• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Tomatoes Tomahtos
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • About me
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Contact
    • About me
  • ×
    • chocolate cheese muffins
      Chocolate cheese muffins
    • classic scalloped potatoes
      Classic scalloped potatoes
    • acai popsicles with a cheesecake swirl
      Acai popsicles with a cheesecake swirl
    • raspberry cheesecake crumble bars
      Raspberry cheesecake crumble bars
    • the best baked eggplant parmesan
      The best baked eggplant parmesan
    • shawarma on a vertical skewer
      Shawarma on a vertical skewer
    • sliced poppy seed lemon loaf cake
      Lemon poppy seed loaf cake
    • gluten free crispy beef
      Gluten free crispy beef
    • 4 ingredient coffee ice pops
      4 ingredient coffee ice pops
    • yapchick: overnight potato kugel with meat with a piece scooped out
      Yapchick: overnight kugel with meat
    • flourless chocolate cookies
      Flourless chocolate cookies
    • triangle shaped pan fried dumplings on a plate
      Pan fried dumplings
    Home

    Better than takeout Mongolian Beef

    Published: Jan 2, 2025 · Modified: Jun 6, 2025 by tomatoestomahtos · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Who doesn't love Chinese takeout? It's so comforting and delicious. I'm sure you have a go-to place in your neighborhood. I'm so excited to give you this better than takeout Mongolian beef recipe. It's definitely healthier then anything you can buy and it hits all the right flavor notes. Your house will smell insane!

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Ingredients needed to make better than takeout Mongolian beef

    Ingredients:

    Sauce:

    • Water
    • Soy sauce or tamari if you want this recipe to be gluten free
    • Sesame oil
    • Rice vinegar
    • Ginger- fresh or frozen cubes 
    • Minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
    • Salt

    Beef:

    • Shoulder London broil- this cut is both affordable and tender.
    • Arrowroot or cornstarch- used to thicken the sauce. You can use either or.
    • Oil
    • Carrots- I love cutting them myself as opposed to using the pre-cut because I like a thicker texture.
    • Red pepper
    • Scallions
    • Sesame seeds

    How to make better than takeout Mongolian beef:

    Whisk together all sauce ingredients. Set aside. Using a serrated knife, slice the steak against the grain at an angle. Slice as thin as possible!! Add sliced steak to a bowl and add arrowroot or starch. Toss to combine until the steak is fully coated.

    Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons oil to the pan. Add carrots and bell pepper and cover with a lid to steam for 3-5 minutes. Once the vegetables are tender, remove from pan and set aside. 

    Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pan. Once hot, add the beef in batches and cook on medium-high heat until browned on either side. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining beef. It’s really important to not overcrowd the pan! Return the previous batches of the cooked beef to the pan.

    Add in the cooked veggies, green onions, and sauce. Stir until well combined. Reduce heat and cover with a lid. Let cook for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Serve with prepared rice and top with sesame seeds. 

    Storing:

    Store better than takeout Mongolian beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

    Substitutions in better than takeout Mongolian beef:

    Veggies: The carrots and red bell pepper go together nicely, but feel free to swap out for a different color pepper or add in some broccoli.

    Tamari for soy sauce: Using tamari will make this recipe gluten free. Tamari is slightly less saltier then soy sauce, so feel free to add more salt if you substitute.

    Cornstarch or arrowroot starch: They work interchangeably in this recipe.

    more takeout style dishes

    Crispy Sesame Chicken

    Quick Basic Chicken Stir Fry

    Beef and Broccoli Ramen

    better then takeout Mongolian beef
    better than takeout Mongolian beef

    Better than takeout Mongolian beef

    This better than takeout Mongolian beef dish is a game-changer with its perfect balance of sweet and umami flavors, you'll never settle for takeout again!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Course: Main Course
    Ingredients Method

    Ingredients
      

    Sauce
    • ⅓ cup water
    • ⅓ cup tamari or soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons freshly ground ginger or 2 frozen cubes
    • ½ tablespoon minced garlic about 4 cloves
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    Beef
    • 1.5 lb. shoulder London broil
    • ¼ cup arrowroot or cornstarch
    • 3-4 tablespoons oil divided
    • 2 carrots peeled and cut into matchsticks
    • 1 large red bell pepper thinly sliced
    • 3-5 green onion stalks chopped diagonally
    • sesame seeds

    Method
     

    1. Whisk together all sauce ingredients. Set aside.
    2. Using a serrated knife, slice the steak against the grain at an angle. Slice as thin as possible!!
    3. Add sliced steak to a bowl and add arrowroot or starch. Toss to combine until the steak is fully coated.
    4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons oil to the pan. Add carrots and bell pepper and cover with a lid to steam for 3-5 minutes. Once the vegetables are tender, remove from pan and set aside.
    5. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the pan. Once hot, add the beef in batches and cook on medium-high heat until browned on either side. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining beef. It’s really important to not overcrowd the pan!
    6. Return the previous batches of the cooked beef to the pan. Add in the cooked veggies, green onions, and sauce. Stir until well combined. Reduce heat and cover with a lid. Let cook for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
    7. Serve with prepared rice and top with sesame seeds.

    More Main Dishes

    • irresistible popcorn chicken recipe on a plate
      Irresistible popcorn chicken recipe
    • one pan sausage and rice
      One pan sausage and rice
    • baked black bean tacos
      Baked black bean tacos
    • gouda mac and cheese with pumpkin
      Gouda mac and cheese with pumpkin

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Sara!

    I'm here to make life easier with delicious and easy to make family friendly food that also happens to look amazing!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • mini chocolate chip cookie hamantaschen
      Mini chocolate chip cookie hamantaschen
    • big mac nachos on a sheet pan
      Big mac nachos
    • orange loaf cake
      Orange loaf cake
    • honey citrus mint tea
      Honey citrus mint tea

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Disclosure

    • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me

    Copyright © 2025 Tomatoes Tomahtos