30-Minute Mongolian Beef

from 64 votes

Toss those takeout menus and whip up a top-rated recipe for 30-Minute Mongolian Beef.

30-Minute Mongolian Beef over brown rice in white bowl with chopsticks

Thin slices of flank steak, minced fresh garlic and ginger, dark brown sugar and soy sauce. Toss it all together and 30 minutes later you’ll be chowing down on a homemade take on takeout, instead of waiting for the delivery guy. Welcome to the DIY party, 30-Minute Mongolian Beef!

Clear bowl containing sliced flank steak covered in cornstarch

The key to mastering classic Chinese food at home is a technique known as velveting, which is essentially an egg white, cornstarch and sherry marinade that preserves the moisture of the meat.

Skillet containing flank steak and Mongolian sauce

This recipe includes an abridged version of velveting that still delivers tender slices of steak bathed in a rich reduction of soy sauce and brown sugar, which are the classic elements of all quality recipes for Mongolian Beef.

Skillet containing easy Mongolian beef with sliced scallions

Craving takeout but not a fan of beef? Go the sweet and spicy route with my Crackerjack Shrimp or kick back with Crispy Baked Orange Chicken Wings. And don’t forget the Homemade Fortune Cookies for dessert!

Top-down view of Mongolian beef garnished with slices of scallions over a bed of brown rice in a white serving bowl with chopsticks

Craving more? Subscribe to Just a Taste to get new recipes, meal plans and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Main Course

30-Minute Mongolian Beef

Take on the takeout with a PF Changs-inspired recipe for quick and easy Mongolian Beef that will be on your table in 30 minutes or less.
Author: Kelly Senyei
4.86 from 64 votes
30-Minute Mongolian Beef over brown rice in white bowl with chopsticks
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 lbs flank steak
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 3 scallions sliced into 1-inch pieces (green parts only)

Instructions 

  • Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and water, stirring to combine.
  • Stir in the brown sugar and increase the heat to medium. Bring the sauce to a boil for 3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside.
  • Slice the flank steak against the grain into 1/4-inch pieces, then toss it with the cornstarch. Place the coated pieces of steak in a sieve and shake off any excess cornstarch. Allow the steak to sit 10 for minutes.
  • Line a plate with paper towels.
  • Place a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add ⅓ cup vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking), add the beef to the pan and sauté until it is seared on all sides but barely cooked in the center, about 2 minutes. Remove the steak from the skillet with a slotted spoon and transfer it onto a paper towel-lined plate. Pour any excess oil out of the skillet.
  • Place the skillet back over medium heat. Add the prepared sauce to the hot pan (it should come to a boil almost immediately), then add the reserved steak and cook at a boil, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of syrup, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sliced scallions and stir to combine. Serve.

Kelly's Notes:

  • This recipe will serve two to four people, depending on your preferred serving size. It can also be easily doubled.
  • The key to cooking with cornstarch is that it must come to a boil in order to work as a thickener and give the sauce the perfect syrupy consistency.
  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 1137mg, Potassium: 518mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 90IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 3mg

Shoutout

Did you try this recipe?

Share it with the world! Mention @justataste or tag #justatasterecipes!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Recipe inspired by Food.com.


Feeling social?

Share this recipe!

Categories

Related Recipes

Check out more crave-worthy favorites

Kelly Senyei holding a copy of The Secret Ingredient Cookbook

love the recipes on just a taste?

Check out my cookbook!

Order your copy of The Secret Ingredient Cookbook featuring 125 brand-new family-friendly recipes with surprisingly tasty twists!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Join the Conversation

Rate and Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Hi Kelly made this last night absolutely loved it just added carrot, broccoli and zucchini. will be making this again…. from Australia

  2. 4 stars
    Recipe was tasty and so moreish! I only wish that I didn’t put in as much sugar as the recipe said, it turned out a bit too sweet for my liking. Will definitely make again but with less sugar.

  3. 5 stars
    Cooked this for the first time tonight and wish I’d doubled the recipe. It was delicious and hubby was most disappointed there wasn’t enough for seconds!

  4. 5 stars
    My boyfriend had been wanting Mongolian Beef for a couple of weeks and I came across this recipe and decided to make it, it was quick and simple and hard to stop eating. It was absolutely amazing and I will definitely be making it again. We added some crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce just to spice it up a bit and it was so delicious! Wish I could upload the picture I took of the plates when it was finished! It’s so glossy and smells Devine even before you taste it!

  5. 4 stars
    This was good but I urge any future cooks to heed the warning on multiple comments. This is SO sweet, to the point of too sweet even if you like sweet sauces. It makes my super sweet energy drink taste bitter. I will be making this again but next time I’ll be cutting the sugar down by at least half. (Also probably reducing the amount of sauce. Even letting it thicken a lot there was just too much.) Other than that it’s very good and potentially cheap depending what meat you find. Was able to make a super filling meal pared with rice that lasted 2 days which is nice.

      1. 5 stars
        Oh my lord.. this was amazing. I didn’t read the comments till just now. So I didn’t have brown sugar only raw to use. Also I only had 1/3 cup so it wasn’t as sweet but was mouth watering. Will have this regularly.

  6. 5 stars
    This recipe is fantastic! the only thing I changed was I added some red chili sauce to give it a little more tang.

      1. 5 stars
        Added a lil red ppr flakes and sautéed onions. Yum!!!!! I plated it and forgot to take the pic. Lol

  7. 5 stars
    Made this for dinner last night….so easy following the recipe to make this awesome beef. Serve it with rice. Will be making this again and again….Thank you so much.

See More Comments