Last updated on January 3rd, 2024 at 07:51 pm
Fake-out take-out healthy Beijing Beef! Air Fried Beijing Beef combines delicious crispy strips of tender beef, red bell pepper, and onions coated in a sweet and tangy sauce and served with jasmine rice. Swap out the deep-fried Panda Express restaurant version without compromising any of the amazing flavors. Panda Express Beijing Beef copycat recipe is the perfect make-at-home Chinese dish.
For this recipe, it's important to choose a cut of beef like Beef chuck, tri-tip, or flank steak that can be sliced thinly, and remember to always cut the beef against the grain to get the most tender results. The marinade is a combination of a few basic ingredients.
This recipe was inspired by my other amazing copycat recipes. Air Fried Sticky Fingers, Air Fried Crunchwrap Supremes, and Nashville Hot Chicken.
Air Fry Range Recipes
This recipe is specifically intended for full-size ovens with the air fry feature like the Frigidaire Air Fry Range I own. The cook times and temperatures for the range with air fry may vary from smaller countertop air fryers. Follow the recipes below for complete instructions. For small air fryers cooking time and temperatures may need to be adjusted. For the full review of the Frigidaire Air Fry Range please go here.
Check out this page for more Air Fry Range Recipes
Jump to:
Ingredients
Marinade
- Egg whites
- Corn Starch
- Black Pepper
- Steak Cut Thin (while frozen)
Sauce
- Water
- Sugar (2 Tbsp. Monkfurit)
- Ketchup
- Hoisin Sauce
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Other
- EVOO
- White onion chopped into 1-inch pieces
- Red Bell Peppers Chopped into 1-inch pieces
- Minced Garlic
See the recipe card for quantities
Instructions
To start preheat Frigidaire Air Fry Oven to 350° using the Air Fry function. Spray Ready Cook Air Fry Tray with EVOO to prevent the meat from sticking
Slice the steak against the grain into thin strips (this is easiest when the meat is still slightly frozen).
In a small mixing bowl whisk egg whites.
Add the sliced steak to the egg whites and toss to coat.
Place cornstarch and black pepper in a shallow baking with sides. Mix together with a fork.
One by one place the marinated strips of steak into the cornstarch to coat on all sides.
Shake off the excess cornstarch before placing the coated strips of meat flat on the Ready Cook Air Fry Tray.
Repeat until all the steak is coated and spaced out evenly on the air fry tray.
Cover a large sheet pan or drip pan with aluminum foil.
Spray the strips of meat with EVOO and place the air fry tray in the oven in the third position from the top.
Place the prepared drip pan two racks below the ready-cook air fry tray.
Air Frying Instructions
Air Fry for 13-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the steak. The crispy beef slices will release easily when they are done. You may want to flip or shake the steak strips until they are evenly golden brown.
In a small mixing bowl whisk together the Beijing sauce ingredients and set it aside.
While the steak is air frying heat 1 Tbsp. of EVOO in a large wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add chopped onion, bell peppers, and minced garlic and sauté until peppers are soft and onion is translucent. (about 5 minutes)
Remove the tender veggies to a plate. Don’t overcook the vegetables as they will continue to cook when added back to the dish at the end.
In the same wok add the sauce ingredients and simmer over medium heat. Allow the sauce to thicken for about 3 minutes.
When the sauce has thickened add the crispy strips of steak and stir to coat the steak in the Beijing beef sauce. Add back in the cooked vegetables and stir to combine.
Serve over Instant Pot Jasmine rice with sliced green onions on top and a side of egg rolls.
Check out how to make perfect rice in the pressure cooker in this How To Make Instant Pot Rice Article.
Stove Top Instructions
If you don't have an oven/range with the air fry function you can still make this at home. In a large skillet add enough oil for frying the steak and heat over medium heat. Working in small batches place the thin slices of coated beef into the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until the steak is fully cooked and crispy. Remove the steak strips to a plate lined with a paper towel. When all of the steak has been fried discard the oil and prepare the sauce as instructed above.
Countertop Air Fryer Instructions
To make this recipe in a countertop air fryer the times and temperatures may vary. A good starting point would be 375-390° for 9-11 minutes flipping halfway. Follow the directions for your specific appliance and air fry in small batches until fried beef strips are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. If needed coat the tray or basket with cooking spray to avoid sticking.
Recipe Variations
Spicy-add in additional red pepper flakes or spicy chili sauce.
White Rice- Substitute for brown rice, lo mein noodles, chow mein, cauliflower rice, or additional stir fry vegetables.
Low Sugar- use a no-sugar-added ketchup and substitute monk fruit for traditional sugar.
Delux-Top with toasted sesame seeds.
Storage
Like most Chinese food it's delicious leftover. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat for 1-2 minutes in the microwave or until the meat, rice and vegetables are warmed through.
Frigidaire Air Fried Beijing Beef
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites
- 3 Tbsp. Corn Starch
- 1 Tbsp. Black Pepper
- 1 Lb. Flank Steak cut think while frozen
Sauce
- ½ Cup Water
- ¼ Cup Sugar or 2 Tbsp. Monkfurit
- 3 Tbsp. Ketchup
- 5 Tbsp. Hoisin Sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 white onion chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 2 Red Bell Peppers chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 2 Tbsp. Minced Garlic
Instructions
- Pre Heat Frigidaire Air Fry Oven to 350° using the Air Fry function.
- Spray Ready Cook Air Fry Tray with EVOO to prevent the meat from sticking to the tray.
- Slice the steak against the grain into thin strips. This is easiest when the meat is still slightly frozen.
- In a small mixing bowl whisk egg whites.
- Add the thinly sliced steak to the egg whites and toss to coat.
- In a separate shallow dish with sides pour ½ cup of cornstarch and ½ Tbsp. of black pepper.
Mix together with a fork and spread it out evenly. One by one place the strips of steak into the cornstarch to coat on all sides. - Shake off the excess cornstarch before placing the coated strips of meat flat on the Ready Cook Air Fry Tray.
- Repeat until all the steak is coated and spaced out evenly on the air fry tray.
- Cover a large sheet pan or drip pan with aluminum foil.
- Spray the strips of meat with EVOO and place the air fry tray in the oven in the third position from the top.
- Place the prepared drip pan two racks below the ready-cook air fry tray.
- Air Fry for 13-15 minutes depending on the thickness of the steak. The strips of steak will release easily when they are done. You can flip or shake the strips to brown on all sides if needed.
- In a small mixing bowl whisk together the sauce ingredients and set it aside.
- While the steak is air frying heat 1 Tbsp. of EVOO in a large wok or skillet.
- Add chopped onion, bell peppers, and minced garlic and saute until the peppers are soft and the onion is translucent. (about 5 minutes)
- Remove the cooked vegetable to a plate. Don’t overcook the vegetables as they will continue to cook when added back to the dish at the end.
- In the same wok add the sauce ingredients and simmer over medium heat. Allow the sauce to thicken for about 3 minutes.
- When the sauce has thickened add the crispy strips of steak and stir to coat the steak in the sauce. Add back in the cooked vegetables and stir to combine.
- Serve over Instant Pot Jasmine rice with sliced green onions on top.
Nutrition
No, unfortunately, one serving of Panda Express Beijing Beef has 26g of total fat and 5g of saturated fat. It's also high in sodium at 660g and 24g of sugar! To make healthier Beijing Beef try this recipe that is air fried and has a low-sugar option.
Just like the traditional restaurant version air fried Beijing Beef has crispy strips of beef, onion, and bell pepper in a sweet and tangy sauce.
Leave a Reply