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overhead view of instant pot mongolian beef over rice on a white plate with chopsticks.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: asian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 329kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
Mongolian Beef just got much quicker and simpler thanks to your Instant Pot!
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Ingredients

  • 1 pound flank steak sliced very thin (¼-inch)
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce (see note)
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • Green onion and sesame seeds optional, for garnish

Instructions

  • Add the beef and cornstarch to a medium bowl (or a plastic bag) and toss to combine. Allow the beef to sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes– this will bring the beef to room temperature and help tenderize the meat.
    1 pound flank steak, 3 tablespoons cornstarch
    beef strips coated in cornstarch in a glass bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, water, light brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes together. Set aside.
    ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ½ cup water, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    sauce for instant pot mongolian beef in a white bowl.
  • Heat the Instant Pot using the Saute function and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the beef (feel free to cook the beef in batches– you don’t want to overcrowd the pot). Sear the beef for 2 minutes and then flip it and sear for an additional 2 minutes.
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    beef strips in an instant pot.
  • Add the sauce to the pan and stir to combine the sauce and beef.
    beef strips with sauce in an instant pot.
  • Place the broccoli on top of the beef but do not mix it into the sauce!
    2 cups broccoli florets
    broccoli on top of mongolian beef in an instant pot.
  • Attach the lid and ensure the valve is in the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook Manual for 1 minute.
    cooked instant pot mongolian beef and broccoli in an instant pot.
  • Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
    Green onion and sesame seeds

Video

Notes

  • Soy Sauce: For a gluten-free alternative, use tamari or coconut aminos.
  • While flank steak is traditional, you can also make this dish with sirloin, New York strip steak, or even chicken!
  • If you don't have fresh ginger and garlic, you can use ½ teaspoon of dried ginger and 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic instead.
  • The red pepper flakes are optional to add a bit of spice. You could also use a few squirts or sriracha instead!
  • Feel free to switch up the vegetables with carrots, snap peas, bok choy, or any other vegetable you like!
  • To make it easier to slice the beef thinly, place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
  • Always slice the beef against the grain.
  • Let the beef sit in the cornstarch mixture for about 15 minutes to tenderize the meat before searing. Do not use flour instead of cornstarch!
  • When searing the beef, don't overcrowd the instant pot. Overcrowding will cause the beef to steam instead of sear. You may need to sear in batches.
  • Serve over white or brown rice or noodles!
Storage: Store instant pot Mongolian beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 1233mg | Potassium: 674mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 358IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg