Copycat PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef
Mongolian beef is an Asian dinner recipe featuring tender stir fried beef with a sweet, tangy Asian sauce. The dish is topped with scallions and sesame seeds, then served over fluffy white rice. This amazing copycat PF Chang’s Mongolian beef recipe tastes like the restaurant version, but it’s made at half the cost!
PF Changs meals are delicious, but expensive. That’s why this copycat Mongolian beef recipe is going to blow your mind! It’s the best Mongolian beef that I’ve ever tasted. Seriously!
I’ve tried to make copycat recipes before and I can tell you that while they may be delicious, it’s very difficult to hit the nail on the head and make a meal that tastes exactly like one you might order at a restaurant. This Mongolian beef tastes so close to the PF Chang’s version, it’ll blow your mind!
This Mongolian beef recipe comes together with a few simple ingredients, and in less than 30 minutes. The best part is, it’ll cost you less than half the cost of eating it at PF Chang’s, and you’ll know exactly what you are eating, too!
Copycat PF Chang’s Recipes
You may remember that I visited a P.F. Chang’s restaurant earlier this year. The closest one to my house is almost 90 minutes away, so I haven’t been back since.
Ever since that visit, I’ve been wanting to recreate some of the recipes from their menu. Why? Well of course, because what I had was delicious, but mostly it’s because their menu is extremely overpriced! I can’t get over the fact that it costs almost twenty dollars for a simple Asian beef and rice dish like this Mongolian Beef. It’s crazy!
The expense is probably why so many copycat PF Chang’s recipes are on the interwebs. I’ve seen copycat recipes for the PF Chang’s chicken lettuce wraps, and even a copycat PF Chang’s recipe for Coconut Lemon Soup!
What kind of beef do you use for Mongolian Beef?
You’ll want to use a tender cut of beef to make Mongolian beef, especially because it cooks quickly. Select a thin cut of beef, with little to no marbling, such as flank steak.
Flank steak can be a bit expensive, but you only need a pound of it to make this recipe. If the cost is above your price range, just use a lean piece of strip steak, which you can get for a couple of dollars less per pound.
Aside of the flank steak, the primary ingredients are easily accessible and inexpensive to buy.
Rice is one of the most frugal pantry items you can have on hand, and scallions? You can get a huge bunch for less than a dollar at most grocery stores.
I splurged a little and bought organic rice. It doesn’t cost a whole lot more and I feel better knowing that it’s not filled with GMOs.
How do you make PF Changs Mongolian Beef Sauce?
Mongolian beef sauce is ridiculously easy to make, using a few basic pantry ingredients. You’ll need:
- soy sauce (I use low sodium soy sauce)
- ginger
- garlic
- brown sugar (or a brown sugar substitute)
- a slurry to thicken the sauce, made with water and cornstarch
If you’re looking for more frugal dinner ideas with beef, be sure to also check out my recipes for Spicy Ranch Burgers and Slow Cooker Italian Meatloaf.
More easy Asian recipes
- Easy Spring Rolls Recipe with Tuna
- Asian Sloppy Joes with Cabbage Slaw
- 3 Asian Dipping Sauce Recipes
- Asian Broccoli Slaw with Pineapple
Are you ready to make one of the best PF Chang’s recipes you’ll ever want to eat?
Grab your apron and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. Let’s eat!
Copycat PF Chang’s Mongolian Beef Recipe
Copycat PF Chang's Mongolian Beef
RECIPE VIDEO
Ingredients
- 1.5 Tablespoons organic sesame oil (or canola or vegetable oil)
- 16 ounces (1 pound) beef flank or top sirloin steak (sometimes called stir fry beef)
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
For the Sauce:
- 1.5 teaspoons freshly grated ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger)
- 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 8 ounces (1 liquid cup) low sodium soy sauce
- 8 ounces (1 liquid cup) water
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons cold water mixed with 1.5 Tablespoons corn starch
For Serving:
- 2 scallions (green tops only) thinly sliced
- White or black sesame seeds (optional)
- 2 cups cooked white rice
Instructions
- Cut flank steak across the grain into bite sized strips
- Place meat and cornstarch into a gallon sized plastic bag. Seal well and shake to coat the meat.
- Add all sauce ingredients to a medium saucepan. Stir to combine and place over medium heat. Cook until sauce is thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Meanwhile, stir fry the beef.
- Place oil into a wok, stir fry pan, or saute pan. Place over medium high heat. When oil starts to shimmer, add beef. Cook, stirring often, until meat is cooked to your liking (about 3-4 minutes for rare, 4-5 minutes for medium, and 6-7 minutes for well done)
- After meat is cooked, add about half of the sauce and stir to coat.
- Top with sliced scallions and sesame seeds, if desired. Serve over cooked rice. Enjoy!
This sounds so simple and delicious!
It really is as easy as it sounds to make this Mongolian Beef, Laura. It’s one of my favorite PF Changs recipes!
Oh my goodness!! Thank you for this post!! My kids LOVE this dish at PF CHangs, but my attempts at recreation have been dismal. So excited!
I’m so excited to have given you one of PF Changs recipes that your family will enjoy, Kim!
We don’t have PF Changs near us, but we should! This look fabulous!
Marjory, the good news is, with copycat PF Changs recipes like this one, you won’t need the actual restaurant to enjoy the meals! 🙂
This looks delicious!!!
We’ve totally black listed PF Changs lately… Shame… BUT Kudos to you for bringing me options I can try in my own kitchen. Ive never had their Mongolian beef – but this sure does sound awesome!
Oh no, Kita… I’d love for you to shoot me a private note and explain why you’ve blacklisted them. I’d like to stay knowledgeable.
I remember that PF Chang’s visit from last year. It was awesome. This copycat version looks amazing too. I love the flavor development you’ve done with the recipe. I’ve never had it at the restaurant and now it looks like I don’t need to bother. 🙂
It’s so much better made at home, Christiane! I hope you enjoy it!
So I’m not a big Mongolian Beef fan, but you might have just changed my mind. This looks totally droolworthy, Becca! Maybe if you sent me some of the leftovers, I could get behind Mongolian Beef. Deal?
Dave, I never used to be a fan of Mongolian beef. I was more of a Pad Thai or Sweet & Sour chicken lover. The thing is, this sauce is what truly makes the dish. I would drink this stuff from a straw… it’s amazing, and I plan to try it on chicken and pork next. I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know what you think!
This gorgeous dish only takes 20 minutes??? Love that! I need to make it ASAP!
Indeedy, Liz! Don’t you love when dishes come together quickly like this one? 🙂
That looks so tasty. I’ve got to try the recipe. And you’re right they really do crank up the prices on some of those simple dishes.
Thanks, Heidi! It’s a shame that it’s so expensive to enjoy a meal out these days, but when you can make it at home for so much less money and have it taste just as good (if not better!), I say why not?! 🙂
I always have these ingredients on hand and it sounds a lot like a teriyaki sauce, which we love. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
This ended up being one of my favorite dishes of 2014, Erlene. I hope you give it a try!
Their mongolian beef is one of my favorite recipes! I can’t wait to make it at home.
I hope you love the copycat Mongolian beef as much as the “real thing”, Jenny!
I love when you can put together frugal (and tasty) meals like this one! I’m a PF Chang’s fan but don’t go often. What a great way to save $$$ and easily make a delicious meal at home! Also love that the ingredients are accessible!
I think it’s getting too expensive to eat out, and although I like being catered to now and then, paying $20 for a plate of food that cost $3 in ingredients seems crazy to me.
This looks amazing, Becca! Seriously, going out to eat is such a headache for us with little ones so I’d much rather make this at home!
Thanks, Cathy! It’s been a long time since I had to juggle little ones at a restaurant, but I can imagine it feels great to enjoy a homemade dinner that tastes like you went out for it, but without the headache. 🙂
My fave!! This Mongolian beef looks so saucy and flavorful!
This looks delicious and so easy to make! Would love to try this copycat version soon!
This recipe looks so good and easy to throw together. I need to make this asap! We love PF Changs but never get a chance to go. Now I can make it at home.
Made this tonight and it was incredible! I added some squash, peas, carrots, and water chestnuts to it for some heartiness. The sauce was so good and I’m super excited that I have some left for next time! (Next time will be soon!) Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
This looks great! I can’t wait to try this one!
Thanks, Stephanie. I hope you love it!