Crispy Chilli Beef is a delightful dish featuring shredded beef steak fried to a perfect crisp and tossed in a flavorful sweet and spicy sauce. This recipe captures the essence of a classic Chinese takeaway favorite but made fresh and healthier at home with straightforward ingredients. The combination of tender beef strips with a tangy sweet chilli sauce offers a perfect balance of heat and sweetness that’s sure to impress.
I enjoy recreating popular restaurant dishes in my own kitchen and sharing them with friends and family. Here are some more of our beloved beef stir fry and steak recipes you might want to explore:
- Salt and Pepper Beef (classic Chinese seasoning blend)
- Shredded Beef (traditional Chinese-style)
- Pepper Steak Stir Fry (sautéed steak slices with bold black pepper sauce)
Takeout dishes often come with overly thick batter or an excessive sugary taste, which can be disappointing. After testing this recipe multiple times, I’m proud to say it’s even better than what I get at my favorite restaurant! It’s a hit with everyone I’ve shared it with. By measuring ingredients accurately and following simple steps, you can create an authentic, restaurant-quality dish that will wow your guests.
3 Simple Tips
Coating (The Batter): The secret to crispy beef lies in its batter — just two ingredients: corn starch or potato starch and an egg. Corn starch is essential because it creates that light, airy crunch you want in a crispy coating. Avoid plain all-purpose flour, as it contains gluten, which can make the coating soggy and less crisp.
The Marinade: Select a tender steak cut such as sirloin, tenderloin, rib-eye, or rump steak for best results. Marinate the beef strips with soy sauce, ginger-garlic paste, sesame oil, sugar, and white pepper for depth of flavor. If you opt for a tougher cut of meat, tenderize it by adding a small amount of baking soda and corn starch to the marinade — a traditional Chinese velveting technique that keeps the beef juicy and tender.
Cutting the Steak: It’s crucial to slice the beef against the grain to maximize tenderness. Examine the meat’s grain direction, then cut thin strips perpendicular to it. This ensures every bite is tender and easy to chew.
Crispy Chilli Beef Sauce: For the perfect sweet chilli sauce, combine soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and ketchup as a base, then add sweet chilli sauce to bring a vibrant kick. Popular brands like Blue Dragon or Mae Ploy are easy to find in most supermarkets and work wonderfully in this recipe.
This Dish is Very Versatile
Crispy Chilli Beef is extremely flexible and can be served in a variety of ways. Toss the crispy beef strips simply with sweet chilli sauce and serve as a flavorful snack or appetizer. Alternatively, add vegetables like broccoli or carrots for a more balanced meal. You can even create a refreshing crispy beef salad by mixing the beef with your favorite crunchy veggies. This recipe adapts well to whatever you have on hand.
How to make Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe
Start by cutting the steak into thin strips against the grain for tenderness.
Mix the marinade ingredients thoroughly, then coat the beef strips and allow them to rest for at least 15 minutes. The longer you marinate, the deeper the flavor.
Next, combine all the sauce components in a bowl and set aside.
Beat an egg into the marinated beef and mix well.
Coat the beef strips evenly with corn or potato starch, making sure they remain separated to avoid clumping.
Heat oil to about 350°F (175°C) and deep fry the coated beef strips for 1-2 minutes until they turn golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels or a wire rack.
Sauté the sliced onion and bell pepper in a hot pan with a little oil for a few seconds.
Add the fried beef strips, pour in the sauce, then toss in spring onions and fresh chilies. Stir everything together on high heat for 1-2 minutes to combine and heat through.
Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
How to Serve This Dish
Crispy Chilli Beef can be served as an appetizer or a main course. It pairs beautifully with a hot cup of Chinese tea or your favorite cold beverage. For a complete meal, enjoy it alongside steamed rice, fried rice, or stir-fried noodles. It also works well as a tasty savory snack to share.
More of My Delicious Chinese Stir Fry Recipes
If you love this recipe, you might also enjoy:
- Beef and Broccoli (with a rich homemade stir fry sauce)
- Beef and Noodles Stir Fry (a hearty steak noodle dish)
- Orange Chicken (a homemade version better than takeout)
- Salt and Chilli Chicken (crispy fried chicken with a spicy seasoning)
Recipe
Crispy Chilli Beef with Sweet Chilli Sauce
Tender fried beef steak strips tossed in a vibrant sweet chilli sauce, perfect for a quick and delicious Chinese-style meal.
Servings: 2
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 200g Rump or Sirloin steak (or other tender cut)
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup Corn or Potato Starch (flour)
- ½ Sweet Onion
- ½ Bell Pepper
- 2-3 Spring Onions
- 2-3 Bird’s Eye or Hot Chilies
Marinade for Beef:
- 1 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- ½ tsp Sugar
- ¼ tsp White pepper
Stir Fry Sauce:
- 3 tbsp Sweet chilli sauce
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Light soy sauce
- 1 tsp Vinegar (white or rice vinegar)
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- ½ tsp Salt
Instructions
- Slice the beef thinly against the grain. Combine all marinade ingredients and coat the beef strips. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
- Mix the stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Beat the egg into the marinated beef and stir well.
- Coat each beef strip with corn or potato starch, making sure they are separated. Shake off excess flour.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and deep fry the beef strips for 1-2 minutes until crispy and golden. Drain on paper towels or a wire rack.
- Heat a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of oil, stir fry onions for a few seconds, then add bell pepper and continue stirring.
- Add the crispy beef strips, pour over the sauce, then add spring onions and fresh chilies. Stir everything together on high heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy immediately with steamed rice or noodles.