• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Asian Food » Kung Pao Beef

Published: December 30, 2020 Last Modified: December 30, 2020 By Sara 13 Comments

Kung Pao Beef

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
This kung pao beef is a combination of thinly sliced steak, bell peppers, onions and roasted peanuts, all in a savory and spicy sauce.

This kung pao beef is a combination of thinly sliced steak, bell peppers, onions and roasted peanuts, all in a savory and spicy sauce. A remake of the popular take out classic that’s even better than what you’d get at a restaurant.

I like to recreate my family’s favorite Chinese dishes at home, including beef and broccoli, Szechuan chicken, and kung pao beef. This stir fry is so easy to make, and is perfect served over steamed rice.

This kung pao beef is a combination of thinly sliced steak, bell peppers, onions and roasted peanuts, all in a savory and spicy sauce. This kung pao beef is a combination of thinly sliced steak, bell peppers, onions and roasted peanuts, all in a savory and spicy sauce.

Kung pao beef with peppers and peanuts in a saute pan.

I have been ordering kung pao beef at my local Chinese restaurant years – I love the combination of the flavorful steak and crunchy vegetables in a spicy sauce. I’ve since learned to make this dish at home, and now instead of picking up the phone to call for take out, I have my favorite meal on the table in no time at all.

What is kung pao beef?

This dish is a popular Chinese stir fry featuring dried red chili peppers, savory peanuts and a variety of colorful veggies. Kung pao is thought to have come from the Sichuan province in China, and is now found in restaurants all over the world. The original version features Sichuan peppercorns, which gives it a unique flavor and tingling heat, but in this case we’re using ingredients that can be easily located at major grocery stores.

Thinly sliced flank steak coated in corn starch and seasonings.

How do you make kung pao beef?

Start by thinly slicing flank steak, then coat the pieces of meat with corn starch, salt and pepper. Cook the beef in a pan until it is golden brown. Take the meat out of the pan and cook the veggies until they’re tender. Next, add the steak back into the pan with the veggies and stir in the chili peppers and peanuts. Whisk together the sauce ingredients, then pour the mixture over the meat and vegetables. Once the sauce is thickened, serve the dish and enjoy.

Cooked sliced beef in a skillet.

Tips for this recipe

  • This recipe works with with other types of meat such as diced chicken breasts or thighs, or even shrimp.
  • I place my steak in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before I slice it. This firms up the meat which makes it much easier to get those ultra thin cuts.
  • No flank steak on hand? You can use a different cut of meat such as New York strip or sirloin.
  • Dried red chilies provide the heat and a mild nutty flavor. Most grocery stores sell a variety of dried chilies in the international foods aisle in both the Mexican and Asian areas. I typically use Szechuan chilies or chile de arbol chilies which are a Mexican variety. This dish has a moderate amount of heat. If you prefer a spicier meal, add more chilies or break one open and stir some of the seeds into the stir fry.
  • This dish will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days which makes it a great candidate for meal prep.
  • Feel free to add more vegetables to this dish such as zucchini, water chestnuts, mushrooms or bok choy.

Bell peppers, onions and garlic cooked in a skillet.

Is kung pao beef bad for you?

This type of stir fry is one of the healthier Chinese dishes. It is not breaded or deep fried and it contains lean meat and plenty of vegetables. You can make it even healthier by increasing the amount of vegetables and using just one tablespoon of oil.

Kung pao beef served over a bowl of rice.

Kung pao beef is sure to be a hit with all the Chinese food lovers in your life!

More Asian recipes to try

  • Honey Chicken
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Beef Chow Mein
  • Mongolian Chicken
  • Ginger Chicken

Kung Pao Beef Video

Kung pao beef with peppers and peanuts in a saute pan.
Print Pin
5 from 11 votes

Kung Pao Beef

This kung pao beef is a combination of thinly sliced steak, bell peppers, onions and roasted peanuts, all in a savory and spicy sauce. A remake of the popular take out classic that's even better than what you'd get at a restaurant.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 295kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the stir fry

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil divided use
  • 1 1/4 pounds flank steak thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 green bell pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup onion cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • 4-6 dried red chilies seeded and cut in half (you can use more or less chilies to adjust the heat level to your preference)
  • 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the sauce

  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

For the stir fry

  • Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat. Place the steak in a medium sized bowl with the cornstarch and salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to combine..
  • Place the meat in a single layer in the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. You may have to do this step in batches.
  • Remove the steak from the pan. Cover with foil to keep warm.
  • Pour the remaining vegetable oil into the pan. Add the onion and both types of bell peppers. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are softened.
  • Add the garlic to the pan; cook for an additional 30 seconds. Return the beef to the pan. Stir in the peanuts and chilies.

For the sauce

  • While the meat and vegetables are cooking, make the sauce. Place all of the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined.
  • Add the sauce to the steak mixture and bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute, or until sauce is just thickened. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 788mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Asian Food, Dinner, Featured Recipes

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Miso Salmon
    Creamy Tuscan Chicken »

    Comments

    1. Myriam says

      January 4, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      This is much better than take-out! We enjoyed this very much. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Scott says

      May 5, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      THIS IS FIRE! I am a novice at Chinese food. This was soooooooo good and a beautiful look on the plate.

      Reply
    3. Sophia says

      February 20, 2021 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      Better than take out! We loved this recipe! Thanks

      Reply
    4. wilhelmina says

      January 14, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is outstanding! So delicious and even better than takeout, my family was impressed!

      Reply
    5. Suzy says

      January 14, 2021 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      The best! This is so much better than take out food! We loved it!

      Reply
    6. Natalie says

      January 14, 2021 at 3:28 pm

      5 stars
      One look at your pictures & I’m drooling!! The meat looks so juicy! Kung Pao beef is one of our favorites!

      Reply
    7. Catalina says

      January 9, 2021 at 10:04 am

      5 stars
      It’s so great to make my favorite dish at home! Love Kung Pao Beef!

      Reply
    8. Beth says

      January 8, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      This looks so delicious and tasty! My husband is going to love this!

      Reply
    9. Kevin says

      January 8, 2021 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      This was amazing! I am going to be making it often!

      Reply
    10. Kevin says

      January 8, 2021 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      This is going on my dinner menu! It looks super tasty! Love everything you have packed in there!

      Reply
    11. Jen says

      January 8, 2021 at 6:46 am

      5 stars
      I’ve been trying more and more to make our favorite take out dishes at home and this just jumped to the top of the list to make next. One of our favorites!

      Reply
    12. Erin says

      January 8, 2021 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      I need to try this kung pao beef immediately, it looks so good!

      Reply
    13. Amanda says

      January 7, 2021 at 4:45 pm

      5 stars
      Wow this was so full of flavor and everyone loved every bite!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Grilling Recipes

    BBQ pork chops are bone in pork chops that have been grilled and topped with barbecue sauce.

    BBQ Pork Chops

    A plate of Hawaiian chicken with grilled pineapple.

    Hawaiian Chicken

    A colorful platter of grilled vegetables flavored with garlic and herbs.

    Grilled Vegetables

    Grilled corn on the cob topped with garlic and herb butter on a sheet pan.

    Grilled Corn on the Cob

    These burrito bowls are loaded with marinated grilled chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans and a variety of fun toppings. This recipe will become a dinner time staple at your house!

    Burrito Bowls with Chicken

    A plate full of huli huli chicken and grilled pineapple.

    Huli Huli Chicken

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    A bowl of sweet and spicy firecracker chicken.

    Firecracker Chicken

    Instant Pot pot roast with carrots and potatoes, all topped with parsley.

    Instant Pot Pot Roast

    A plate of baked chicken wings served with ranch dip.

    Baked Chicken Wings

    A plate of grilled salmon fillets garnished with lemon and herbs.

    Grilled Salmon with Garlic and Herbs

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food