Kung Pao Beef

Kung Pao Beef is a classic Chinese recipe with tender beef, roasted peanuts, and crisp vegetables in a flavorful spicy Kung Pao sauce. This homemade steak recipe is simple, quick, & easy. It's a healthy, delicious dinner that's ready in less than 20 minutes.

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If you love spicy Chinese food, you already know all about Kung Pao. It's one of my favorites from Panda Express.

Except, I've been trying to eat healthier which means making more at home and eating less takeout.

This recipe is so simple and so easy and so tasty that you'll never order it again. What you make at home will be so much better.

What is Kung Pao Beef?

Kung Pao Beef is not actually an authentic Chinese dish, and that's why you don't see it on more restaurant menus. It's really a westernized adaptation of the super spicy Kung Pao Chicken dish that originated in the Szechaun province after being named after a governor in the 1800s.

Kung Pao Beef has become popular in America because of its sweet, savory and nutty flavors and its mouth-numbing heat.

Kung Pao Beef is sometimes compared to Mongolian Beef, the Taiwanese barbecue dish made famous by the restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s. However, Mongolian Beef has much milder flavors and does not use nuts or vegetables other than green onions.

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Why You'll Love This Kung Pao Beef Recipe

Incredible Flavors: This recipe is a blissful combination of peppery, hot, deliciously rich, sweet, and savory flavors.

Packed With Delicious Healthy Ingredients: This recipe is wonderfully tasty and good for you. 

Quick And Easy To Make: You’ll be amazed at how simple and fast this kung pao recipe is.

Easy To Adapt: It’s a highly versatile recipe that can be adapted to suit your tastes and requirements. 

Delicious Leftovers: It’s easy to store, and the dish comes together even better the next day, making leftovers a delight!

What you'll need to make Kung Pao Beef

EQUIPMENT

• 1 Wok

INGREDIENTS

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You can find measurements and more information in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

For the steak

• Beef flank steak - If you would like to try another type of meat for this recipe, go ahead. Any type of thinly sliced meat will work well. Flank steak is what appears in my photos, but you can use sirloin or another cut of steak. I tested this recipe with ground beef and it came out like a great Asian-style sloppy joe (except spicy!). And of course, you can use chicken, turkey, and even seafood like shrimp or scallops.
• Cornstarch - You can use flour in place of cornstarch.
• Baking soda - The baking soda helps the beef get nice and brown without releasing its moisture. (Learn more about that here.)

Kung Pao Sauce Ingredients

• Apple cider vinegar - You can replace this with another type of vinegar, though the taste will be different. Rice wine vinegar is especially nice.
• Honey - Maple syrup or agave nectar is a good replacement for the honey.
• Fish sauce - Oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, or low sodium soy sauce can all be used instead of fish sauce. Be aware that the hoisin sauce and soy sauce aren’t as strong, so you might want to use a little more.
• Hot sauce - I used half Frank's RedHot Sauce and half sriracha, but pick whatever is your favorite. The sriracha will give the final dish the most authentic flavor.
• Cornstarch
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Ground ginger

For the stir fry

• Vegetable oil - Make sure the oil you're using is good for high temperatures.
• Red chili peppers - If you grocery store doesn’t carry whole dried red chilis, I used these from Amazon. You can use red pepper flakes as a substitute (¼-½ teaspoon, depending on your spice preference).
• Scallions - You'll want to slice these at an angle for a pretty look at the end. Also, you need 2 whole scallions for the recipe plus an additional one or two for a garnish.
• Green bell pepper - You'll want to slice this in long strips.
• Dry roasted peanuts - Roughly chop these.
• Salt - This is optional and only necessary if you taste the beef and think it needs it.

Kung Pao Beef ingredient variations

You can use whatever you want in the stir fry, including broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, celery, green beans, and other colors of bell peppers.

How to make the best Kung Pao Beef recipe

1. Coat the beef flank steaks in cornstarch and baking soda then set aside. (An easy way to do this is by placing both in a plastic bag and shaking it so that the cornstarch coats all the pieces.)
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2. In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, honey, fish sauce, hot sauce, cornstarch, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground ginger. Set aside for now.
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3. Add the vegetable oil to a wok or large skillet over medium high heat.
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4. Once hot, add the beef and cook until done, about 1-2 minutes on each side. (See note below.)
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5. When you place the beef in the pan, do not move it around for the first 1-2 minutes so you can get a nice brown crust.
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6. Remove beef and cook dried chilis for no longer than one minute.
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7. Add the scallions, green bell pepper, peanuts, and beef.
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8. Stir and cook all together for 1 minute.
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9. Add in the sauce.
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10. Cook for another two minutes.
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11. Plate and serve with chopped green onions as garnish.
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12. Serve over rice. Add salt to taste.

The best technique for Kung Pao Beef

Before cooking the beef, lightly coat all the pieces in cornstarch. Whatever you don’t coat will pop as you are cooking it.

Fry the beef like you would bacon over medium high heat on the wok. Give each side about 30 seconds, using a fork to flip it over. Some of the cornstarch will stick to the pan, which is normal.

It’s important not to overcook your meat as it will become tough when overcooked.

Does Kung Pao beef have to be so spicy?

Kung Pao is spicy. That's part of what it is. However, if you want to try the flavor without the heat, reduce the number of chili peppers to 1 or 2 or leave them out altogther. Will it still be Kung Pao? Not really, but it will still taste good.

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Tips for the best Kung Pao Beef

First, make sure you have all the ingredients prepped and measured before you start. This recipe goes so quickly that the dish will burn if it has to sit on the heat while you prep and measure the next ingredient.

Next, you will want the steak to be sliced super thin. You may find it easiest to partially freeze the beef to make it easier to cut.

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Variations

Homemade Roasted Peanuts: You can make them at home if ready-made roasted peanuts are unavailable. Heat a pan over medium heat, and add raw shelled and skinned peanuts (without any oil). Stir frequently for about 5-10 minutes until golden brown and aromatic. Let them cool before using in the recipe.

Vegetarian Version: For a vegetarian version, replace beef with tofu or tempeh. Press the tofu to remove excess water and cut it into cubes or strips.

Heat: The amount of dried red chilies can be adjusted according to your preference. For a milder dish, reduce the chili peppers or remove the seeds. If you like it hot, double the number of chilies called for in this recipe, or use a hotter type of chili.

Additional Vegetables: Feel free to include vegetables like broccoli, snow peas, or carrots for added nutrition and variety.

Nut Substitutes: If peanuts are not preferred, use cashews or almonds for a different crunch. If you’re not nuts about nuts, just leave them out altogether.

Extra Garnish: Garnish with sesame seeds or chopped fresh cilantro for additional flavor and presentation.

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What to do with leftover Kung Pao Beef

Store your Kung Pao Beef in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze Kung Pao beef. Put it into an airtight container or a plastic freezer bag. It will stay good for 2-3 months. To serve, thaw overnight in the fridge then stir fry in a wok to serve.

Serving suggestions

Traditionally, you should serve this dish on a bed of steamed white rice. Jasmine rice is the ideal type of rice. It’s wonderfully fragrant and has a fluffy texture that perfectly complements the rich sauce and deep taste of kung pao. 

Egg noodles are another excellent pairing option. To absorb the flavors, you can toss them directly into the wok with the beef kung pao.

For a low-carb option, use a vegetable substitute like courgetti or cauliflower rice. Again, this is great for tossing the wok to absorb the flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kung Pao Beef?

Kung Pao Beef is an American-made twist on traditional Chinese kung pao chicken. It typically contains beef, spring onions, Szechuan peppercorns, fresh peppers, garlic, and ginger, together with a whole host of sauces and a scattering of peanuts. It’s a delicious stir fry that’s quick and easy to put together.

Like other Chinese takeout dishes like Mongolian beef, kung pao beef has used a traditional Chinese dish for inspiration, with a slight twist on a classic recipe to create a new favorite.

What’s the Origin of Kung Pao?

A traditional dish in Sichuan cuisine, kung pao originated in southwestern China’s Sichuan region. Still, it’s popular throughout China, with each region putting its own unique spin on it. Kung pao beef is often referred to as gong bao or kung po.

It’s said that the original chicken dish is named after a former governor of Sichuan Province, Ding Baozhen. The dish’s title is a clever pun on his name in Chinese and refers to the small cubes of meat used in the dish.  

Is Kung Pao Beef Spicy?

As it contains chili peppers, kung pao beef is normally quite spicy. However, you can easily adapt kung pao beef to suit your tastes. If you prefer less heat, use less chili than called for in the recipe, or leave it out altogether. If you like it hot, double the chili peppers! 

What’s the Best Cut of Beef to Use for Kung Pao Beef?

For quick stir-fries like this kung pao beef recipe, you can use any of the following:

• Top sirloin steak
• Tenderloin steak
• Flank steak
• Skirt steak
• Denver steak
• Ranch steak 

Are Scallions Good in a Stir Fry?

Yes! They are like little unsung heroes that make a big impact on the dish. Scallions bring a subtle peppery sweetness to kung pao beef. You can, however, replace them with green onion, spring onions, or shallots for this kung pao beef, depending on your preference.

Try these other Asian inspired recipes:

• Mongolian Beef in the Instant Pot
• Mongolian Chicken in the Instant Pot
• Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
• Peanut Sesame Chicken Over Zucchini Noodles
• Healthy General Tso's Chicken with Sautéed Snow Peas
• Beef and Green Beans
• The Best Ever Stir Fry Sauce
• Chicken and Veggies with Peanut Stir Fry Sauce
• Shrimp and Asparagus Stir Fry with Lemon Sauce
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

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