Instant Pot Mongolian Beef is a quick and easy dinner recipe that’s loaded with flavor! The pressure cooker pretty much does all of the work for you and cooks the beef and broccoli to tender perfection in no time. Ingredients like soy sauce, red pepper flakes and ginger are sure to wake up your taste buds!
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What’s in Instant Pot Mongolian Beef and Broccoli
This Instant Pot Mongolian Beef recipe is the quickest and easiest way to make a takeout favorite.
- Beef: Mongolian beef is most commonly made with flank steak, although you could use sirloin or New York strip if you prefer.
- Cornstarch: Helps absorb extra moisture on the surface of the steak so it gets a crisp edge. It also helps thicken the sauce.
- Soy Sauce: Adds a salty umami flavor to the beef. I’m using low-sodium soy sauce.
- Water: Helps thin the sauce and steam the broccoli.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness to the sauce.
- Garlic and Ginger: Classic flavorings in Asian-inspired sauces – I highly recommend fresh garlic and ginger, but you could use 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic and ½ teaspoon of dried ginger in a pinch.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Add just a bit of heat – feel free to use as much or as little as you like. You can also substitute sriracha if you prefer.
- Olive Oil: Helps sear the beef to create a crisp crust.
- Broccoli: Delicious with Mongolian beef, but you could use pretty much any vegetable you like – carrots, snap peas, bok choy, etc.
PRO TIP: To make it easier to slice the beef thinly, place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes first.
Variations to Try
- While flank steak is traditional, you can also make this dish with sirloin, New York strip steak, or even chicken!
- To make this dish gluten free, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
- If you don’t have fresh ginger and garlic, you can use ½ teaspoon of dried ginger and 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic instead.
- The red pepper flakes are optional to add a bit of spice. You could also use a few squirts or sriracha instead!
- Feel free to switch up the vegetables with carrots, snap peas, bok choy, or any other vegetable you like!
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Mongolian beef, despite its name, is a Chinese dish consisting of thinly-sliced flank steak cooked in a sweet and spicy sauce.
It’s traditional to use flank steak, but you could also use sirloin or New York strip.
Yes! Sear the meat in a skillet, then add all ingredients to the Crockpot, cover, and cook for 4-5 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.
How to Store/Reheat
Store leftover instant pot Mongolian beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
How to Freeze
Freeze instant pot Mongolian beef whole or in individual portions in airtight containers or Ziplock bags for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your beef and broccoli white or brown rice or noodles. For a full fake-out take-out dinner, make some more easy recipes like egg rolls, crab rangoons and egg drop soup.
More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes We Love
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers
- Instant Pot Goulash
- Instant Pot Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak sliced very thin (¼-inch)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce (see note)
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- Green onion and sesame seeds optional, for garnish
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Add the beef and cornstarch to a medium bowl (or a plastic bag) and toss to combine. Allow the beef to sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes– this will bring the beef to room temperature and help tenderize the meat.1 pound flank steak, 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes together. Set aside.½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ½ cup water, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Heat the Instant Pot using the Saute function and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the beef (feel free to cook the beef in batches– you don’t want to overcrowd the pot). Sear the beef for 2 minutes and then flip it and sear for an additional 2 minutes.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the sauce to the pan and stir to combine the sauce and beef.
- Place the broccoli on top of the beef but do not mix it into the sauce!2 cups broccoli florets
- Attach the lid and ensure the valve is in the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook Manual for 1 minute.
- Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.Green onion and sesame seeds
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Soy Sauce: For a gluten-free alternative, use tamari or coconut aminos.
- While flank steak is traditional, you can also make this dish with sirloin, New York strip steak, or even chicken!
- If you don’t have fresh ginger and garlic, you can use ½ teaspoon of dried ginger and 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic instead.
- The red pepper flakes are optional to add a bit of spice. You could also use a few squirts or sriracha instead!
- Feel free to switch up the vegetables with carrots, snap peas, bok choy, or any other vegetable you like!
- To make it easier to slice the beef thinly, place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
- Always slice the beef against the grain.
- Let the beef sit in the cornstarch mixture for about 15 minutes to tenderize the meat before searing. Do not use flour instead of cornstarch!
- When searing the beef, don’t overcrowd the instant pot. Overcrowding will cause the beef to steam instead of sear. You may need to sear in batches.
- Serve over white or brown rice or noodles!
Nutrition Information
Quick pressure
release or natural release?
Natural release!
Is the 3 quart Insta Pot large enough for this?
Most of our recipes are designed for a 6-8 quart instant pot!
Am wondering if I can do this recipe using a slow cooker??? Tks
Yes, we answer this question in the FAQ section! Sear the meat in a skillet, then add all ingredients to the crockpot, cover, and cook for 4-5 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.