This Hunan beef is thinly sliced steak that’s stir fried with colorful veggies in a spicy sauce. A take out classic that’s so easy to make in the comfort of your own home!

My family is crazy about Chinese food, they always request that I make beef and broccoli, crab rangoon and this savory and spicy Hunan style beef dish.

Hunan Beef Recipe | Beef Stir Fry #beef #stirfry #dinner #broccoli #dinneratthezoo Hunan Beef Recipe | Beef Stir Fry #beef #stirfry #dinner #broccoli #dinneratthezoo

Hunan beef with vegetables in a spicy sauce.

Whenever I go to my local Chinese restaurant, I always order the Hunan beef. The combination of  steak and veggies in spicy sauce just can’t be beat! This homemade version is actually quite simple to make; add a side of steamed rice and watch the rave reviews come in!

What is Hunan beef?

Hunan beef comes from the Hunan province of China. That province is in the southern central region of China. The Hunan province is known for spicy and sour sauces. This region is also known for its vegetables and crops. Hunan beef is a flavorful way to showcase the hot and sour flavors of the Hunan region and to enjoy a hearty serving of veggies. You can control the heat in this dish by adjusting the amount of chili paste to your taste preferences.

Thinly sliced steak in a pan.

How do you make Hunan beef?

This recipe starts with flank steak, which is browned in a pan. The meat is removed and a selection of colorful veggies goes into the pan. A simple sauce is made by mixing together soy sauce, oyster sauce, beef broth and chili paste. The sauce is poured over the meat and vegetables and simmered until thickened. Serve, and enjoy!

Broccoli florets, baby corn, bell peppers and celery in a skillet.

Tips for Hunan Beef

  • Cut all your vegetables into similar sized pieces so that they cook in the same amount of time.
  • You can use your favorite chili paste for this recipe. I typically use sambal oelek, which can be found in the ethnic foods aisle of most grocery stores. You can also use hot chili oil, chili garlic sauce, or even sriracha.
  • Cook the meat in one layer so that it browns nicely –  if you overcrowd the pan, the meat will steam instead of brown. You will want to cook the steak in batches which is a little more work, but totally worth it.
  • I love to add baby corn to my Asian food dishes. Baby corn is found in cans and jars, and can be found in the canned vegetable aisle or the ethnic foods aisle.

A serving spoon in a pan full of Hunan beef.

What is Hunan sauce made of?

Hunan sauce is made of beef broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste and cornstarch. These ingredients make a rich and flavorful sauce that coats the beef and vegetables. This recipe is written with 2 teaspoons of chili paste which makes for a moderately spicy sauce. If you like a spicier sauce, feel free to adjust up to 1 tablespoon of chili paste.

A bowl of Hunan beef stir fry over rice.

Beef Stir Fry variations

This recipe is flavorful and tasty; however, you can make some modifications if you choose.

  • Veggies: You can use other vegetables in this dish such as carrots, snow peas, water chestnuts, bok choy or mushrooms.
  • Meat: Instead of beef, you can make this recipe with thinly sliced chicken or pork.
  • Nuts: Try adding a handful of cashews or sliced almonds for added crunch.

Hunan beef is a tasty way to enjoy beef and fresh vegetables with a spicy kick!

More great Asian recipes

5 from 15 votes

Hunan Beef

AuthorSara Welch
Hunan beef with vegetables in a spicy sauce.
This Hunan beef is thinly sliced steak that's stir fried with colorful veggies in a spicy sauce. A take out classic that's so easy to make in the comfort of your own home!
Time
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine Asian
Serves 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound flank steak thinly sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup broccoli florets cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup celery thinly sliced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper cored, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup canned baby corn drained and halved
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons chili paste such as sambal oelek
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions 

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat.
  • Add the steak to the pan in a single layer and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Cook in multiple batches if needed.
  • Remove the beef from the pan and place on a plate. Cover to keep warm.
  • Add the broccoli, celery and bell pepper to the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the baby corn. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
  • Add the beef back to the pan with the vegetables.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste and cornstarch.
  • Pour the sauce over the steak and vegetables; bring to a simmer. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Serve immediately over rice if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1007mg | Potassium: 639mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1165IU | Vitamin C: 62.9mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Hello! I’m Sara!

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5 from 15 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Comments

    1. I haven’t tested this recipe in a slow cooker so I’m not sure if it would work! I’d be concerned that the vegetables would get mushy in the time it takes for the meat to cook and get tender.

  1. I made this tonight and LOVED it! Very flavourful. A hint of spice but not too spicy. I added baby corn but other than that followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely be making this again!

  2. 5 stars
    My favorite local Chinese place just closed due to the pandemic and I REALLY miss their Hunan beef, so I found this recipe. Made it a few days ago and it turned out GREAT — it tastes VERY similar to what I got at my local restaurant.
    For veggies I used carrots (cooked them about 30 minutes in advance, otherwise they would have been way too firm), broccoli, sweet onions, water chestnuts, and baby corn, and they were delicious in this dish. It was the first time I’d ever used flank steak but it turned out very well. Oh, I did make LOTS of extra sauce — I made half the recipe (I usually do that the first time trying a new recipe, just in case!) EXCEPT I made the “full measure” of the sauce and that was about right. (We like sauce!)
    Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe!

  3. 5 stars
    Very simple and delicious. Iโ€™m always looking for ways to use Veggies before they go bad and this was perfect. I doubled the sauce and it was perfect! I will be adding this to our favorites

  4. 5 stars
    This colorful meal will be a winner of the table during our upcoming adult party. Sounds yummy and delicious! Thanks for sharing.

  5. 5 stars
    Super YUMMM! Love this easy, delicious recipe and can’t wait for lunch leftovers ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing!

  6. 5 stars
    This is my favorite recipe to order when we eat out! So delicious and easy too! Excited to stir this up tonight for dinner!

  7. 5 stars
    This Hunan Beef recipe with the veggies is so colorful and delicious. So much better than takeout.