Ultimate Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef (Printable)
Tender beef in rich sauce with garlic, ginger and soy. Easy slow cooker preparation.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 2 pounds flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
→ Sauce
02 - 3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
03 - 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/2 cup water
05 - 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
07 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
08 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
→ Thickener
11 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
→ Vegetables & Garnish
12 - 5 green onions, sliced (white and green parts separated)
13 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
14 - Steamed white or brown rice, for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, toss the sliced flank steak with cornstarch until all pieces are evenly coated. Shake off any excess.
02 - Add the cornstarch-coated beef to the slow cooker.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.
04 - Pour the sauce over the beef in the slow cooker and toss gently to combine. Scatter the white parts of the green onions over the top.
05 - Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, or until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
06 - Stir in the sliced green onion tops and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
07 - Serve hot over steamed rice, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and extra green onions if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce achieves that perfect balance of sweet and savory that restaurant Mongolian beef has, but with way less oil and mess
- It is one of those rare dishes that actually tastes better the longer it cooks, so it is forgiving if you get caught in traffic or forget about it for an extra hour
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid too often. Every time you do, heat escapes and adds 15-20 minutes to the cooking time.
- The sauce will look thin at first but thickens beautifully as it cooks. Trust the process and avoid adding extra cornstarch unless absolutely necessary.
03 -
- Slice your beef when it is partially frozen for cleaner, more uniform pieces that cook evenly
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce to make this gluten-free without sacrificing flavor