Garlic Hunan Beef

4 servings
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Garlic Hunan Beef is a favorite Chinese takeout dish with bold flavor! Stir-fry steak in a spicy sauce with garlic, ginger and chili peppers.

From Orange Chicken to Mongolian Beef to this Hunan Beef recipe, you can easily recreate Chinese takeout at home. Marinate the Beef while you are at work for a quick Dinner ready in less time than it takes to order delivery.

If you’re a fan of bold and vibrant flavors, you are going to love this easy mouthwatering stir fry dish. Garlic Hunan Beef is a Chinese takeout favorite that combines tender slices of beef, aromatic garlic and ginger, and a fiery, peppery kick. You can easily adjust the spice level with more or less chili peppers, depending on how family friendly you want to make this tasty dish.

Garlic Hunan Beef is a spicy stir fried beef with garlic, ginger and thai chilies, this dish is one of the most popular Chinese food dishes you'd order at your favorite authentic restaurant.

The best part about making Garlic Hunan Beef at home is that it’s surprisingly easy to prepare. The steps are straightforward, and with a little marinating time and a quick stir-fry, you’ll have a flavorful meal on the table in no time. You will need a couple special ingredients, Shaoxing wine and Thai chili peppers, but they are common in Asian cooking so they are sold in most regular grocery stores.

Garlic Hunan Beef is a well-loved Chinese dish that brings together the vibrant flavors of Hunan cuisine. With its tender beef, aromatic garlic and ginger, and a touch of heat from Thai bird chiles, this recipe is sure to impress your family, friends and taste buds. The flavorful beef and sauce go great with a side of White Rice and Roasted Broccoli so the mouthwatering, layers of flavor of Garlic Hunan Beef can shine.

What is Garlic Hunan Beef?

Garlic Hunan Beef is a classic Chinese stir-fry dish that showcases the vibrant flavors of Hunan cuisine. It features thinly sliced flank steak, marinated in a mixture of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, black pepper, Shaoxing wine, and Thai bird chiles. The beef is then stir-fried and tossed with a thickened sauce made from the reserved marinade. 

What is the difference between Hunan Beef and Szechuan Beef?

While both Hunan Beef and Szechuan Beef are popular Chinese dishes, they differ in terms of flavor profiles and spice levels. Garlic Hunan Beef reflects the bold, spicy, and smoky flavors that Hunan cuisine is known for thanks to the garlic, ginger, and Thai bird chiles. Szechuan Beef typically incorporates a fiery, numbing heat compared to Hunan Beef and highlights the unique aroma and tongue-tingling sensation of Szechuan peppercorns.

How to Make Garlic Hunan Beef

  • Marinate: Combine the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, black pepper, wine, chili pepper flakes, and cornstarch in a large ziplock bag. Mix everything well then add the beef slices to the sauce. Marinate the beef strips for at least two hours in the fridge.
  • Cook: Heat the canola oil over high heat in a wok or large skillet. Add the beef strips to the wok, reserving the marinade. Brown the meat for 30 seconds on each side.
  • Finish: Stir the marinade into the cooked beef strips. Cook until the sauce thickens, about another 30 seconds. Serve the beef strips and sauce over rice with steamed broccoli. 
Garlic Hunan Beef is a spicy stir fried beef with garlic, ginger and thai chilies, this dish is one of the most popular Chinese food dishes you'd order at your favorite authentic restaurant.

Delicious Chinese Side Dishes

FAQs for Garlic Hunan Beef

Is it worth it to get a Wok?

You probably think you won’t get a lot of use from a wok, but once you buy it you’ll find yourself looking for more recipes just to use it! Woks are amazing for quick, high temperature stir-fry dishes and even deep frying. It also helps you make large quantities of food quickly since the depth and size of the pan allows for quick tossing.

What’s the difference between Hunan and Sichuan (Szechuan) cooking?

Hunan and Sichuan (Szechuan) cooking are both renowned styles of Chinese cuisine, but they differ in their flavor profiles and spice levels. Hunan cuisine is known for its bold, spicy flavors, often featuring the intense heat of chili peppers, along with smoked and sour flavors. Sichuan cuisine, on the other hand, is famous for its numbing and spicy flavors, thanks to the generous use of Szechuan peppercorns.

What does Garlic Hunan Beef taste like?

Garlic Hunan Beef is a flavorful, complex dish with a combination of bold and aromatic flavors. It has rich umami flavors from the soy sauce and savory beef flavor, combined with the fragrant pungent notes of garlic and ginger. This is a spicier dish but the spice level is layered from a blend of ground peppercorns and Thai chili peppers.

Key Ingredients

  • Flank Steak: The thinly sliced flank steak is the perfect juicy, tender beef for this quick cooking stir fry dish. Marinate it for at least 2 hours to tenderize it and infuse it with all the flavors, but not more than 48 hours.
  • Garlic and Ginger: Garlic and ginger are aromatic ingredients that add a pungent, bold flavor to the marinade and sauce. You want to use fresh minced ginger and garlic for the boldest flavor.
  • Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is a staple in Chinese cooking and gives the dish a savory umami flavor. Opt for low-sodium soy sauce so your sauce isn’t too salty.
  • Shaoxing Wine: This Chinese rice wine has a robust flavor that is lightly nutty, with caramel and soy sauce notes. If you can’t find Shaoxing wine, look for it in Asian grocery stores or substitute it with rice wine vinegar.
  • Thai Bird Chiles: These small, fiery chiles provide the dish with a gentle kick of heat. Adjust the amount according to your spice tolerance.
  • Black Pepper: It’s important to use coarse ground pepper versus finely ground pepper. Fine pepper will overpower the dish where larger pepper pieces actually add a bit of spicy flavor without being too much. 

Can Garlic Hunan Beef be made ahead of time?

While Garlic Hunan Beef is best enjoyed immediately after cooking, you can prepare some components in advance. Slice the beef and prepare the marinade, then store them separately in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to cook, simply combine the beef with the marinade and proceed with the recipe. You can also marinate the beef for up to 48 hours, however it’s best used in the first 24 hours.

Variations

  • Beef: While flank steak works great in stir fry recipes, you can use other cuts like sirloin or ribeye. Just ensure that the meat is thinly sliced against the grain for tender results.
  • Garlic Hunan Chicken: Replace the beef with thinly sliced chicken breast or thigh for a poultry twist on this dish. Chicken needs to be cooked all the way through and cannot just be browned like beef.
  • Garlic Hunan Shrimp: Swap out the beef for peeled and deveined shrimp to create a delightful seafood version. Stir-fry the shrimp separately until pink and opaque, then combine with the sauce and seasonings.
  • Veggies: After you take the beef out of the pan, add a little more oil and stir fry some vegetables until they are crisp tender. Add the sauce and cook another minute or two then finish with the beef. Common stir-fry veggies are mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini.

Instant Pot Garlic Hunan Beef

  • Turn on the saute mode and add the canola oil. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and ginger, and cook until fragrant.
  • Add the sliced flank steak to the Instant Pot and brown it on all sides for about 2-3 minutes. Stir the meat occasionally to ensure even browning.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, black pepper, Shaoxing wine, and crushed Thai bird chiles. Stir the marinade into the beef strips.
  • Cancel the saute mode, close the Instant Pot lid and seal the valve., Set it to manual high pressure cooking. Cook for 8-10 minutes.
  • Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick pressure release. Remove the beef strips from the cooking liquid, setting it aside.
  • Turn the saute mode on again and add the cornstarch to the reserved marinade in the pot. Stir well to dissolve the cornstarch and cook the sauce until it thickens, usually for about 2-3 minutes.
  • Return the beef strips to the Instant Pot and stir to coat it with the thickened sauce. Allow it to heat through for a minute or two then serve hot.
Garlic Hunan Beef is a spicy stir fried beef with garlic, ginger and thai chilies, this dish is one of the most popular Chinese food dishes you'd order at your favorite authentic restaurant.

More Popular Chinese Takeout Recipes

How to Store

  • Store: To store leftover Garlic Hunan Beef, allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: When reheating, use a skillet or wok over medium until warmed through, adding a splash of water or broth to thin out the sauce if it’s too thick and keep the meat from drying out.
  • Freeze: Place the cooled beef and sauce in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating on the stove top.

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Garlic Hunan Beef

Garlic Hunan Beef is a favorite Chinese takeout dish with bold flavor! Stir-fry steak in a spicy sauce with garlic, ginger and chili peppers. 
Yield 4 servings
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Chinese
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound flank steak , sliced thinly against the grain
  • 1 tablespoon garlic , minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger , minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup Shaoxing wine
  • 2 dry Thai bird chiles , de-stemmed and crushed
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • sesame seeds for garnish , optional

Instructions

  • In a large ziploc bag add the steak, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, black pepper, wine, chilies, and cornstarch.
  • Marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
  • Heat your wok on high and add the canola oil.
  • Remove the beef from the marinade (reserve the marinade) and add to the wok.
  • Cook the beef for 30 second on each side until caramelized.
  • Add in the reserved marinade and stir to combine until thickened, 15-30 seconds.
  • Serve immediately with steamed broccoli and rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 564mg | Potassium: 441mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg
Keyword: Chinese garlic beef, Chinese hunan beef, Garlic Hunan Beef
Garlic Hunan Beef finished served over rice on a plate.

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

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Comments

  1. Hello! I’m making the marinade right now but wanted to double check that the ginger in your recipe is fresh ginger. So if I wanted to use ground ginger I should use 1 tsp instead of 1 tbsp? Just checking. I looked at all the garlic beef recipes online and yours looked the best by far. I’m looking forward to cooking it later tonight after it marinates!

  2. I have the meat marinating but, I’m using flat iron steak…it’s very similar recipe to ginger beef. I’m going use white onions instead…dry heat..no oil…then ginger green beans on the side.

  3. This came out well although I made a few mistakes. I tripled the recipe because I had 3 lbs of frozen flank steak from Costco and didn’t want to re freeze any. I sliced it thin while it was semi frozen and marinated it. When I went to cook it, I put all of it in the wok. It would have been better cooked in batches. Also the meat hadn’t completely thawed so it made sort of a soupy sauce. I used snow peas because I didn’t have broccoli. Next time I will follow the recipe exactly, but my version was still very good.

    1. Oh yes, slicing when frozen is great but you want to be sure it thaws and isn’t wet when you marinade since that is a lot of extra water. Also cooking in one big batch steamed the meat instead of searing it. Glad you still enjoyed it though!

  4. Garlic. That’s all I need to know. I love it in anything and everything, and this will fit the bill nicely!

  5. This looks so delicious. I know what I am going to make for dinner this weekend. Thanks for the great recipe.

  6. YUM! It looks like beef and broccoli with a KICK! I might have to make this for dinner this weekend! THANK YOU!

  7. I wouldn’t be able to choose between Tony Roma’s and Panda Inn. This recipe looks so much like the one at Panda Inn. Very cool.

    1. They were actually only a block apart back in the day, you could stand outside one and see the other. Both with giant lines coming out of them. 🙂

  8. I have always loved garlic Hunan beef. There is a restaurant here called Best China that makes a great version. It is out of the way though so I need to try making my own.

  9. That looks amazing. I love dishes like these. Anything with veggies and rice is what I love. Of course I love that it’s healthier too.

  10. I’ve never used a wok but just looking at this dish makes me want to run out and buy one. Thanks for the inspiration!

  11. Anything with garlic is a safe bet with me. I love garlic I throw it in just about everything. I will have to try this recipe.

  12. Oh, my, goodness. This looks BETTER than at the restaurant. Pinned this one to try later. Quick question – where do you find that wine? I’ve seen it in a few authentic Chinese recipes but haven’t looked for it or stumbled across it in stores.

    1. I find it at local Asian grocery stores. In a pinch I would use dry sherry or if you want something non alcoholic, I would suggest grape juice/vinegar in a 3:1 ratio 🙂

        1. I’m not quite sure what Serling steak is but if it’s tender enough, you can definitely use it. Just make sure to cut against the grain. Enjoy!