Delicious Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe for a Satisfying Meal

I remember the exact night my family requested Crispy Chilli Beef—my little one had just come home from a friend’s birthday party, raving about the Asian takeaway they’d enjoyed. I wanted to bring that same excitement home without ordering out. The challenge was recreating that crunchy, spicy goodness that sticks in your memory. When I finally nailed my Crispy Chilli Beef recipe, the whole family gathered around the table with smiles and seconds on their plates. Watching their happy faces while sharing this meal reassured me that comfort food inviting everyone together doesn’t have to be complicated.

This Crispy Chilli Beef has since become a dinner staple in our home, especially when days feel too busy or when we crave something a bit more special after a long week. It’s a dish that’s crispy, full of flavors, and quick enough to make without a fuss. This recipe balances that perfect crunchy bite with a sweet and spicy sauce that keeps everyone coming back. If you’ve been on the fence about trying a Crispy Chilli Beef stir fry at home, I’m here to tell you it’s easier than you think. With a few kitchen tips and the right ingredients, you can have a dish that makes mealtime feel like a celebration.

I invite you to try making this Crispy Chilli Beef for your family. Whether it’s a midweek meal or part of a birthday dinner spread, I’m confident this recipe will become one of your recipe favorites too. It’s the kind of meal that brings people together—sparking conversation and creating those easy, warm moments we all want around the dinner table.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for making Crispy Chilli Beef laid out on a table

Here’s a simple, straightforward list for making Crispy Chilli Beef that won’t overwhelm your shopping trip. Trust me, this Crispy Chilli Beef ingredient list keeps things simple without sacrificing flavor!

  • 400g (14 oz) beef strips (flank steak or sirloin work best for this Crispy Chilli Beef)
  • 3 tablespoons cornflour (important for that crispy battered beef with chilli sauce coating)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 egg white (helps crispiness without heaviness)
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying—peanut or canola oils work well)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 red chilli, sliced thin (adjust based on how spicy crispy beef you want)
  • 1 green capsicum, sliced thin (adds crunch and color)
  • 3 spring onions, chopped
  • Sauce:
    • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1-2 teaspoons chili sauce (like Sriracha or chili garlic sauce)

You’ll find everything for this Crispy Chilli Beef at your regular grocery store, even if it’s not an Asian specialty market. Fresh beef and veggies you already pick up can be the base.

Some substitutions for this Crispy Chilli Beef recipe work well too. If you want to swap out the capsicum, you could try thin slices of carrot or snap peas for extra crunch. For the beef, you can use pre-cut stir fry beef strips to save time. If egg whites are a concern, a bit of water mixed into the batter will still give a nice crispness.

For the best Crispy Chilli Beef, I recommend using fresh cornflour and not letting the beef sit in the batter too long before frying. This keeps the batter lighter and crispier. My family prefers when I stick to sirloin here—it cooks quickly and stays tender, which suits our Crispy Chilli Beef perfectly.

Here’s a Crispy Chilli Beef secret that makes all the difference: mixing your sauce ingredients together before you start cooking means everything comes together fast and smoothly when the beef is ready.

How to Make It

Making Crispy Chilli Beef might look tricky at first, but with these steps, you’ll be on your way to a delicious meal that your whole family will love. This Crispy Chilli Beef typically takes me about 30 minutes from start to finish, perfect for dinner after a busy day.

  1. Prepare the beef
    Toss your beef strips in the cornflour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and egg white mixture until fully coated. This batter is the key to the crispy coating that sets this Crispy Chilli Beef apart. Avoid leaving the beef in the batter longer than 10 minutes; otherwise, it gets too soft to crisp up well.
  2. Heat the oil
    Pour your vegetable oil into a deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat. It should be hot enough so that a small drop of batter sizzles immediately. This step ensures your crispy battered beef with chilli sauce will stay crunchy, not greasy.
  3. Fry the beef
    In batches, fry the beef strips until golden and crisp, usually about 3-4 minutes per batch. Don’t overcrowd the pan; your Crispy Chilli Beef needs space to crisp properly. Once done, drain on paper towels.
  4. Prepare the sauce
    While frying, mix the soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, ketchup, sesame oil, and chili sauce. It’s a quick sauce that brings together the sweet and spicy notes classic to Chinese crispy chilli beef.
  5. Stir-fry veggies and garlic
    In a clean pan or wok with a teaspoon of oil, quickly sauté the garlic, red chilli slices, capsicum, and spring onion just until tender-crisp. Your kitchen will smell amazing while this Crispy Chilli Beef cooks.
  6. Combine and toss
    Add the fried beef back into the pan, pour over the sauce, and toss quickly to coat. The sauce should bubble and thicken slightly, glazing your crispy beef with flavor.
  7. Serve immediately
    Your Crispy Chilli Beef is ready when the beef stays crispy but is coated in that glossy chilli sauce. If it looks soggy, a quick extra fry in the beginning helps next time.

Here’s where I used to mess up my Crispy Chilli Beef—when the oil wasn’t hot enough, the batter soaked oil and got soggy. Now I always remember to test the oil’s heat with a tiny drop of batter before frying the rest.

While your Crispy Chilli Beef is cooking, you’ll have time to prepare rice or steamed veggies for a complete meal.

For more tips on getting the crispy texture right, I found this Crispy Chilli Beef stir fry guide from Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary helpful, especially when starting out.

Serving Ideas

Everyone reaches for seconds when this Crispy Chilli Beef comes out with a bed of fluffy jasmine rice and some simple stir-fried greens. The balance between crunchy beef and fresh veggies makes it a hit for both kids and adults at our table.

This Crispy Chilli Beef is perfect for those nights when you want something really satisfying but don’t want to spend hours cooking. It’s also a great dish for casual celebrations or weekend family dinners because it feels special without fuss.

I like to garnish my Crispy Chilli Beef with extra sliced spring onions and some toasted sesame seeds—it makes the presentation look restaurant-worthy and adds a little texture contrast.

Leftovers of crispy battered beef with chilli sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. I reheat them gently in a skillet to keep some crispness, rather than the microwave, which makes them soggy. If you have leftovers, they are perfect for a quick lunch the next day.

Some variations we’ve tried include swapping chili for a milder pepper and adding pineapple chunks for a sweet twist. These changes keep the recipe feeling fresh without losing that crispy chilli beef stir fry vibe.

If your family loves this, they’ll also enjoy the warming Beef Stew and Dumplings recipe over on MomsGate—it’s a comforting dinner perfect for getting everyone around the table another way.

Your Questions Answered

Can I make this Crispy Chilli Beef ahead of time?
Yes! You can prep the beef strips and batter ahead but fry just before serving. The sauce and veggies are best made fresh, so the dish stays crisp and vibrant.

What if I don’t have cornflour?
You could use potato starch or rice flour as a substitute, though cornflour gives the best crispy texture for this Crispy Chilli Beef.

How spicy is this Crispy Chilli Beef?
It depends on your chili. You can adjust the chili amounts or remove seeds to tame the heat. The dish balances spicy and sweet, so it’s versatile for different heat preferences.

Can I use ground beef or mince?
This recipe works best with sliced beef strips for crispiness. For a twist, Crispy Asian Chilli Beef Mince recipes, like the one on Sugar Salt Magic, are excellent too.

What’s the best oil to use for frying?
Vegetable oil with a high smoke point works best—canola and peanut oil are my go-tos for Crispy Chilli Beef frying.

How do I store leftover Crispy Chilli Beef?
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat in a pan to keep the batter crispy.

Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, replace the all-purpose flour with rice flour or gluten-free flour blends and check your soy sauce for gluten-free labeling.

For those wondering about other crispy beef recipes, All Ways Delicious offers a great Crispy Chilli Beef guide with easy tips for weeknight dinners worth checking out.

The Final Word

Finished plate of Crispy Chilli Beef garnished with spring onions and sesame seeds

My Crispy Chilli Beef recipe has earned its place in our family’s meal rotation because it’s dependable, tasty, and brings everyone together. It meets all the needs we have for a dinner: quick enough to fit into busy nights, exciting enough to feel like a treat, and flexible enough for any skill level.

Here are my Crispy Chilli Beef Tips:

  • Always test oil temperature before frying for the perfect crunch.
  • Prep sauce ingredients ahead to streamline the cooking flow.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan so the beef stays crispy.

I’ve tried versions with extra garlic, or switching honey for brown sugar, and even adding toasted sesame seeds for texture. My kids favor it a bit sweeter, while my spouse likes it spicier.

I encourage you to make this Crispy Chilli Beef your own, adapting spices and veggies for what your family enjoys. I hope it turns into a family favorite, too, filled with smiles and good conversation.

If you want inspiration on similar family meals, check out this comforting beef stew and dumplings recipe on MomsGate. And when you’re ready to try a delicious crispy chilli beef stir fry outside your kitchen, Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary has great resources for delicious homemade quick meals.

Enjoy your cooking adventure with Crispy Chilli Beef—it’s a meal worth sharing every time.

Print

Crispy Chilli Beef

Crispy Chilli Beef is a flavorful Asian-inspired dish featuring tender strips of beef fried to a crispy finish and tossed in a spicy, tangy chilli sauce, perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.

  • Author: Lyra Saint
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 3 servings
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Fried
  • Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 300g beef sirloin, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 red chilli, finely sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 3 spring onions, chopped
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, toss the beef strips with beaten egg and cornflour until evenly coated.
  2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the beef in batches and fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove and set aside.
  4. In the same pan, add minced garlic and sliced chilli. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add the red bell pepper and spring onions; stir-fry for 2 minutes.
  6. Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and sugar in a small bowl, then pour into the pan.
  7. Return the crispy beef to the pan and toss everything together to coat the beef in the sauce evenly.
  8. Cook for another 2 minutes until heated through. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
  9. Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.

Notes

For extra heat, add more fresh chillies or a dash of chilli oil. This dish pairs perfectly with jasmine rice or crispy noodles.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!