Best Ever Hunan-Style Beef Recipe
This Chinese takeout-inspired Hunan beef recipe is exploding with flavor — salty soy sauce, smoky-spicy Fresno peppers, and tangy rice vinegar make for the most incredible stir-fry sauce that I could slurp up with a spoon! The perfectly silky Hunan sauce coats every nook and cranny of the broccoli, bell peppers, and onions, and water chestnuts. The variety of veggies provide that irresistible crunch I love in hearty stir-fries like this one. And I can’t forget the beef! Thinly sliced flank steak is briefly marinated in a mixture of sesame oil and soy sauce before being seared over high heat in a sizzling skillet. The beef cooks through in a flash, which is what keeps it so tender. If your usual takeout order is Mongolian beef or Szechuan beef, you NEED to try this Hunan beef at home! It has a similar flavor profile, but is uniquely salty, sweet, and tangy. It makes for perfect planned leftovers and the recipe can easily be scaled up and customized using whatever veggies you have on hand!
What Is Hunan Beef?
Hunan beef comes from — you guessed it! — the Hunan province of China, which is located in the southern part of the country. The region is known for its spicy and sour dishes, and Hunan recipes typically feature plenty of chiles. Authentic Hunan beef is made with dried smoked beef, a blend of chile peppers, and fermented black beans. As delicious as authentic Hunan beef is, most of us can’t get our hands on most of the traditional ingredients needed in hunan cuisine to make it where we live so consider the recipe I’m sharing in this post a Hunan-inspired beef recipe. Chinese takeout-style Hunan beef is made with thinly sliced flank steak, stir-fry vegetables, and a sweet and tangy sauce. And this version beats my local takeout restaurant by a mile!
Hunan Beef Ingredients
This better-than-takeout version of Hunan beef uses ingredients you can easily find in your local grocery store. If you don’t typically cook Asian-inspired recipes at home and are wondering whether some of the following ingredients are worth stocking up on, the answer is YES! I have tons of Asian-inspired recipes on my site that use ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and chile paste. There are really no substitutes for these ingredients, and without them your stir fry will lack that salty-sweet, deeply umami flavor that Hunan-inspired food is known for!
For the Marinade and Stir-fry:
To make the beef and veggie stir-fry, gather the following ingredients:
Low-sodium soy sauce Corn starch Sesame oil Flank steak Olive oil Fresno peppers – They’re just slightly spicier than jalapeños but slightly more fruity in flavor. You can sub with jalapeños if needed. Broccoli florets Bell peppers White onion Green onions Water chestnuts Garlic Sesame seeds
For the Hunan Sauce:
To make the silky Hunan-style sauce, you’ll need:
Beef broth (reduced sodium recommended) Low-sodium soy sauce Oyster sauce Chili paste (I use Sambal Oelek) Cornstarch Rice vinegar Light brown sugar
Note: All ingredients amounts are listed in the recipe card section when you keep scrolling down.
How to Make Hunan Beef
This Chinese takeout-inspired dish takes just 40 minutes to prepare from start to finish! Check out the recipe card at the end of this post for detailed instructions on how to make takeout-style Hunan beef. Below is an overview of this quick and easy stir-fry recipe: Step 1: Briefly marinate the steak. Toss the sliced flank steak in a mixture of cornstarch, light soy sauce, water, and sesame oil. Set that to the side to marinate until you’re ready to cook it. I suggest 30 to 60 minutes. Step 2: Stir-fry the beef. Heat a little oil in a large skillet. Once the oil starts sizzling, add the beef to the pan in an even layer. It needs to cook for just 2 minutes on either side. You might want to set a timer on your phone because 2 minutes goes by quicker than you think! Tip: Don’t crowd the pan and do this in batches! Step 3: Stir-fry the vegetables. Remove the beef from the marinade and set it on a plate. Add a drizzle of oil to the skillet if it looks at all dry, then add the veggies and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Don’t overcook them or else they won’t turn out perfectly crisp-tender! Step 4: Add the sauce. Pour the Hunan sauce over the veggies, then return the beef to the skillet. Keep cooking everything until the sauce thickens up and coats the beef and veggies evenly. Step 5: Garnish and serve. I like to serve the beef stir-fry over rice noodles, cauliflower rice, or steamed white rice. Garnish with additional green onions and sesame seeds, then dig in!
Storage Instructions
You’ll want to store the beef and veggies in an airtight container. Leftovers will last up to five days in the refridgeator. I do not recommend freezing this recipe, as the veggies will change texture once frozen and I don’t imagine them reheating well. If you made rice or noodles to go with the beef, take care to store them in a separate container so the sauce doesn’t make anything soggy.
What to Serve with Hunan Beef
Treat yourself to an Asian-inspired feast by pairing your homemade Hunan beef with one or more of the following:
Steamed white, brown, or cauliflower rice Boiled rice noodles Fried Rice (omit the chicken) Fresh Spring Rolls Mango Teriyaki Salad (omit the chicken) Sweet and Sour Mushroom Soup Edamame Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
More Easy Better-Than-Takeout Recipes:
P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef (Copycat) – The recipe comes together in 20 minutes, it’s EASY, and makes for a great weeknight meal! Even picky eaters will love this, and any leftover sauce can be served over rice. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry Bowls — These EASY Chinese-inspired Mongolian beef stir-fry bowls are ready in just 10 minutes!! Loaded with rich savory flavor, crisp-tender vegetables, and served over rice! Faster than calling for takeout when you’re craving Asian food!! Better-Than-Takeout Beef and Broccoli — It really is BETTER than takeout and it’s definitely FASTER!! This EASY Chinese restaurant copycat recipe is a family favorite that’ll go into your regular rotation!! 15-Minute Sheet Pan Chinese Beef and Broccoli — EASY, HEALTHIER than going out for Chinese because it’s baked, and FASTER than calling for takeout!! So much FLAVOR in this family favorite! It’ll go into your regular rotation!! Teriyaki Steak Tips — Tri-tip steak tips are cooked to perfection and then topped with a thick and sticky homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce! P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Copycat Recipe} – Skip the restaurant version and make at home in 20 minutes! Easy, healthier because you’re controlling the ingredients, and they taste way better! Easy Better-Than-Takeout Shrimp Fried Rice — One-skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll never get takeout again!! Homemade tastes WAY BETTER!! Tons more flavor, not greasy, and loaded with tender shrimp!! Easy Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice – One-skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll never want takeout again after tasting how good homemade is! Way more flavor, not greasy, and loads of juicy chicken! Easy 15-Minute Sweet and Sour Chicken – Faster, easier, healthier, and tastes better than takeout or a restaurant! Perfect balance of sweet yet sour Asian flavors that the whole family will love! Better-Than-Takeout Cashew Chicken – Juicy chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and crunchy cashews coated with the best garlicky soy sauce!! Skip takeout and make your own restaurant-quality meal that’s easy, ready in 20 minutes, and healthier!! Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken — Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! Kung Pao Chicken — An easy, BETTER-THAN-TAKEOUT recipe with juicy chicken and such a flavorful sauce!! Don’t call for takeout when you can make this HEALTHIER version at home in 20 minutes! Healthier Orange Chicken – Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this HEALTHIER orange chicken at home in less than 10 minutes!! EASY, authentic, and so INCREDIBLE that you’ll never miss the fat and calories!! Peanut Chicken with Peanut Noodles – Easy, ready in 20 minutes, tastes better, and way healthier than takeout! Peanut sauce automatically makes everything taste amazing! Chicken Stir-Fry with Noodles — Skip takeout and make this EASY stir fry that’s ready in 15 minutes!! Loaded with juicy chicken, crisp-tender veggies, comforting noodles, and Asian-inspired flavors! Perfect for busy weeknights! Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl — This egg roll in a bowl is easy, ready in 15 minutes, full of flavor, has lots of texture, and is healthier than actual egg rolls!
