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    Home » Keto Dinner Ideas » Easy Keto Mongolian Beef

    Published: Jul 4, 2022 by Carolyn

    Easy Keto Mongolian Beef

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    21.5K shares
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    Dinner doesn’t get any easier than this Keto Mongolian Beef. Simply add the ingredients to your slow cooker and let it do all the work! It’s as tasty as take-out and far healthier.

    Keto Mongolian Beef in a large bowl with cauliflower rice and green onion in the background.

    This Keto Mongolian Beef is one of my most popular keto slow cooker recipes. It’s what I like to call a “dump-and-run meal”, meaning you just dump in all the ingredients and walk away. A few hours later, dinner is done!

    But it still has all the great flavor of the original, with a fraction of the carbs. My kids love this so we make it often. Served over cauliflower rice, it’s an easy and healthy dinner we can all enjoy.

    Try my Keto Meatball Casserole for another family-friendly slow cooker recipe!

    A hand sprinkling sesame seeds over Keto Mongolian Beef.

    Why you will love this recipe

    We can all use more easy keto dinner recipes, and it really doesn’t get any easier than Keto Mongolian Beef. It takes only about 10 minutes of active prep and then it practically cooks itself.

    This recipe has all the classic umami flavor of your favorite takeout. It’s a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy, with plenty of sauce that soaks into any keto rice or noodles you pair it with.

    I utilized my slow cooker for this dish to minimize the effort and the clean-up. Tougher cuts of meat like flank steak or skirt steak benefit from slow braising, and become melt-in-your-mouth tender.

    But not everyone has a crockpot so I’ve also included instructions for both the Instant Pot and the stovetop.

    Ingredients you need

    Top down image of the ingredients all laid out for Keto Mongolian Beef.

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • Flank steak: Flank steak is a good choice for Mongolian beef, as it’s easy to slice thinly. You can also use top sirloin or skirt steak.
    • Swerve Brown: I highly recommend a brown sugar replacement, as it gives this recipe a more authentic flavor. You can also use granular sweetener and 1 teaspoon of molasses.
    • Allulose: You don’t have to add the allulose but it does help make the sauce a bit stickier, like traditional Mongolian beef.
    • Tamari: I prefer tamari over coconut aminos, because it has more umami flavor and fewer carbs. It’s also better than soy sauce as it’s completely gluten-free.
    • Sesame oil: Use toasted sesame oil for the best flavor.
    • Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best, but if you must substitute granulated garlic, use ¾ teaspoon.
    • Ginger: I use ground ginger for simplicity, but you can also use a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger.
    • Red pepper flakes: Add another ¼ teaspoon if you like more heat.
    • Glucomannan: Traditional Mongolian beef takes cornstarch for a rich, thick sauce. A keto thickening agent, like glucomannan or xanthan gum, makes the sauce thicker without starch.
    • Garnish: Green onion, sesame seeds, salt.

    Step by Step Directions

    A collage of four images showing the steps for making Keto Mongolian Beef.

    1. Prep the beef: Slice the beef thinly against the grain. This is easier to do when the meat is partially frozen. You don’t want it rock hard, but it 30 to 45 minutes in the freezer is about right. Place the sliced beef at the bottom of a slow cooker.

    2. Make the sauce: Whisk together the sweeteners, water, tamari, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour over the meat and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

    3. Thicken the sauce: Remove some of the liquid into a bowl and add the glucomannan. Whisk to combined well, then pour back into the pot and stir to coat the beef.

    4. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the Keto Mongolian Beef with sliced green onion and some sesame seeds. Serve over cauliflower rice.

    A plate of Keto Mongolian Beef with cauliflower rice and chopsticks.

    Expert Tips and FAQ

    Instant Pot Directions: Use the sauté function to brown the beef in a little oil first. Don’t add any water to the sauce, as pressure cookers force moisture out of the meat and it may end up quite soupy. Then cook the beef on Manual High for 10 minutes, then thicken with glucomannan.

    Stovetop Directions: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half the beef and sauté until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with more oil and the remaining beef.

    Add the sauce to the pan and bring to a simmer. Push all the beef to one side and whisk in the glucomannan, then stir well to combine.

    Is Mongolian beef high in carbs?

    This Keto Mongolian Beef has 2 grams of carbs per serving. It is much lower in carbohydrate than the traditional version, which can easily have 15 to 25 grams per serving.

    Is Mongolian beef sweet or spicy?

    Mongolian beef is a sweet and slightly spicy dish. You can easily adjust the heat to your liking by adding more or less red pepper flakes.

    Is there sugar in Mongolian beef?

    The popular version of this dish from PF Chang’s contains a great deal of sugar. But this keto recipe has no added sugars and all the great flavor of the original!

    Close up shot of keto Mongolian beef in a black bowl, with sesame seeds and green onion.

    More take-out copycat recipes

    • Keto Korean Beef tops my list of easy dinner favorites. The meat is richly flavored and perfect with lightly sautéed zucchini noodles.
    • Getting my whole family to agree on one dinner recipe is tough, but Easy Keto Chicken Fajitas works every time!
    • This Keto Chicken Yakitori always meets with approval. One reader says: “I made this recipe for dinner tonight. Delicious! Even my non keto eating husband loved and gobbled it up.”
    • Pizza night is back on with my delicious keto pizza dough. Add all your favorite toppings and dig in!
    Keto Mongolian Beef for recipe card.

    Keto Mongolian Beef Recipe

    Dinner doesn't get any easier than this Keto Mongolian Beef. Simply add the ingredients to your slow cooker and let it do all the work! It's as tasty as take-out and far healthier.
    4.85 from 40 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Keyword: keto mongolian beef
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 417kcal

    Equipment

    • slow cooker (or Instant Pot)

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs flank or sirloin steak
    • ⅓ cup Swerve Brown
    • 2 tablespoon allulose (optional)
    • ¼ cup water
    • ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
    • 2 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ tsp glucomannan powder (or ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum)
    • 2 green onions, chopped
    • Sesame seeds for sprinkling
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Slice the beef very thinly against the grain. This works best when it is semi-frozen (but not rock solid). Place the beef in the bottom of a slow cooker.
    • In a medium bowl or glass measuring up, whisk together the sweeteners, water, tamari, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour over the beef.
    • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, OR high for 2 to 3 hours. 
    • When the beef has finished cooking, spoon some of the broth out of the pot into a bowl. Whisk in the glucomannan powder until combined, then pour the broth back into the pot and stir to coat. 
    • Sprinkle the beef with the chopped green onions and some sesame seeds and serve over cauliflower rice. 

    Notes

    Instant Pot Directions: Use the sauté function to brown the beef in a little oil first. Don’t add any water to the sauce, as pressure cookers force moisture out of the meat and it may end up quite soupy. Then cook the beef on Manual High for 10 minutes, then thicken with glucomannan.
    Stovetop Directions: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half the beef and sauté until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Repeat with more oil and the remaining beef.
    Storage Instructions: Store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Mongolian Beef Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ¼ of recipe)
    Calories 417 Calories from Fat 229
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 25.4g39%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Fiber 0.4g2%
    Protein 35.7g71%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    21.5K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Anthony says

      February 03, 2023 at 4:16 pm

      My question has to do with making this in the IP. I noticed for the crock pot the sauce is added to the beef before it is cooked. For cooking it in the IP you don’t mention when the sauce should be added. Does the sauce get added after the beef is browned and before it is cooked in the IP or after it is done cooking?

      Reply
    2. Rebecca says

      January 11, 2023 at 6:20 pm

      I’m so excited to try this!!! I know it’s an easy through together…but for plan ahead meal prep days, can this one be made into a freezer meal…so I’ll I have to do is thaw overnight and place in crockpot the next morning?

      Reply
    3. Christina says

      July 30, 2022 at 9:28 pm

      I made this one other time, and I forgot to add the glucomannan powder. I will add this time. I do not have allulose. I know you do not have to have it. I believe it is a sweetener, besides being sticky to be more like the traditional recipe. Would any other sweetener work? I would like to add some kind of sweetener for taste purposes. What would you recommend?

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
    4. Ilene says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      Can dried egg whites be used in place of glucomannan powder or xanthan gum?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 28, 2022 at 7:39 am

        No, that won’t thicken it properly. If you must, just skip it but your sauce will be quite thin.

        Reply
    5. Diane says

      July 10, 2022 at 10:13 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight…. Amazing!!!!

      Reply
    6. Le Ann says

      July 07, 2022 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      I finally made this last night and oh my, it was truly amazing. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 07, 2022 at 1:42 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    7. Valeria Dombiak-Woelfel says

      July 05, 2022 at 5:27 pm

      I’d love to try this in my ip. what kind of release would you do?

      Reply
      • Missy says

        July 16, 2022 at 5:09 pm

        I made this today and my 14 yr old ate over 1/2 of it! She said “It’s good and you need to make it again.” Now, I’m going to try my hand at your cheesecake sugar cookies.

        Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes!

        Reply
    8. Alice R says

      July 05, 2022 at 12:21 pm

      I want to make this on the stove in my wok. Do I mix all the marinade with the beef priori to cooking this? Stove top directions aren’t clear on that. Thanks for great keto recipes!

      Reply
      • Alice R says

        July 05, 2022 at 12:24 pm

        Oops! I didn’t read all the way down. I’m definitely going to try this!

        Reply
    9. Barbara Dumke says

      June 14, 2022 at 10:16 am

      Finding your recipes after trying to live a low carb life after being Pre diabetic has been so great! I find the freedom I have to make tasty food for my husband and still keep the carbs low is wonderful. We thought the Mongolian Beef was tasty and introduced a new spice combination to us. Thanks for all the work you put into creating your tasty recipes!

      Reply
    10. Jenny says

      June 14, 2022 at 8:39 am

      So I’m making this for the first time and made the mistake of putting the xanthum gum in with the marinade/gravy. I haven’t poured it over the meat to cook yet. Do I need to start over? Or will it still cook ok? I hate to throw it all out but don’t want to ruin dinner!!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 14, 2022 at 11:40 am

        Oh dear, I am really not sure!

        Reply
        • Jenny says

          July 10, 2022 at 12:11 pm

          Just to update in case anyone makes my mistake…I went ahead and cooked it and it came out just fine! I have 4 young children and I believe 2/4 ate it up. Tough crowd, but my husband and I enjoyed it. I was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic 2 years ago and your recipes have been so helpful! Thank you!

          Reply
    11. Sarai says

      April 01, 2022 at 2:04 pm

      1 star
      I absolutely adore most of your recipes, so this one shocked me. For my family, we felt it was very bland – my son who usually will eat about anything, left half on his plate. There was no taste of sweet, ginger nor the garlic. I added more soy sauce at the table, and salt, but that didn’t help much. Next time, if I try this again, I will double those three ingredients and see if it helps.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        April 04, 2022 at 3:56 pm

        Sorry you didn’t love it. Most people do… I wonder what happened?

        Reply
    12. Amy F. says

      March 22, 2022 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious!!!! I used the coconut aminos, as I don’t do well with soy. Another 5 star recipe, Carolyn! Thank you so much for giving me an Asian meal that is low carb.

      Reply
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