I love chilli beef, especially if it is a Chinese beef recipe; so tender and tasty. This recipe is my go-to Chinese beef stir fry; which is tender beef strips with a delicious sweet chilli sauce. If you love chilli beef like me, you will love this recipe and won't ever stop making it.
For more easy Chinese recipes, check Easy Kung Pao Beef and Chinese Sweet And Sour Chicken.
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The Best Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe
This chilli beef recipe is the easiest and quickest I've made. The combination of brown sugar, chilli flakes and soy sauce works well in giving a sweet and chilli taste to this beef recipe. Using olive oil and ginger in this recipe gives a unique flavour and smell.
Please note: This recipe is spicy so adjust the chilli to your preference.
Why Does This Recipe Work?
- This recipe is perfect for Chinese food lovers and it is better than Chinese takeaway.
- The best Chinese crispy chilli beef recipe with sweet chili sauce you will ever need, it is so popular in all the Chinese restaurants.
- This quick recipe uses simple ingredients and the instructions are easy to follow.
- A delicious and quick meal for the whole family to enjoy for dinner or lunch.
- A versatile dish; you can add in some veggies.
Ingredients
- Stir fry beef strips: This recipe uses sirloin steak cut into thin beef slices.
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil for good flavour.
- Spices: salt, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, chilli flacks and garlic powder.
The Sweet Chilli Sauce Ingredients
- Brown sugar: Gives a sweet kick to this recipe.
- Tomato paste: For extra flavor.
- Soy sauce: Gives extra flavour. You may replace it with hoisin sauce.
- Fresh Ginger: Gives an excellent taste and smell to the beef.
- Cornstarch (cornflour): Important to thicken the sauce. You may use potato starch instead.
- Spring onions: It gives a sharp and crunchy taste to the beef.
How To Make Chinese Chilli Beef
One (Prepare the beef) : Wash the beef and pat dry with paper towel then cut the beef into thin strips.
Two (Cook the beef): In a medium-sized frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat then add the beef on the hot oil in a single layer and cook for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes golden brown. Then put the cooked beef in a plate and set aside.
Three (Make the sweet chili sauce): In the same pan add ginger, onion, tomato paste, brown sugar, soy sauce and all the spices, stir.
Four: Add the cornstarch in the water and stir well then add to the previous mixture.
Five: On medium heat, put the sauce for 2 minutes then add the beef, stir then lower the heat and leave the beef to simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the beef is fully cooked and the sauce thickens.
Tip: While simmering if the sauce becomes dry, add ¼ cup of water.
How to Serve
This crispy chili beef will be delicious served with white rice, pasta or bread and some salad such as Malfouf Salad, coleslaw salad or Korean Carrot Salad.
Top Tips!
- Use tender steak cuts for this recipe; I used sirloin; you may also use tenderloin, rib-eye or rump steak and make sure to cut the steak into thin slices.
- If you like this dish with more sauce to serve over rice or noodles, you can double or triple the sauce ingredients.
Variations
- Garnish your dish with some sesame seeds or fresh parsley.
- You can use vegetable oil, sesame oil or peanut oil instead of olive oil.
- Add in half a teaspoon of rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you like to have a little bit of tangy sauce.
- Use tomato ketchup instead of tomato paste.
- To get a spicy sauce, add in 1-2 chopped red chillies.
How To Store and Freeze
To store: Keep the beef leftovers in a well sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To freeze: You can also freeze this dish for 1-2 months; reheat it in a large frying pan on the stove or in the. Microwave for a few seconds.
More Easy Recipes
- Chicken Liver With Onion And Pepper
- Aubergine With Minced Beef For Dinner
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice Recipe
- Homemade Creamy Lentil Soup
Follow Healthy Life Trainer on Pinterest, and Instagrama!
Recipe Card
Chinese Chilli Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 700 g stir fry beef strips
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ginger chopped
- 2 spring onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- ¾ cup water
Spices
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon chilli flacks
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Wash the beef then pat dry with kitchen paper.
- In a medium-sized frying pan, heat the olive oil then add the beef on a high heat and cook for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes brown. Then put the beef in a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan add ginger, onion, tomato paste, brown sugar, soy sauce and all the spices, stir.
- Add the cornstarch in the water and stir well then add to the previous mixture.
- On medium heat, put the sauce for 2 minutes then add the beef, stir then lower the heat and leave the beef to simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the beef is fully cooked and the sauce thickens.
Notes
- Use tender steak cuts for this recipe; I used sirloin; you may also use tenderloin, rib-eye or rump steak and make sure to cut the steak into thin slices.
- If you like this dish with more sauce to serve over rice or noodles, you can double or triple the sauce ingredients.
Variations
- Garnish your dish with some sesame seeds or fresh parsley.
- You can use vegetable oil, sesame oil or peanut oil instead of olive oil.
- Add in half a teaspoon of rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you like to have a little bit of tangy sauce.
- Use tomato ketchup instead of tomato paste.
- To get a spicy sauce, add in 1-2 chopped red chillies.
David Spencer
OMG, that tastes just like bought take-away chinese, but only Better!!! props to my wife!
Rose
Is it okay to replace the fresh ginger with dry ginger?
Radwa
Yes, that is fine.
Olivia
So delicious, added 2 tablespoons of honey and a few drops of lemon juice.
Kate
This recipe is not only delicious but very easy to make. The beef was so soft and tender, and the sauce was so delicious. I love it!!
Heidi
Hi Radwa, I tried this recipe with beef, turkey and chicken. It was just perfect in all. I also garnish with some toasted peanuts. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
Madona
This chilli beef recipe is an absolute favourite in my house. I have made this recipe so many times, and every time, it turns out amazing, even better than what we used to have in the Chinese restaurant.