Air Fryer Mongolian Beef – Copycat P.F. Changs Recipe

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Air fryer Mongolian beef is the perfect weeknight dinner when you want a kid-friendly meal that is full of flavor. Crispy beef is coated in a sweet sauce, just like you’d get at an Asian restaurant, and it is ready in only 20 minutes!

top view of air fryer Mongolian beef

This is one of my favorite items on the menu at our local P.F. Changs because the sauce is both sweet and salty with a bold flavor that complements the meat perfectly. The tender beef is a little bit crispy and is coated in an amazing sauce for a delicious Asian meal everyone will love!

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P.F. Chang Copycat Mongolian Beef Recipe

This is a copycat recipe for P.F. Chang’s popular Mongolian beef dish. This is a Chinese-American dish that has nothing to do with Mongolian cuisine! But it makes a delicious dinner and is a popular takeout meal.

Mongolian beef in a bowl in front of air fryer

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Mongolian Beef

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

Flank steak – Flank steak is the preferred cut of meat for this delicious beef dish. Cut the meat against the grain so that it is tender.

Corn starch – The cornstarch helps tenderize the meat, so it is not chewy. It also gives it a little bit of a crust as it cooks in the air fryer.

Soy sauce – This gives the dish the salty flavor that complements the sweetness. I prefer to use low sodium soy sauce, so the final dish is more sweet than salty.

Brown sugar – The brown sugar provides the sweet flavor.

Ground gingergarlic, and oil are additional pantry staples that you will need.

ingredients for Mongolian beef
Ingredients

How to Make Mongolian Beef in Air Fryer

1. Cook Meat

Slice the flank steak against the grain into thin strips. The thinner the piece, the better! Then toss the meat with the corn starch.

This recipe uses a lot of corn starch. It serves two purposes. First, it makes the meat’s surface more acidic, which helps keep the meat tender as it cooks. Second, it provides a light coating that will give get crispy. The result is beef that is crisp outside and tender when you bite into it.

flank steak in air fryer basket
Flank steak in air fryer basket

Preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 2 minutes. Then add the beef strips and spread them out to cover the basket. Set it for 12 minutes and air fry the beef strips until they are crispy.

flank steak in air fryer after cooking
Crispy beef

2. Make the Mongolian Sauce

Make the sauce while the steak cooks. Combine the oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic in a bowl and stir to mix. Then put it in a saucepan and heat it over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil.

making the sweet sauce
Mixing the sauce

Turn the heat down and let it cook for 1-2 minutes. Then set it aside while the meat finishes cooking.

tossing the steak with the Mongolian beef sauce
Combining the beef and sauce

Add the crispy beef to the sweet flavored sauce and stir so that it coats the meat.

How to Serve

Serve this copycat P.F. Chang Mongolian Beef over crispy noodles or white or brown rice for an Asian-inspired dinner at home! Garnish the dish with green onions and sesame seeds.

piece of Mongolian beef picked up with chopsticks

How to Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. Once it is mixed with the sauce is messy to reheat it in the air fryer.

I recommend using the microwave or putting it in a saucepan on the stove on low heat. It will thicken in the refrigerator, so you might need to add a little beef broth to it as you reheat.

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top view of Mongolian beef in a bowl with chopsticks
4.52 from 70 votes

P.F. Chang’s Copycat Mongolian Beef in Air Fryer

Published By Anne
Make Mongolian beef in the air fryer for crispy beef coated in a sweet and salty sauce, just like at P.F. Changs. A delicious kid-friendly meal that can be ready in 20 minutes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 3
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound flank steak thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup corn starch
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper optional
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 green onions sliced, optional

Instructions

  • Slice the steak into thin strips.
    1 pound flank steak
  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3 Minutes.
  • Toss the strips of beef in the corn starch. Transfer the coated beef to your air fryer basket. Cook at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes cooking time or until crispy.
    1/4 cup corn starch
  • While the meat cooks, combine the oil, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a medium bowl. Whisk the sauce ingredients until smooth.
    3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook the sauce for 2 minutes.
  • Put the sauce back in your bowl. Add the cooked steak to the bowl. Stir so the sauce coats the steak.
    2 green onions

Notes

Serve over noodles, white rice or brown rice. 
Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

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Nutrition Information

Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1618mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition facts are estimates.

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Bowl of air fryer Mongolian beef

anne

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

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