Beijing Beef Recipe Made In 25 Minutes | Tastes Like Panda Express

This delicious copycat Panda Express Beijing beef recipe combines perfectly cooked seasoned beef with tender sautéed veggies and a satisfying sweet chili sauce that's sure to wow just about anyone who tries it. Plus, it's so, so easy to make. In fact, just 5 simple steps are all you have to follow to make it. And those steps are a breeze to execute, less than 30 minutes is all you need to complete 'em.

The Best Beijing Beef Recipe

If you love Panda Express, you're going to love this copycat Panda Express Beijing beef recipe. It has pan-seared tender beef slices that are tossed in a sweet and spicy Beijing sauce that's almost identical to the one at PE.

And because this recipe is so easy to make, it's going to make you rethink ever waiting in line at Panda Express again!

Honestly, this Beijing beef is so juicy and tender, with just the most incredible flavor. There's really no reason to ever order it out again.

By the way, if you're looking for some tasty sides to go with the beef, you can't go wrong by pairing it with these green beans, or this coconut rice and these sugar snap peas. I especially like to mix the rice and peas into the Bejing beef to make it more of a complete meal. 

Ingredients

One of my favorite things about this homemade Beijing beef recipe is that it uses pretty simple ingredients. I'd be surprised if you didn't have most - if not all - of them at home already. 

Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make the beef and veggies:

• 1 pound Flank Steak, cut into thin slices
• 1 tbsp. Salt
• 2 Egg Whites
• ½ cup Cornstarch
• 1 cup Canola Oil
• ½ Yellow Onion, cut into slices
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, cut into slices
• 1 tbsp. Garlic, minced

And for the Beijing beef sauce:

• ½ cup Water
• ¼ cup Brown Sugar
• 3 tbsp. Ketchup
• ½ cup Hoisin Sauce
• 2 tbsp. Soy Sauce
• 2 tbsp. Sweet Chili Sauce
• 2 tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Seriously, you'll be shocked at how all these flavors come together to make this perfectly seasoned copycat Panda Express Beijing beef. 

By the way, you can use any leftover beef you end up with to make this beef fried rice recipe. So, give that a shot if you end up with some extras.

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

Now, as you may have noticed, this recipe calls for flank steak, which is a great affordable, and versatile cut of beef. But, if you're unable to locate flank steak at your grocery store, here are some of the best substitutes that you can choose from:

• Hanger steak
• London broil
• Flank steak
• Skirt steak

If you don't have cornstarch don't worry, you can substitute it with arrowroot powder or tapioca starch.

Also, if you want, you can add more vegetables to give the recipe more of a stir-fry vibe. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, brussel sprouts, or anything else you want can easily be added.

Now, as far as the sauce goes, if you're looking for a substitute for the brown sugar I've got one. On several occasions, I've used granulated sugar in its place with a touch of molasses and the recipe turned out perfect every single time.

Anyway, now that you have all your ingredients ready let's get into how to make this Beijing beef!

How To Make Beijing Beef

So, this entire copycat Panda Express Beijing beef recipe should take you 30 minutes or less to make. And the steps are super simple to follow too, so I know you're going to love making it!

Now, let's not waste any more time and get into it.

Step 1: Season The Flank Steak

First, mix the corn starch and egg white in a medium-sized bowl until combined.

Then, add the flank steak to the bowl, top it off with salt, and mix the steak with everything in the bowl.

Step 2: Make The Beijing Beef Sauce

Next, add the water, brown sugar, ketchup, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, apple cider vinegar, and crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl.

Then, mix until all of the ingredients are combined and have created a sauce-like consistency, and set this aside for later.

Step 3: Fry The beef

Now, heat a deep non-stick skillet - or pot - over medium heat and add the canola oil to it.

Heat the oil to 350°F, then line a plate with paper towels, and set it aside for later (this is to drain the excess oil on the sliced beef after frying).

Once the oil is heated, fry the flank steaks until golden brown on both sides. And be sure to work in batches so the frying oil maintains the temperature.

With that said, you should only have to fry the beef slices in two batches depending on the size of the pan.

Finally, remove the fried beef from the oil and drain the excess grease on paper towels.

Step 4: Sauté The bell peppers and onion

Now, once you finish frying the beef, carefully remove most of the oil from the skillet, and leave just about 2 tablespoons in it.

Now, add the onion and red bell pepper to the skillet and let them cook for about 5 minutes. Then, add garlic to the same pan and cook for 2-3 more minutes.

Step 5: Assemble The Beijing beef

Finally, you're going to assemble your homemade Panda Express Beijing beef!

So, return the cooked beef to the skillet, add the sauce that you made earlier, and mix the stir fry together so that it's evenly coated. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Then, serve immediately, and enjoy!

My Recommendations For Storing The Beijing Beef

This Beijing beef recipe will make about 4 servings, so it's perfect for a family meal or dinner for two. If you're lucky you might even end up with some leftovers.

Speaking of leftovers, if you do end up with some, they store incredibly well. Just transfer them to an airtight container, and they'll stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days.

My Recommendations For Reheating The Beef

If you want to reheat this meal, heat a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Then, add the leftovers to it and heat 'em up for about 5 minutes or until the beef and sauce reach your desired temperature. By the way, make sure to stir everything around frequently so it heats up evenly.

Also, if the sauce is too thick, you can add a little water to it to thin it out. By the way, if you're in a pinch for time you can microwave the beef to warm it up. While it's not my desired reheating method it will work. Just microwave the beef in 1-minute increments until it's warm. 

My Final Thoughts

Well, that's how to make Panda Expresses Beijing beef!

The delicious savory beef mixed with fresh peppers and onions, all brought together with a savory-sweet sauce is just so, so good. Not to mention, this delicious Beijing beef dish is surprisingly easy to make too.

Anyway, if you give this recipe a try, leave a comment below and let me know how it went!

Also, be sure to check out our Youtube channel and Instagram for more recipes. We post new ones almost daily on them.

More Copycat Recipes

If you want to give some more copycat Panda Express recipes a shot we have a few on the blog that you can try next: 

Here are my favorite ones:

• Black pepper angus steak
• Honey walnut shrimp
• Teriyaki chicken
• Cream cheese rangoon