Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (2024)

This family dinner recipe is sweet and tangy with tender flank steak made in no time. Instant Pot Mongolian beef is an absolutely delicious meal that everyone will love.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (1)

I love cooking this Instant Pot Mongolian Beef recipe for a quick dinner that everyone loves!

Some of my favorite family dinner recipes are made in the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (2)

Our Instant Pot Mongolian beef recipe is great for those busy nights where you want something with great flavor, without having to put all of the time and work into it.

You can have this dish done less than an hour without compromising on the flavor of the dish.

You can also make our Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef recipe if you do not have an Instant Pot yet!

Both versions of the dish will pair wonderfully with our Easy Homemade Rolls recipe or our Cheesy Garlic Green Beans.

Watch us make this Instant Pot Mongolian Beef! We share our favorite Instant Pot Recipes each week on our YouTube channel, make sure to follow along!

Ingredients Needed Our Instant Pot Mongolian Beef:

  • Flank steak
  • Olive oil
  • Minced garlic
  • Soy sauce
  • Water
  • Brown sugar
  • Fresh minced ginger
  • Cornstarch
  • Green onions

How To Make Our Mongolian Beef:

To start, get out your Instant Pot, plug it in and turn it on by pressing the SAUTE button, as well as adding in the olive oil.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (3)

When the oil begins to sizzle, brown the strips of flank steak in the oil until all of the meat has been cooked.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (4)

Once the meat is done, transfer it to a plate while you continue with the rest of the recipe.

Then add the minced garlic to the oil and saute it for about a minute.

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Next, add in the soy sauce, ½ cup of water, brown sugar, and minced ginger. Stir everything in the inner pot until it is combined.

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Now, add back in the browned steak and place the lid on the Instant Pot making sure the valve is turned to the SEALING position.

Then, press the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK button and set the timer for 11 minutes.

When the timer has gone off, turn the valve to the VENTING potion to do a quick release of the pressure from inside the Instant Pot.

In a small mixing bowl, combine together the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water and whisk it together.

Once the cornstarch mixture is well combined, add it to the Instant Pot, constantly stirring the sauce.

Press the CANCEL button and then the SAUTE button and allow the sauce to come to a boil, still stirring the sauce, letting the sauce thicken.

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After the sauce has thickened, stir in the green onions and serve everything over rice and dig in!

Kitchen items you’ll need for this Instant Pot beef recipe:

  1. Instant Pot (THIS is a great one!)
  2. Spatula
  3. Plate
  4. Small mixing bowl

Things You Might Not Have Known About!

Did you know that making your own brown sugar is actually super simple to do? For a while I had not even thought about making it, but one day I was making a recipe found out half of the way through that I did not have enough brown sugar.

Using the Kitchn’s instructions on how to make brown sugar at home I was able to make what I need (plus more for later) in no time! It is extremely simple, you need to try it.

Want More Easy Dinner Ideas?

Have you checked out our YouTube channel? We show you how to make our favorite recipes right in our own kitchens!

Our newest cookbook is all about Pressure Cooking. If you love our Instant Pot recipes, this is the cookbook for you!

INSTANT COOKING with Six Sisters’ Stuff <—– Click here to order!

How to turn this into a freezer meal:

  • Place flank steak, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, and ginger into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.
  • When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup water in with the frozen food. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 25 minutes and do a NATURAL RELEASE when the timer is done – I even like to let it sit in the Instant Pot for a few hours so that it falls apart so easily. Follow the rest of the instructions as written.

Looking for more freezer meals just like this? Click here for our top100 Instant Pot Freezer Meals!

Try These Instant Pot Recipes For Your Next Easy Dinner Recipe!

  • Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Pasta Recipe
  • Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice Recipe
  • Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe

Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (8)

Serves: 6

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe

Sweet and tender flank steak, this Mongolian Beef comes together in no time using your Instant Pot for an easy dinner your family will love!

Prep Time 6 minutes mins

Cook Time 11 minutes mins

Pressurize Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 27 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds flank steak cut into 1/4" strips
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger minced
  • 2 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 Tablespoons water
  • 3 green onions sliced into 1-inch pieces

Instructions

  • Put oil in the cooking pot and press SAUTE.

  • When oil begins to sizzle, brown meat in batches until all meat is browned. Transfer Meat to plate once browned.

  • Add the garlic and saute one minute. Add soy sauce, 1/2 cup water, brown sugar, and ginger. Stir to combine.

  • Add browned beef, place lid on top of Instant Pot.

  • Press the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK button.

  • Set timer for 11 minutes.

  • When cooking is finished, move the knob to VENTING and do a QUICK RELEASE of the pressure.

  • Combine the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water, whisking until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to the sauce in the pot, stirring constantly.

  • Push the Saute button and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Stir in green onions. Serve over rice.

Video

Notes

For added heat, feel free to sprinkle red pepper flakes on top when serving.

How to turn this into a freezer meal:

  • Place flank steak, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, and ginger into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.
  • When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup water in with the frozen food. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 25 minutes and do a NATURAL RELEASE when the timer is done – I even like to let it sit in the Instant Pot for a few hours so that it falls apart so easily. Follow the rest of the instructions as written.

Nutrition

Calories: 346 kcal · Carbohydrates: 28 g · Protein: 35 g · Fat: 10 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Cholesterol: 91 mg · Sodium: 1170 mg · Potassium: 606 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 24 g · Vitamin A: 60 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 62 mg · Iron: 3 mg

Equipment

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

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Join The Discussion

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  1. Rusty says:

    Fantastic recipe! I did double up on the ginger, as that is a flavor we really enjoy in our home. It turned out great and was ohh so easy!

  2. Judy See says:

    We really liked this reciepe. My sons liked it so much that we have it in our rotation. Trying is on 16yrold Grandson next week.

  3. Marie Smith says:

    When you make this to freeze, do you cook the steak first?

  4. Momma Cyd says:

    You can sear the meat barely on each side. Sometimes we skip that part and throw everything into the freezer bag. It's up to you. It will work either way.

  5. marsha l masi says:

    Can you use a rib eye steak instead of the flank steak.?

  6. Momma Cyd says:

    Rib eye should work too. Flank steak is more flavorful.

  7. Amber C says:

    How would you adapt the directions for cooking in a slow cooker instead?

  8. Momma Cyd says:

    We have this recipe for the Slow Cooker too. https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/slow-cooker-mongolian-beef/

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (10)

About The Author:

Lauren

Lauren lives in Sacramento, California with her husband, Jon, and her three cute kids. In her spare time she loves listening to podcasts and spending time with her family.

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Instant Pot Mongolian Beef Recipe (Freezer Meal) (2024)

FAQs

Can I put frozen beef in an Instant Pot? ›

It is safe to cook frozen food in a pressure cooker because it uses pressure to move food through the "Danger Zone" quickly. As a result, you don't run into the issues that you would find by cooking frozen food in a slow cooker, where it can stay too long in the Danger Zone and could become unsafe.

What is the best cut of beef for pressure cooker? ›

Chuck roast, brisket and short ribs are the best cut because they contain a lot of connective tissue. During both slow & pressure cooking, that connective tissue breaks down and turns into gelatin giving the beef a rich, meaty flavour and a tender, juicy texture.

How do you cook tough meat in the Instant Pot? ›

If it's still tough, you will need to cook it longer. The pressure cooking process breaks down tough meat, making it tender. Put the lid back on, seal the pressure cooker, and cook at high pressure for another 10 to 20 minutes. The provided nutrition facts are estimates.

How do you adjust Instant Pot recipes for frozen meat? ›

How to cook from Frozen in your Instant Pot { + printable cook time cheat sheet}
  1. Be mindful of the size and shape of your food when you freeze it.
  2. Plan for the time to “pressure up” to increase.
  3. Don't pressure cook big frozen blocks like a roast.
  4. Try and have your meat covered in liquid.
Jan 3, 2019

What is the best way to cook a frozen meal? ›

To cook frozen food with minimal preparation, follow package instructions for microwave or oven heating. For a quick option, microwave single-serve frozen meals or snacks according to package directions. Alternatively, bake frozen pre-made dishes like pizzas or appetizers.

Why do you have to brown beef before pressure cooking? ›

Brown it

Pressure cooked food doesn't brown so it's worth doing this at the start of cooking before adding liquid and putting the lid on. Meat looks and tastes more appetising with a little browning. Onions, garlic and spices also benefit in the flavour stakes from pre-cooking.

Can you overcook beef in a pressure cooker? ›

Steam penetrates food easily under pressure. So connective tissues in cubes of beef for soups or stews soften in 15 minutes or less, and a pot roast will be medium-rare in 30 minutes. Be sure to follow instructions carefully; at this speed, it's easy to overcook things in mere minutes.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beef? ›

Slow cookers are much better for cooking root vegetables and tough cuts of meat because the long, low-temperature cooking process is great for adding moisture and breaking down fat. Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't.

What is the best first thing to cook in an Instant Pot? ›

Dried beans, stock, and rice are all great places to start since they only use the pressure setting, while the other recipes in this list are easy enough for beginners and will open your eyes to the possibilities of the Instant Pot.

Why is my Instant Pot meat not tender? ›

If you find that it's still tough after cooking, you'll need to cook it for another 10 to 20 minutes at high pressure – it just needs a bit longer to continue to brine and break down the connective tissue.

Why is my Instant Pot beef roast tough? ›

Why is My Roast Tough? If your roast is tough in the Instant Pot, it likely needs to be cooked longer. Chuck roast will become more tender the longer it cooks, so extra time may be needed. However, you can overcook beef in the Instant Pot, so keep an eye on it if you add extra time.

Can you cook a ready meal from frozen? ›

They will just need heating in either the microwave or oven and are suitable to cook straight from the freezer. We always recommend you follow the heating instructions provided on the ready meal packaging before tucking in, as it is the best way to ensure the flavours and ingredients are at their very best.

How much extra time in Instant Pot if meat is frozen? ›

Braised and ground meats do best when cooked from frozen (a steak, on the other hand, will get soggy and won't retain its texture). With that in mind, stews, chilis, and chicken soups will turn out well if you begin with frozen meat; just increase the cook time by about 50 percent.

Can you cook a meal in an Instant Pot? ›

My Instant Pot is one of my favorite tools for making a healthy dinner with little effort. Dishes like braised beef take are prepared in less than half the time while soups and stews, like my sweet potato soup, can be ready in minutes instead of hours.

How to reheat food in the Instant Pot? ›

Steps to reheat
  1. Transfer the food that you wish to reheat into heat-proof containers, such as stainless steel or glass. ...
  2. Add at least 1 cup water to the Instant pot, then drop your food containers in, making sure they are sitting on the trivet. ...
  3. Insert the Instant Pot lid, and select PRESSURE COOK on high heat.
May 3, 2023

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