On the table in 20 minutes these, these Spicy Beef Strips make the perfect weeknight dinner. With tender beef stir-fried in a homemade chili oil sauce, you can skip the takeout and use the crisp chili beef strips over rice or noodles for pure comfort food.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 20 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 4
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 463 kcals and 27 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Beef Sirloin, gluten-free soy sauce, avocado oil, and sesame seeds.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Bold, spicy, and full of flavor, a quick, easy meal that’s as satisfying as it is versatile.
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Save some money on Uber Eats and whip up these spicy beef strips at home instead. This recipe uses a homemade garlic chili oil for maximum heat, and the end result is crispy chili beef strips that are so much better than anything you’ll get at a restaurant.
Plus, it can be ready in about 20 minutes, which is even faster than ordering. Seriously, it’s recipes like this and things like this inside out egg roll recipe, that make it so I never order out.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: On the table in just 20 minutes, this spicy beef recipe is great for chaotic nights.
Flavorful: You’ll get all the flavor of a restaurant meal but without the cost or random ingredients. It’s crunchy, spicy, and totally delicious.
Healthier: The recipe is naturally dairy-free and made gluten-free so long as you buy the right products. No hidden sources of gluten here.
Versatile: With multiple ways to serve and enjoy the chili beef strips, you’ll make the recipe over and over again.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Beef: Quick-cook sirloin works the best for me as it gives a wicked flavor. However, you can use ribeye or flank/skirt steak too. Just make sure to cut them thinly, as otherwise the steak will be too chewy.
- Soy sauce: Make sure it’s gluten-free soy sauce or an alternative like coconut aminos. This is what I use for my garlic teriyaki steak bites recipe, too.
- Arrowroot powder: Cornstarch and tapioca flour work here as well, so use what you have on hand.
- Oil: You need a high-heat oil like avocado oil to make the recipe work.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Below are a few ways we've varied the homemade spicy beef strips to have some variety.
- Honey garlic: Add 1-2 tablespoons of honey to the sauce for a sticky sweet-and-spicy flavor. This tones down the heat slightly and makes the beef strips extra glossy and family-friendly.
- Peanut: Whisk a spoonful of peanut butter into the chili sauce and serve the beef over rice noodles. This is my personal favorite.
- Sweet basil: Toss fresh basil into the skillet right before serving and add a squeeze of lime juice.
How To Make Spicy Beef Strips
Step 1: In a bowl, combine the beef, soy sauce, arrowroot, and salt. Toss it all together and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Step 2: Heat the oil over medium heat and add the garlic, green onion, ginger, and sesame seeds. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Remove the pan from the burner and stir in the chili flakes, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Let it sit while you cook the beef.
Step 4: Add a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over high heat and sear the beef for 2-3 minutes until cooked through.
Step 5: Pour the sauce into the skillet with the beef and let it all simmer for 2-3 minutes until everything is coated.
Step 6: Serve over rice or noodles and sprinkled with green onions.
Expert Tips
To make the beef easy to cut into strips, place it in the freezer for no longer than 30 minutes. When it’s super chilled, slicing is a breeze. You’ll also want to make sure to slice across the grain to maximize tenderness.
Before you add the chili flakes, let the oil cool slightly. This will ensure the flakes don’t burn.
Taste test and adjust. Taste the sauce and add more sugar or soy sauce to the sticky spicy beef strips to balance out the heat if you need to.
How To Serve It
This crispy chili beef can be served in a variety of ways, which actually makes it great for meal prep, just like these slow cooker garlic steak bites.
- Rice: Serve the spicy beef over rice with a splash of kimchi
- Veggies: Add some sliced bell peppers to the skillet in the last few minutes of cooking for a pop of color and nourishment.
- Noodles: We enjoy it most over rice noodles with some sautéed veggies like mushrooms and bok choy.
- As an app: Who says this needs to be a meal? I enjoy this as an appetizer too, to increase my protein.
How To Store Them
Once cooled, the spicy beef strips can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish as the oil separates from the sauce upon thawing.
You can reheat the strips in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, stirring frequently. Or, reheat them in the microwave and stir before eating.
This recipe is amazing for a meal prep lunch because the sauce keeps everything delicious and tender. So, you could easily make a couple of bowls for busy days.
Spicy Beef Strips FAQs
Honestly, any sugar you have on hand will work. I use coconut palm or can sugar but regular sugar, brown sugar, or even maple syrup will give great flavor.
The most common is flank steak or sirloin beef that’s been pre-cut into strips. This is fine but know that any cuts of meat can work.
More Easy Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes
If you tried these Healthy Spicy Beef Strips or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Hot Spicy Beef (Gluten-Free)
Equipment
- Large skillet
Ingredients
For the Beef:
- 1 lb Beef sirloin or flank steak thinly sliced (16 oz | 450 g)
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce m0.5 fl. oz | 15 mlake sure it's gluten-free,
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Avocado oil
For the Homemade Chili Crisp Sauce (Makes ~1 cup):
- ½ cup Avocado oil 4 fl. oz | 120 ml
- 3 Garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon Green onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Fresh ginger grated
- 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoon Red chili flake
- 2 teaspoon Soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- Pinch Salt
For Garnish:
- 1 green onion sliced
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine beef, soy sauce, cornstarch and a small pinch of salt. Toss well and set aside for 5 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic, green onion, ginger and sesame seeds. Cook gently for 3–4 minutes until golden and aromatic. Remove from heat. Stir in chili flakes, soy sauce, sugar and salt. Let sit and infuse while you cook the beef.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet or wok over high heat. Add beef and sear 2–3 minutes until browned and just cooked through. Remove from heat.
- Pour the full amount of chili crisp sauce into the skillet with the beef. Stir and simmer together for 2–3 minutes until everything is glossy and well-coated.
- Top with sliced green onions and serve hot over rice or noodles.
Notes
- For extra crispy beef strips, make sure the skillet is fully hot before adding the beef. A hot pan helps the strips sear quickly instead of steaming.
- Cook the beef in batches if needed. Overcrowding the pan traps moisture and prevents the edges from getting that crisp, restaurant-style texture.
- Taste test and adjust. Taste the sauce and add more sugar or soy sauce to balance out the heat if you need to.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Shelby Stover says
These are one of my favorite meal prep recipes because they're so flavorful and pair well with everything!