Kid-Friendly Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
We came upon the realization that we haven’t been teaching the kids well. Don’t misunderstand, they’re doing just fine in school and we still feel strongly that the lessons and social cues they pick up while playing board games will benefit them in many facets of their lives. But many years of long working hours have taken their toll on our ability to pass on some things that every person should learn – how to cook for yourself!
Like many families, we have turned to out-of-the-box meals and fast food takeout on way too many occasions. Our girls know how to heat up a frozen burrito or make a box of mac-n-cheese, but sadly have no idea how to cook an entire meal from scratch. I know we’re not alone in this predicament and we’ve vowed to make a change. They helped out with our last recipe for slow cooker goulash and quickly volunteered to make this Crock-Pot version of Mongolian Beef. And they did everything, start to finish!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
2 lbs flank steak
1/4 cup Corn Starch
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
3/4 cup Soy Sauce
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar (packed)
3/4 cup Water
1 cup Grated Carrots
Green Onions / Scallions for garnish
After picking out the right cut of flank steak from the grocery store, cut it across the grain into 1/8″ strips. Place the cut strips into a plastic bag and add the corn starch. Shake until covered and let sit in the refrigerator for an hour. The corn starch does two things – first it tenderizes the meat and then it acts as a thickener when heated in the slow cooker!
Grate your carrots until approximately 1 cup is yielded. We chose to grate them small so they would “disappear” during the cooking process. If you like, you may cut them into larger pieces so they remain in the medley after cooking.
Put the carrots and the remaining ingredients (except for the scallions) into your slow cooker and add the coated flank steak.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and cook on high for 1-2 hours or low for 3-4 hours. We always recommend cooking on low as it will result in tenderer meat and be less likely to overcook.
Serve alone or plated over white rice and accompanied by mandarin oranges or Asian pears. The entire recipe should yield six servings and is just as good the next day as leftovers!
These simple recipes for slow cookers have been a hit with our girls without them having to worry about temperatures and cooking time on the stove. Of course they’ll progress to using standard pots and pans in the oven, but for now this little taste of cooking success is building their confidence in the kitchen.
Now to just teach them how to do the dishes…
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
How long are the leftovers good for, and do they freeze well? (Six servings is a bit much for my family)
In the fridge I’d expect them to last for up to a week. Frozen much longer, we’ve done it for up to a year and haven’t died yet! 😉
My kids love to cook! However, thank you for the reminder that I should get them involved more often again. This recipe in particular looks delicious. We have flank steak defrosting in the fridge right now which is a funny coincidence. Also, I like that you used corn starch instead of wheat flour with all the gluten allergies out there.
Cooking is a great activity with kids! Slow cookers are great for the family too. I love the convenience, especially on a busy winter day!
Oh not only do I always need new slow cooker recipes but kid friendly is a huge bonus!
This dish looks soooo good and I love how the children are helping to make dinner! I have to try this recipe. My sauce does not look nearly as nice as yours and is more tan-colored. lol
This definitely looks and sounds like a wonderful meal that my kids would likely enjoy too! I’ve never tried this recipe but will soon probably.
Look at your girls in the kitchen. That’s awesome. I can’t get my youngest interested in cooking. I keep trying to find different ways. Something will click. I hope. 😉
My daughter is a super picky eater, but thankfully Chinese food is something she really enjoys. I know she’ll love this Mongolian Beef recipe. And I’ll love how easy it is to make using a slow cooker.
I like this recipe. Mongolian beef is so delicious add we have it every time we are in the mood fror Chihese food. Thatnkfully, I love how you perfectly plated the dish! And the photography is perfect.
Yum! With delicious white rice, the Mongolian beef would be PERFECT!! So sweet to see them making the recipe.
This looks like a fantastic recipe. I’m going to have to try it for sure!
When I was reading the review, my mouth was watering! I had to pin this! A couple of my grandkids are over for a couple of days and they love to help me cook.
This recipe sounds so good and easy that I am sure that they can handle it. We could surprise grandpa with this Mongolian Beef. I know that he likes this and the grandkids can have the bragging rights 🙂
I am a fan of slow cooker recipes. We usually get good results with simple directions that the grandkids can help with and so nice to come home to dinner.
We love good Chinese recipies
This looks like it would be a great meal for my family to try!
This looks super yummy and easy to prepare. I’ve been looking for more slow cooker recipes since school started. I would love to see more slow cooker recipes like this.
I would love to try this!!
I like my slow cooker, I like Chinese food, and I like easy recipes with just a few ingredients. Check, check, and check. This is a winner for me.
This looks so good! I love that you’re using carrots and that in the after picture it doesn’t even look like they are on the plate. My kids would NEVER eat carrots, so if I can ‘hide’ them in their food so they can get some veggies in!! Totally trying this recipe soon!!
Great family recipe, thank you for sharing
I would add Broccoli to the recipe
I love Mongolian Beef!! This sounds like a great way for me AND my nephew to enjoy it!! He’s a picky eater so this could be the magic trick! Thanks!
this really looks good
Ah slow cooker, is there anything you can’t do? Mongolian Beef is one of my absolute favorites, so this is swell news!
I love these kinds of recipes! I’m going to have to try it.
I guess my favorite Kid friendly recipe would be my omelet recipe. It’s a simple recipe and easily modified. Simply enough a kid could make it
I guess we’ll find out soon. 😀
Looks great. Going to make this for sure.