Mongolian Beef
Easy Mongolian Beef is a quick and flavorful Asian-inspired dinner featuring tender slices of beef coated in a savory, sweet, and garlicky sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe uses simple pantry staples and delivers juicy beef with a rich sauce that clings to every bite. Perfect for weeknights and easily customizable with different proteins or vegetables.
- Author: Lilly
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stir-Fry
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Beef
- 1 lb flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic, minced (about 2 cloves)
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
For Cooking
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Prepare the Beef: Slice the beef thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness. Toss the beef strips with cornstarch, coating them evenly to create a light crispy layer when cooked.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely, forming a flavorful sauce.
- Cook the Beef: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add the beef in a single layer and sear quickly until browned and just cooked through, yielding tender and slightly crispy beef slices.
- Combine and Simmer: Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked beef, stirring well to coat every piece. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the beef.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, toss in the sliced green onions, and stir briefly. Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Slice beef thinly, preferably after freezing it for 15 minutes for easier slicing and tender results.
- Cook beef in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding, ensuring even browning and crispiness.
- Use fresh garlic and ginger for maximum flavor intensity.
- Adjust the brown sugar amount to achieve your preferred balance of sweetness and savoriness.
- Cook quickly on high heat to lock in juices and create texture contrast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Mongolian Beef, Easy Asian Beef Recipe, Quick Dinner, Stir-Fry Beef, Savory Beef, Sweet and Salty Sauce