Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe
Introduction
This air fryer crispy chilli beef is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Tender steak strips are coated and air-fried to a crisp, then tossed in a tangy, spicy sauce with fresh vegetables. It’s a delicious way to enjoy Chinese-inspired flavors with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
- 250g thin-cut minute steak, thinly sliced into strips
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus a drizzle
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- Thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1 red chilli, thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper, cut into chunks
- 4 spring onions, sliced (green and white parts separated)
- 4 tbsp rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- ½ tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp caster sugar
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine the marinade ingredients (rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, Chinese five-spice powder, 2 tsp soy sauce, sesame oil, and caster sugar) in a bowl. Add the steak strips and toss to coat. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours if possible, or proceed to the next step.
- Step 2: Sprinkle the cornflour over the marinated steak and mix well so each piece is coated in a floury paste. Separate the strips and arrange them on a plate. Drizzle a little vegetable oil over each piece. Preheat the air fryer to 220°C if it has a preheat setting.
- Step 3: Place the beef strips on the air fryer rack in a single layer. Cook for 6 minutes, then turn the strips and cook for another 4–6 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Step 4: While the beef cooks, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry the crushed garlic, ginger, sliced red chilli, red pepper chunks, and the white parts of the spring onions for 2–3 minutes until the pepper softens. Take care not to burn the garlic and ginger.
- Step 5: Add the marinade sauce from step 1 to the wok. Mix well and cook for another minute until bubbling.
- Step 6: Transfer the crispy beef into the wok and toss through the sauce. Continue cooking for one more minute until piping hot.
- Step 7: Serve the chilli beef scattered with the green parts of the spring onions and offer extra sauce on the side if desired.
Tips & Variations
- For extra heat, add more fresh chilli or a dash of chilli flakes to the sauce.
- Swap the minute steak for thinly sliced chicken breast or firm tofu for a different protein option.
- Marinate the beef overnight to deepen the flavors and improve tenderness.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can pan-fry the coated beef strips in a little oil until crispy.
Storage
Store any leftover crispy chilli beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan or microwave, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce if it thickens. For best texture, it’s recommended to enjoy the dish fresh from cooking.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I prepare the beef in advance?
Yes, marinating the beef for several hours or overnight enhances the flavor and tenderness. Keep it covered in the fridge until ready to cook.
What can I serve with this crispy chilli beef?
This dish pairs well with steamed rice, noodles, or crunchy salads. You can also add stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.
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Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes (excluding marinating time)
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
This Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef is a quick and flavorful dish featuring thinly sliced steak coated in a light cornflour batter, air fried to crispy perfection, then tossed in a savory, tangy, and mildly spicy sauce infused with garlic, ginger, and fresh vegetables. Perfect for a tasty midweek dinner with a delicious crunchy texture and bold Asian-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Coating
- 250g thin-cut minute steak, thinly sliced into strips
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus a drizzle for coating beef
Marinade
- 4 tbsp rice wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- ½ tsp Chinese five-spice powder
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp caster sugar
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- Thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1 red chilli, thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper, cut into chunks
- 4 spring onions, sliced, green and white parts separated
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, Chinese five-spice powder, additional soy sauce, sesame oil, and caster sugar to form the marinade. Add the thinly sliced steak strips and toss well to coat evenly. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; otherwise, proceed immediately to the next step.
- Coat the Beef: Sprinkle the cornflour evenly over the marinated steak strips, mixing well until each piece is coated in a floury paste. Gently separate the strips and arrange them on a plate. Drizzle a little vegetable oil over the beef strips to help crisp during cooking.
- Preheat and Air Fry the Beef: Preheat the air fryer to 220°C (if it has a preheat option). Place the beef strips carefully on the air fryer cooking rack without overlapping to ensure crispy edges. Cook for 6 minutes, then turn the strips over and cook for an additional 4 to 6 minutes until the beef is golden and crispy.
- Prepare the Sauce and Vegetables: While the beef cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Add the crushed garlic, matchstick ginger, sliced red chilli, red pepper chunks, and the white parts of the spring onions. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the peppers soften and aromatics release their fragrance, taking care not to burn the garlic or ginger.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Add the marinade mixture to the wok and stir well. Cook for about one minute until the sauce starts bubbling and thickens slightly.
- Toss Beef in Sauce: Transfer the crispy air-fried beef strips into the wok with the sauce and vegetables. Toss thoroughly to coat all pieces evenly. Cook together for another minute until everything is piping hot and well combined.
- Serve: Serve the chilli beef garnished with the green parts of the spring onions scattered over the top. Optionally, provide extra sauce on the side for dipping or drizzling.
Notes
- For extra tenderness, marinate the beef for several hours or overnight.
- Adjust the amount of red chilli to control the heat level.
- Use rice wine vinegar for a more authentic Asian flavor or white wine vinegar if unavailable.
- The air fryer helps achieve crispiness with less oil than traditional frying methods.
- Serve with steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus up to 24 hours marinating time optional)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Keywords: crispy chilli beef, air fryer beef recipe, Asian beef stir fry, quick beef dinner, spicy beef recipe, air fryer Asian dish
