Easy Hunan Beef

Why You’ll Love This Hunan Beef Recipe

I enjoy the flavors of Asian-inspired cuisine. But as someone who is gluten free, I can’t just pick up the phone and order it from a restaurant. So I usually make my own, whether it’s a beef stir fry or chicken fried rice. While most of these dishes are fairly quick to make, some involve a few more steps than I have time for on a busy weeknight. Or they might require ingredients that might be a little hard to find.

So I like to take inspiration from authentic versions and make them simple for anyone to prepare and be able to enjoy the essence of the flavors of this dish. And that’s what I did with this Hunan Beef recipe.

You can try an authentic version of Hunan Beef, a traditional dish from China featuring several types of dried and fresh chilies to make it spicy, and learn more about its origins. But if you want to be able to make it super fast when you don’t have a lot of time, I’ve got some shortcuts for you. Here’s why my version might be just what you need:

• Easy to find ingredients. Traditionally it is made with some ingredients that may not be as readily available in your local grocery store. You can get much of the original flavor, but with more common ingredients.
• Quick to prepare. In this recipe, I use a combination of red bell peppers for the texture and a red chili paste known as sambal oelek for the spice in order to give it a little kick, eliminating the time needs to remove the seeds and chop lots of little chilies. Another shortcut is using fully cooked Beef Strips (a common brand is John Soules Foods). Is it already lightly seasoned and cooked, you don’t have to take the time to marinate and brown the meat.
• Easy to make gluten free. The only substitute you have to make is for the soy sauce, and gluten free soy sauce or tamari is now readily available almost anywhere you shop.

Recipe Ingredients

You only need 10 simple ingredients to make this bold Hunan Beef recipe. Then just serve it over rice or cauliflower rice maybe with a few scallions for garnish. You can find the full amounts and detailed instructions further down in the recipe card.

• Beef broth: Adds the savory, rich flavor to the sauce. Be sure the brand you use is gluten free, if needed.
• Soy sauce: Use gluten free soy sauce or tamari, if needed.
• Honey: This adds a hint of sweetness and the thickness you usually get from oyster sauce. Sometimes gluten free oyster sauce can be hard to find.
• Chili paste: A common one is known as sambal oelek. It is usually in the Asian section of most grocery stores.
• Cornstarch: To thicken the sauce.
• Avocado or vegetable oil: You just need a neutral-flavored oil, so use whatever you prefer.
• Fresh broccoli: Cut into small florets so they cook quickly.
• Red bell pepper: Chopped about the size of the broccoli.
• Beef: I use fully cooked beef slices, which you can usually find in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. One brand is John Soules. This streamlines and speeds up the prep.
• Garlic: Minced or crushed with a garlic press.

How to Make Hunan Beef

Here’s a quick overview of the shortcut way to make this traditional recipe, including photos. The complete step-by-step directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Make the Sauce: Whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chili paste, and cornstarch and set aside.
• Saute the Vegetables: Heat oil in a wok or skillet over high heat and cook the broccoli and bell pepper until the vegetables are tender. 

• Heat the Beef: Add the steak slices and garlic and saute for another minute or two.
• Thicken the Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture over the beef and vegetables in the skillet. Toss to coat and simmer until everything has heated through and the sauce has thickened.

• Serve the Hunan Beef. Spoon the beef, veggies, and sauce over your favorite base, whether it’s White Rice or Brown Rice, or maybe you prefer ramen noodles or rice noodles. You can even choose a lower carb option like cauliflower rice or zoodles. Then add a sprinkle of scallions, if desired.

Tips for Success

• Cut It Evenly: To make sure it cooks quickly, you’ll want to cut the broccoli into small florets. Then be sure the peppers are cut a similar size so they cook evenly.
• How to Adjust the Spiciness and Heat: The amount of chili paste in this recipe just gives a subtle kick in the background, making it kid-friendly. But if you really like spice, feel free to add more. You can also substitute the chili paste or red bell peppers with poblanos, Fresno chili peppers, or even dried chili peppers.
• Change it Up: Feel free to use different vegetables like zucchini, green beans, or different color peppers. You can even toss in some water chestnuts or baby corn.

Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Fridge – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer – You can also freeze it for up to 2 months, being sure to cool it completely and seal it tightly to keep out any air and moisture in order to prevent freezer burn. After freezing and thawing, the vegetables will be a little softer. Be sure to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat – Warm it in a skillet over medium heat, stirring gently until heated through. Or transfer it to a microwave-safe container and microwave for severe minutes, stirring occasionally until hot.

More Asian-Inspired Recipes

• Slow Cooker King Pao Cauliflower
• Gluten Free Beef and Broccoli
• Teriyaki Shrimp
• Gluten Free Bao Buns
• Gluten Free Vegetable Pancakes