My hot and spicy beef recipe is a delicious Chinese takeout copycat you can make at home! This spicy beef stir fry is easy to make, with ingredients you can find in regular grocery stores. Thinly sliced beef, peppers, and onions, come together with a savory sauce you’re going to love. Serve this beef and pepper stir fry over rice or ramen noodles and savor this Asian-inspired dinner idea! 

🥡 Hot and Spicy Beef Ingredients 

What is spicy beef made of? Here is what you need to make this recipe: 

• 1 lb boneless sirloin, sliced into thin strips 
• 1 each: red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion 
• 3 tablespoons oil, divided (sesame oil or peanut oil) 
• Sesame seeds, sliced scallion greens, red pepper flakes (for serving) 

And here are the ingredients for the sauce: 

• ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce 
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 
• 2 tablespoons beef broth 
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (cider vinegar may be substituted) 
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, tightly packed 
• 2 teaspoons sambal oelek 
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch 
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced 
• Black pepper, to taste 

Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post, or keep reading for step-by-step instructions. 

You can use the red pepper flakes to vary the heat in individual servings after cooking. If you don’t eat beef, you can substitute strips of pork or chicken in this recipe. Just make sure to cook them thoroughly. 

What is the best cut of beef for a Chinese stir fry?

I like using top sirloin steak for the spicy beef strips here. It’s lean, easy to slice, full of flavor, and cooks perfectly in stir fries. Flank steak may also be cut into thin slices and used. Don’t use a cut of beef that requires low and slow cooking (such as stew meat) in a stir fry. 

⭐ How to Make Hot and Spicy Beef 

Here’s how to make my spicy stir fry beef: 

1. Whisk the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside. 

2. Slice the beef across the grain and cut the bell peppers and onions into strips. 

3. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over high heat in a large skillet or wok. Cook the beef in a single layer in two batches for 2-3 minutes per side. (Use another tablespoon of oil for the second batch.) The beef should be brown outside and pink inside. Set it aside on a plate. 

4. Heat the final tablespoon of oil in the pan. Add the vegetables, and saute for 1-2 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium-high and add the sauce. Stir fry until the sauce boils and thickens. It should only take 1-2 minutes. 

5. Add the beef and cook for one more minute. To serve, garnish with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and red pepper flakes. 

Like many beef Chinese food dishes, this recipe is tasty served over rice. Store this beef stir fry in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Alternatively, freeze it for longer storage. 

What is the difference between Szechuan and Mongolian beef?

Szechuan beef and Mongolian beef both typically have a soy sauce-based sauce, but Szechuan beef is spicier. Sichuan peppercorns are the special ingredient in a Szechuan beef recipe to make it spicy hot, and sometimes dried chili peppers are used. Mongolian beef tends to be sweeter and may contain brown sugar. 

👨🏾‍🍳‍ More Beef Recipes 

• Air Fryer Roast Beef 
• Beef Chuck Riblets Recipe 
• Old Fashioned Beef and Vegetable Soup 
• Air Fryer Beef Stew 
• Trader Joe’s Beef and Broccoli 
• Beef Yakisoba 
• Instant Pot London Broil 

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