Panda Express’ Beijing Beef is one of their most popular dishes, loved for its sweet and savory sauce coated over crispy fried beef. This Chinese-American classic has a perfect balance of flavors – the sweetness of the sauce, the spiciness of the red pepper flakes, the savory umami from the soy and hoisin, and the satisfying crunch of the fried beef.
Recreating this restaurant favorite at home is easy to do. With just a few ingredients and simple steps, you can make authentic-tasting Panda Express Beijing Beef right in your own kitchen.
Overview of Panda Express Beijing Beef
For those not familiar with the dish, Beijing Beef at Panda Express consists of sliced flank steak, fried until crispy in a light breading. The fried beef is then wok-tossed with onions red bell peppers, garlic, and ginger. The real star is the salty-sweet Beijing sauce which clings to each slice of beef and vegetable. A finishing sprinkle of dried red pepper flakes gives it all a subtle heat.
This Beijing Beef is a little sweet a little spicy perfectly savory, and super satisfying. Crisp-tender beef packs every bite, balanced by the crunch of bell peppers and onion. Served over a bed of steaming white rice, it’s a flavorful feast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Panda Express Beijing Beef is made with simple supermarket ingredients Here’s what you’ll need
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Flank steak – The thin sliced beef is key. Flank steak has the best texture.
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Cornstarch – To coat the beef for extra crispy fried slices.
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Vegetable oil – For frying the beef to a golden crisp.
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Onion and red bell pepper – For adding some fresh veggie crunch.
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Garlic and ginger – To infuse some aromatic flavor.
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Soy sauce – For a salty, umami depth.
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Hoisin sauce – For sweetness and rich body.
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Seasoned rice vinegar – To balance the sweetness with some acidity.
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Ketchup – Adds sweetness, tang, and color to the sauce.
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Sugar – To round out and balance flavors.
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Cornstarch – Helps thicken the sauce so it coats the beef.
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Dried red pepper – For just the right amount of spicy heat.
That’s it! With pantry staples and basic fresh ingredients, you can make restaurant-quality Beijing Beef at home.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for crispy, saucy Beijing Beef just like Panda Express:
Prep the Beef
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Slice flank steak against the grain into 1/4 inch thick slices. This makes them easy to fry up crispy.
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Toss the beef with a bit of soy sauce and baking soda. This tenderizes and flavors the meat.
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Let marinate for 30 minutes while you make the sauce.
Make the Sauce
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In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes until smooth.
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Set aside until ready to use.
Fry the Beef
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Drain excess marinade from beef slices and coat with cornstarch, shaking off any extra.
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In a pot or dutch oven, heat 3 inches of oil to 350°F.
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Working in batches, fry beef slices for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
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Drain fried beef slices on a wire rack.
Finish the Dish
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In a wok or skillet, stir fry onion, peppers, garlic, and ginger in oil for 1-2 minutes.
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Add prepared sauce and fried beef slices. Toss everything together until beef is evenly coated.
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Serve immediately over steamed white rice.
And your Panda Express Beijing Beef is ready to enjoy! The whole recipe comes together in just about an hour.
Cooking Tips
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Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature. This prevents under or over-fried beef.
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Fry beef in batches to avoid overcrowding.
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Make sure to shake off excess cornstarch before frying. Too much makes things gummy.
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Add veggies to hot oil so they maintain some crispness after saucing.
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Toss beef in sauce right before serving to keep maximum crispness.
Serving Suggestions
While Beijing Beef is delicious on its own, here are some tasty ways to round out your meal:
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Steamed white or brown rice – The perfect base to soak up every last drop of sauce.
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Chow mein noodles – For an extra hearty, filling meal.
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Egg drop soup – A light starter to the meal.
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Crab rangoons – Tasty bite to begin your Chinese feast.
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Pork or vegetable fried rice – Another excellent way to enjoy the Beijing Beef.
A full Chinese spread is easy to whip up with the Beijing Beef as the centerpiece.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Like many saucy dishes, Panda Express Beijing Beef reheats even better than when freshly cooked. Here are some storage tips:
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Allow to cool before storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
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It will keep well for 2-3 days. The sauce may thicken.
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To reheat, place in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes until heated through.
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Microwaving causes the beef to get rubbery and sauce to separate. Oven is best.
With proper storage, leftovers rival the fresh version. Saving extra makes quick meals for days.
More Delicious Panda Express Copycats
Once you master this popular Beijing Beef, try your hand at more Panda Express classics:
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Orange Chicken – Their most famous dish, with crispy fried chicken in a sticky sweetorange glaze.
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Honey Walnut Shrimp – Large fried shrimp in a gooey spiced honey sauce topped with candied walnuts.
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Chow Mein – Savory pan-fried noodles with chicken, cabbage, and bean sprouts.
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String Bean Chicken Breast – Juicy chicken breast with crunchy string beans in a ginger soy sauce.
The vibrant flavors of Panda Express are easily recreated in your own kitchen. Beijing Beef is a great place to start.
With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to enjoy this takeout favorite any night of the week. Crispy, saucy Beijing Beef is sure to become a regular menu item with this easy Panda Express copycat recipe.
The Best Beijing Beef Recipe
If you love Panda Express, youre 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 thats almost identical to the one at PE.
And because this recipe is so easy to make, its 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. Theres really no reason to ever order it out again.
By the way, if youre looking for some tasty sides to go with the beef, you cant 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.
One of my favorite things about this homemade Beijing beef recipe is that it uses pretty simple ingredients. Id be surprised if you didnt have most – if not all – of them at home already.
Anyway, heres everything youll 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, youll 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.
Now, as you may have noticed, this recipe calls for flank steak, which is a great affordable, and versatile cut of beef. But, if youre 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 dont have cornstarch dont 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 youre looking for a substitute for the brown sugar Ive got one. On several occasions, Ive 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 lets 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 youre going to love making it!
Now, lets not waste any more time and get into it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Finally, youre 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 its evenly coated. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
Then, serve immediately, and enjoy!
Making Panda Express Beijing Beef At Home | But Better
FAQ
What is Panda Express Beijing beef made of?
Beijing Beef, a famous Chinese-American dish, was created by Panda Express rather than originating in traditional Chinese cuisine or Beijing itself. This Chinese-American favorite features crispy strips of beef coated in a vibrant, sweet, tangy, and spicy sauce made with hoisin, vinegar, and sweet chili sauce.
What sauce is on Beijing beef?
To make the Beijing beef sauce, combine all of the following ingredients thoroughly: 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of oyster sauce, 1 tbsp of tianmian sauce, 1 tbsp of Chinese black vinegar, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1.5 tbsp of honey, 1 tsp of dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp of cornstarch, 1 tbsp red chili flakes, and 1/3 cup of …
Is Panda Express Beijing beef healthy?
For low-calorie or low-carb eating, steer clear of the Beijing beef. This entrée comes with 470 calories, 26g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 46g carbohydrate, 13g protein, and 660mg sodium. It also provides just 1g of fiber and a significant amount of sugar (24g).
What is the closest thing to Beijing beef?
In our honest opinion, Beijing beef most closely resembles sweet and sour pork, a dish where you get pieces of fried pork, vegetables, and sometimes chunks of pineapples smothered in a sweet and sour sauce.
How do you make Panda Express Beijing beef sauce?
Cover and chill for half an hour. To make the sauce for this Panda Express Beijing Beef recipe: In a mixing bowl, stir together the ketchup, hoisin sauce, seasoned rice wine vinegar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and dried red pepper flakes. Continue stirring until the granulated sugar dissolves. Cover the bowl and set aside.
What is the best beef for Panda Express Beijing?
Flank steak – Flank steak is perfect for this Panda Express Beijing beef recipe because it’s tender and soaks up all the yummy flavors. Yellow onion – Gives a touch of sweetness and savory depth. Red bell pepper – Adds color, crunch, and a mild sweetness. Egg – Helps tenderize the beef and gives it a crispy coating when fried.
What are the best Panda Express copycat dishes?
One of the most popular dishes on the Panda Express menu is their Beijing Beef, which rivals their Crispy Honey Sesame Chicken and popular Orange Chicken or Orange Beef. I love making copycat takeout recipes at home, especially this stir fried beef dish. I would even say this is my favorite recipe of Panda Express copycat dishes!
What kind of sugar do you put in a Beijing beef Panda Express?
Sugar: Granulated (plain white sugar) sugar lets the tangy vinegar and orange juice shine, as opposed to brown sugar, which has more of a molasses flavor. You may need more or less, depending on personal taste. Ketchup: This adds a rich tanginess, but I promise it won’t make your Beijing Beef Panda Express taste like ketchup!