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    Home » Course » Dinner

    Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    Published Jan 18, 2025 | Updated Jan 18, 2025 | By Laura

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    Tender, flavorful and delicious, this super easy Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is only 6-ingredients and tastes just like takeout. It's the perfect weeknight set-it-and-forget-it meal during a busy week. Everyone will love it!

    A dinner plate with fried rice, veggies and Mongolian beef.

    Forget expensive take-out! If you’re looking for a minimal effort dinner that the family will love in the comfort of your own home, look no further than this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef! Flank steak, cut against the grain and slow-cooked in a savory sweet sauce, comes out incredibly juicy and flavorful!

    This recipe is just 6 ingredients and takes 30 minutes to prep before you let the crock pot do all the work. Anyone can master this recipe with a slow cooker, it's so simple and your family and friends will be so impressed.

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    This was the third recipe I shared on Dinner in 321, and I still get messages from families saying how much they love it - it's that popular. If you haven’t tried this dish, it’s a must! Cooking really doesn’t get much easier than this meal!

    I made this and it was delicious! I added some snow peas 😄
    - Nancy

    Table of Contents

    • Why You’ll like this Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Tools You’ll Need
    • How to Make Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
    • Pro Tips and Substitutions
    • Storage & Freezing
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
      • Ingredients 1x2x3x4x5x
      • Instructions
      • Video
      • Notes
      • Pro Tips and Substitutions
      • Storage & Freezing
      • Nutrition

    Why You’ll like this Recipe

    • It takes less than 10 minutes to throw together before cooking! How easy is that? You can make this any night of the week.
    • It’s cheaper and yummier than take-out! When we are craving our favorite takeout on the weekends, I just whip this up instead.
    • It’s the perfect meal to come home to after a long day! Nothing is better than when dinner is already prepared after a long day of work.
    • The beef is melt in your mouth tender and DELICIOUS! It's just an insane amount of flavor in every bite.

    Ingredients

    Scroll down to the end of this post for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card. 

    • Flank Steak: The main protein, it's a lean cut that melts in your mouth.
    • Cornstarch: Thickens the dish nicely.
    • Olive Oil: The cooking oil.
    • Fresh Garlic: Adds a kiss of garlic flavor.
    • Reduced-Sodium Soy Sauce: Gives salty and umami notes in each bite.
    • Brown Sugar or Brown Sugar Substitute: Adds a hint of sweetness.
    • Shredded Carrots: Gives that brightness to the beef.
    • Optional: Green Onions and Sesame Seeds for garnish. A hint of nutty and fresh flavor to add.
    Ingredients to make Mongolian beef in the crockpot.

    Tools You’ll Need

    • Crockpot
    • Liquid Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Cups and Spoons
    • Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife

    How to Make Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    1. Cut steak into ½-inch strips against the grain.
    Slicing flank steak against the grain.
    1. In a Ziploc bag, add steak and cornstarch. Close and shake to coat. 
    Shaking flank steak in cornstarch in a plastic bag.
    1. Add olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, water, brown sugar substitute or brown sugar, and carrots to slow cooker and stir.
    Adding carrots to a crockpot.
    1. Add flank steak and stir until coated. 
    Coating flank steak in sauce in a crockpot.
    1. Cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 6-7 hours or until tender. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired. Serve over rice, zoodles or noodles!
    A completed cooked flank steak in a crockpot.

    Pro Tips and Substitutions

    • Use low sodium soy sauce. I recommend using low-sodium or reduced sodium soy sauce to ensure the recipe doesn’t taste too salty or too high in sodium. Coconut Aminos can also be used.
    • Slice the steak with ease. Freezing the flank steak for 15 minutes will make it much easier to slice against the grain.
    • Make it spicy! If you want to add heat, you can add crushed red pepper flakes, sriracha, hot sauce or chili oil.
    • For a hint of sweetness in the sauce, brown sugar or brown sugar substitute both work in this dish.
    • Swap the beef for chicken. This dish can be substituted with sliced or cubed chicken or pork tenderloin.

    Storage & Freezing

    After the slow cooker Mongolian beef has cooled completely, store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator up to 3 to 4 days.

    Freeze leftovers in an air-tight, freezer-safe container up to 4 months. Thaw in the freezer overnight before reheating.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What goes with Crockpot Mongolian Beef?

    Our family loves having fried rice, hibachi vegetables or sautéed broccoli and mushrooms with this meal. It’s also excellent with steamed rice, noodles or zoodles.

    Can another cut of meat be used instead of flank steak?

    Absolutely! I prefer flank steak for this dish, but you can also use hanger steak, skirt steak or sirloin steak.

    Where did Mongolian Beef originate?

    The exact origin is unclear, but is believed to be inspired by Mongolian barbecue. It is commonly served in Chinese-American restaurants.

    Can this be made on the stovetop?

    Yes! Working in batches, sear ¼-inch sliced and cornstarch coated beef on medium-high in oil 2-3 per side. Remove from the pan, then add the remaining sauce ingredients on medium high. Simmer 2-3 minutes then return the beef to the skillet.

    Is this gluten-free?

    Other than the soy sauce, this recipe is gluten-free. Choose one of the gluten-free soy sauce varieties/alternatives to make it a gluten free dish.

    More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Crockpot Korean Beef
    • Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
    • Crockpot Garlic and Herb Pork Roast
    • Balsamic Flank Steak
    A dinner plate with fried rice, veggies and Mongolian beef.
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.75 from 28 votes

    Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    Tender, flavorful and delicious, this super easy Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is the perfect weeknight set-it-and-forget-it meal!
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time7 hours hrs
    Total Time7 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: beef, crockpot
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 357kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 ½-2 pound flank steak
    • ¼ cup cornstarch
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2-3 garlic cloves minced
    • ½ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
    • ¼ cup water
    • ⅔ cup brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
    • 1 cup shredded carrots
    • Garnish: green onions

    Instructions

    • Cut steak ½-inch strips. In a Ziploc bag, add steak and cornstarch. Shake to coat. 
    • Add olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, water, brown sugar substitute or brown sugar, and carrots to slow cooker and stir.
    • Add flank steak and stir until coated. 
    • Cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 6-7 hours or until tender. 
    • Serve over rice, zoodles or noodles!

    Video

    Notes

    Pro Tips and Substitutions

      • Use low sodium soy sauce. I recommend using low-sodium or reduced sodium soy sauce to ensure the recipe doesn’t taste too salty or too high in sodium. Coconut Aminos can also be used.
      • Slice the steak with ease. Freezing the flank steak for 15 minutes will make it much easier to slice against the grain.
      • Make it spicy! If you want to add heat, you can add crushed red pepper flakes, sriracha, hot sauce or chili oil.
      • For a hint of sweetness in the sauce, brown sugar or brown sugar substitute both work in this dish.
      • Swap the beef for chicken. This dish can be substituted with sliced or cubed chicken or pork tenderloin.

    Storage & Freezing

    After the slow cooker Mongolian beef has cooled completely, store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator up to 3 to 4 days.
    Freeze leftovers in an air-tight, freezer-safe container up to 4 months. Thaw in the freezer overnight before reheating.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 1264mg | Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4413IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @dinnerin321 or tag #dinnerin321!

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    Filed Under: beef, Crockpot Meals, Dinner

    Laura

    About Laura

    Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more...

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    Comments

      4.75 from 28 votes (25 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Chris Banks

      February 05, 2023 at 9:47 pm

      How much brown sugar do you use in this recipe? I don’t see it on the list of ingredients. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        February 06, 2023 at 12:49 pm

        Thanks, Chris! I just fixed it. It’s 2/3 cup brown sugar or brown sugar substitute. I hope you love it!

    2. Lauri

      June 22, 2023 at 10:26 pm

      I made this, my husband and I thought it was really good. The meat was done in my slow cooker in 3 1/2 hours on low.

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        June 26, 2023 at 4:39 pm

        That is WONDERFUL! I’m so happy you made it and it was such a hit! Thank you!

    3. Jewels

      July 21, 2023 at 11:39 pm

      5 stars
      I made this and it was delicious! Would love more flank steak recipes. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        July 24, 2023 at 1:56 pm

        That's WONDERFUL, Julie! Thank you so much! I'm so happy you made it and liked it so much. I will work on more flank steak recipes for sure!

    4. Nancy Schmidt

      January 15, 2024 at 6:00 am

      5 stars
      I made this and it was delicious! I added some snow peas 😄

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        January 19, 2024 at 1:40 pm

        Fantastic!! I'm so happy you made it and liked it! The addition of snow peas sounds great!

    5. Carol Grimes

      January 26, 2025 at 11:59 pm

      5 stars
      I made your mongolian beef recipe. doubled your recipe it was a big hit all gone I feed 6 people sometimes it's 7 had enough I put it over Jasmine rice made baked asparagus & zucchini squash also a salad I also want to make the pork chops next week

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        January 28, 2025 at 5:59 pm

        This is AWESOME! Thank you SO much!!!🥰 I love that you made it and that everyone liked it so much! Over those veggies sounds amazing! I hope you LOVE the pork chops as well!!

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    Welcome to my kitchen! I'm Laura Ashley, and I'm excited you're here! As a registered dietitian and diabetes educator, I love cooking all kinds of food and trying new restaurants. Food is my love language! Here at Dinner in 3, 2, 1, I serve up delicious and nutritious recipes you and your family will love.

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