thicken the sauce: Last, make your cornstarch mixture and stir it into the Mongolian beef. Let it cook for another 20 minutes on high to thicken the sauce before serving.

How to make Mongolian beef on the stove:

Prepare: To begin, mix the flank steak with corn starch in a large bowl until it is evenly coated.
Cook the beef: Then, heat one cup of oil in a large saucepan and add the beef when it is sizzling. Fry the flank steak on both sides, stirring to evenly distribute. The cook time will vary depending on how thick your flank steak is cut. For thin slices, it may only be a couple of minutes.
Remove the flank steak: After, move the steak to a plate covered in paper towels to absorb the extra grease and discard the oil from the pan.
Make the sauce: Next, add oil to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat with the ginger and garlic. Cook while stirring for 30 seconds and then whisk in the water, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Let it cook until sauce thickens, about five to 10 minutes.
Add the steak: Once you finish the sauce, add beef back to the skillet with the sauce and cook it over medium heat until the sauce thickens further before stirring in the green onions. This typically takes about two minutes but the cooking time may vary.
Serve: Finally, sprinkle on sesame seeds and serve warm.

photo collage of steps how to make pressure cooker mongolian beef

Recipe Variations:

It is very versatile so you can try using other ingredients as well like mushrooms, hot sauce, or even honey. The blend of brown sugar, green onions, and soy sauce go wonderfully with the garlic, ginger, and beef.

Other cuts: Make this recipe with other cuts of beef such as stew meat, skirt steak, or top round beef. You could even use ground beef.
Add vegetables: Also, try adding to the pot with the rest of the ingredients, some bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, or carrots.
Red pepper flakes: An an option, add more red pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper.
Skip the rice: For those who cannot eat gluten, try using white wine vinegar instead of rice vinegar.
Use shallots: Instead of green onions or scallions, try using scallions. They taste more garlicky and pungent so they will give your flank steak a burst of intense flavor.
Gluten-free: Easily make this recipe gluten-free by using coconut aminos.

How to serve:

This Mongolian beef recipe works well with all sorts of Asian side dishes but you can use your own tastes or try one of our great serving suggestions:

Serve with a salad or soup and a few fortune cookies for dessert.
This tender beef goes great on rice no matter whether you use fluffy white rice, brown rice, whole grain, or jasmine rice. Any rice will do with this dish.
In fact, you can even use cauliflower rice.
Instead of rice, why not try rice noodles or some other kind of pasta? Try to serve this great meal with some soba noodles or rice vermicelli.
Toss in some vegetables like steamed broccoli, bok choy, or asparagus spears.
As an alternative, add vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, or bok choy on the side.

Instant pot mongolian beef garnished with chopped green onions on a wooden spoon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best beef for this recipe?

Any kind of beef that can be sliced thinly enough to cook quickly will work. We chose flank steak but you can use skirt steak, sirloin strips, tri-tip, or stew meat. Other choices include flat iron steaks, top blade, or ranch steaks.

What wines pair well with Mongolian beef?

Try a nice red wine like Syrah or zinfandel or chardonnay is perfect. Prosecco or Cava will bring out the Asian spices and cabernet sauvignon is a delicious choice for beef. Gamay grape with its tart fruity taste is also great with red meat.

Where did Mongolian beef come from?

The name is trying to fool you because this dish was not made in Mongolia. Rather, it began in Shandong Province in the Taishan Mountains and the locals decided it tasted like Mongolian barbecue so they named it Mongolian beef.

What is the difference between natural pressure release and quick release?

A natural release is when you just let the pressure and steam come out naturally without opening the steam valve. This is typically done for about 10 minutes before moving to a quick release. Not only does this allow the food to stay moist but it also saves you from possible steam burns.

chopsticks holding a piece of Mongolian Beef

How to store leftovers:

Cool: First, let the meal completely cool to room temperature.
Store: After the Mongolian beef cools to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight bowl or storage container. It will be good for three to four days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: It is easy to freeze this instant pot Mongolian beef too. Put it in a large freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to three months.
Thaw: Allow the leftover flank steak to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat: Microwave or reheat on the stove in a saucepan or skillet.

More Instant Pot Recipes:

Cooking Tips:

When you cut your flank steak, you can choose whether you want thin slices or thicker. As long as you cut across the grain, you will have tender meat.
An easier way to get your beef thinly sliced is to freeze it for 20 to 30 minutes first. It will be much easier to get it sliced thin enough.
When browning your meat, try not to overcrowd it so you get a nice crispy beef.
You can also use more or less oil depending on your preferences. We reduce the oil in this recipe to make it healthier.
The amount of minced garlic is up to you as well. We use a lot of garlic because we love the flavor but you can use less or none at all if you are not a fan.
Corn starch is an essential ingredient. Don’t use flour or any other thickening ingredients or it will not have the right consistency.
We chose low-sodium soy sauce for less salt but you can use regular soy sauce. However, you may need to use less because it can make your Mongolian beef recipe too salty.
If you or someone in the family are not spicy food lovers, leave out the red pepper flakes. You can always add them to the table for those who want to add them after serving.