Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is so much better than your average take-out! Tender strips of steak are smothered in a rich, dark, flavorful Asian sauce that’s got just the right touch of sweetness. The best part? It’s so easy to make by tossing everything in a slow cooker!
Craving more of your take-out favorites? Check out more easy recipes like Maple Ginger Beef, Sweet and Sour Pork, One Pot Chicken Chow Mein and Vegetable Lo Mein.
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You could order takeout, but in my opinion (and the opinion of the reviewers down below!), this Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is easier, tastier and healthier!
That’s why I rely on recipes like this easy slow cooker Mongolian beef when the craving strikes! Everything gets tossed into the Crockpot and cooked to perfection in just a few hours.
It’s easy, made with real ingredients, and the results are always so good.
Why we love it:
- Protein-packed: If you need to get that extra protein fix in for the day, this is a great dinner to make! Steak always hits the spot (especially if you ask my husband 😉).
- Fresh ingredients: Let’s face it… Most take-out joints don’t offer the freshest flavors. With ingredients like fresh chopped bell peppers and minced garlic, you’ll get the best textures and flavors in every bite.
- So easy: Yes! I love whipping out my slow cooker for a lot of reasons, namely because it just makes life so much easier.
Elizabeth says, “⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have made this many times as my husband loves it, I do as well 🥰. It’s such an easy recipe to pull together on a busy day, the slow cook produces a delicious meal.”
Crista says, “⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic recipe. Quick, easy and my family loved it! Will be making again.”
Ingredients Needed for Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
- Steak – Sirloin is my favorite cut to use when making Mongolian beef. It’s relatively inexpensive and because we’re slow cooking it, we can get away with a leaner steak.
- Soy Sauce – Low-sodium soy sauce is preferred. Tamari or coconut aminos will also get the job done.
- Apricot Jam – This adds a subtle, natural touch of sweetness that just can’t be beat!
- Hoisin Sauce – This dark, thick, rich sauce adds both saltiness and sweetness to the dish.
- Cornstarch – This is used to thicken the sauce. Measure with care!
- Veggies – Freshly sliced onions and bell peppers add just the right amount of crisp, fresh texture and flavor to this savory dish.
- Garlic and ginger – For the best flavor and aroma, make sure both of these ingredients are fresh!
How to make Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Take a quick look at these photos to see how we make Mongolian beef in the slow cooker! Keep scrolling for more in-depth instructions and ingredients in the recipe card.
- Sear the steak in a skillet over high heat with a little oil.
- Whisk together the apricot jam, soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, ginger and cornstarch.
- Add the steak and veggies to the Crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the steak: Sirloin is my favorite steak to use, but you can use really any other cut of steak that you prefer! The low and slow cooking process will turn any cut of steak into a tender masterpiece.
- Add more vegetables: You can make this dinner as nutritious as you’d like! Feel free to toss in some broccoli, mushrooms, green beans, or whatever else sounds good to you.
- Make it spicy: Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper flakes if you’re craving some heat. You can also mix in some chili garlic sauce to spice things up!
- Add the peppers and onions whenever: If you don’t like your peppers and onions soft, feel free to just toss them in for the last hour – I put mine in for the whole cooking time. Do whatever works for you, and whatever your family prefers.
How to store Mongolian Beef
Once it cools to room temperature, you can store any leftovers you have in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat, add a splash of water or broth and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time it stops, until heated all the way through.
You can also add a splash of liquid and reheat it on the stovetop.
Can I freeze Mongolian beef?
Yes! Let cool fully to room temperature, then transfer everything to a freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months
When you’re ready to enjoy the Mongolian beef, you can let it thaw in the fridge, or place it in a large skillet with a splash of water or broth. Cover and heat on low until warmed through.
Keep in mind that the vegetables will be quite soft after freezing, so you may want to leave them out until you are ready to serve.
Do I have to sear the steak first?
I personally prefer to sear the steak first so the juices don’t water down the sauce too much. However, you can save yourself a little effort and cleaning by just tossing the steak directly into the Crockpot (this is how I made this recipe originally!).
Serving suggestions:
Serve Mongolian beef over this baked rice or the noodles of your choice. You want something to catch all of that amazing sauce so not a single drop goes to waste!
I love serving with something green like these Roasted Green Beans or this Air Fryer Broccoli.
{Slow Cooker} Mongolian Beef
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 ½ lbs steak (sliced very thin) I often use sirloin
- salt and pepper
- ½ medium onion (thinly sliced)
- 1 red pepper (thinly sliced)
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup apricot jam
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3-4 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over high heat and add the oil.
- Season with salt and pepper and add the steak strips and sear on each side, about 1-2 minutes per side (you may have to do this in two batches to avoid crowding the pan).
- Add the seared steak, peppers and onions to the slow cooker.
- Whisk together water, jam, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger and corn starch. Pour over steak in slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours, until tender and the sauce has thickened. Serve over rice or noodles.
Notes
- Steak: you can use almost any kind of steak in this recipe, since the slow cooker makes it nice and tender. I prefer to use sirloin, because it’s a mid-range steak that’s not too lean or too fatty.
- Vegetables: feel free to swap the onions and peppers for vegetables you enjoy or add in more. Green beans, green peppers, mushrooms or broccoli would also be great in here!
- Sauce: this sauce is a little sweet, savory and tangy. You can take things up a notch by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat. You can also taste and adjust the seasonings before serving.
Nutrition Information
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Kathy Colwell says
This recipe is delicious! Trust the jam! I did add some red pepper flakes and sriracha sauce for some spice. Family could not get enough. Everyone said it’s better than the chain restaurant we like. Thank you for sharing. We will be making this again and again!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you for your review Kathy!
Hannah says
Salt and pepper is listed but doesn’ say where to add it? I already threw it all together in the crock pot and afraid to add it now
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for catching that! I have added it into the instructions.
Kristen says
Can you make this without a crock pot ?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kristen, you probably could use a dutch oven and cook it on the stovetop. I have not tested it this way, so it would be an experiment. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Kathy says
This sounds delicious & convenient for an easy make-ahead dinner, but am confused about the cook time. The cook time listed at the top of the recipe indicates 5 hrs 5 min.. but the instructions indicate 2-3 hrs. Please advise. Thanks – always enjoy your recipes!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Kathy, we are seeing the 3 hrs 5 mins on our end for the total time. Could you please check again? Enjoy!
Melanie Helman says
So good!! Thank you for a great dinner recipe!
The Recipe Rebel says
So glad to hear, thank you!
Lane says
Can you do this with a larger steak or roast and cook all day on low? It sounds amazing! I’m just looking for something I can cook while I’m at work.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Lane, would the intent be to leave it whole?
Emily says
Hi when do I incorporate the water to the recipe?
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Emily! Oops, thanks for catching that. In Step 4.
Donna says
This recipe is delicious, didn’t use the apricot jam my husband does not like anything sweet. This still turned out great
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Donna! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Janet ayers says
Awesome recipe…so easy and delicious..my family loves it..in fact I’ve made it many times over the last couple of and yes i have doubled the meat without doubling doubling the sauce and it was still enough sauce. .years…
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Janet! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Janet Lee Thomas says
I myself have not only tried this particular recipe.I actually made it & remembered making this & many other crockpot meals I had made many years ago.Thank you for the best way on earth too rap up a Hearty Family Meal what a treat this is gonna be.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hope you give it a try Janet!
Daphne N Whetstine says
wHAT IS HOISIN SAUCE PLEASE,i’VE NEVER HEARD OF IT
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Daphne, it’s just a sauce you can typically find in the Asian aisle of the grocery store or in an Asian grocery store. Enjoy!
Heidi Patton says
This was great. However, just a personal experience, I used high setting on my crockpot, it was done in 3 hours in an 8 quart size crockpot (used serving for 8 size ingredients). I added the peppers and onions in the last hour, still overcooked. You don’t recommend adding any salt or pepper to this recipe. Lastly, I think adding pineapple would have made this really sing! I will defintely use this recipe again, with subtle changes. Thanks!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Heidi! Glad it worked for you! Thanks!
Hailee says
Can you use flour to thicken?
I don’t have corn stretch at the moment !?
Hailee says
Starch *
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Hailee! I believe you could. Let me know how it goes if you decide to try it!
Sally says
This recipe looks delicious!! Do you know if it freezes well after cooking?
Ashley Fehr says
I haven’t tried, but I think it would work great!
Elizabeth says
I have made this many times as my husband loves it, I do as well 🥰. It’s such an easy recipe to pull together on a busy day, the slow cook produces a delicious meal.
The Recipe Rebel says
Great to hear! Thank you Elizabeth!
Crista says
Fantastic recipe. Quick, easy and my family loved it! Will be making again.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Crista!
Cindy says
If I double the amount of beef, do I double the sauce too? I know crock pots are tricky with liquid…
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, I would definitely double the sauce!