Panda Express Beijing Beef {Easy Copycat Recipe} @ Bake It With Love (2024)

This easy-to-make Panda Express Beijing Beef copycat recipe is just what you need to enjoy the popular sweet and tangy beef entree at home! Strips of flank steak are wok-fried until wonderfully crispy, then the peppers and onion are stir-fried with garlic and tossed in the Beijing sauce! The sweet and sour flavor of the sauce is also perfect for dipping or making Beijing chicken!

🥢 Panda Express Beijing Beef {Copycat Recipe}

One of the most popular dishes at Panda Express is their Beijing Beef. So it's the perfect time to break out your wok and cook this better-than-Panda copycat recipe at home!

Who would have thought that crispy fried beef would be this good?! Apparently, the Panda Express chefs thought up a real winner, paired it with just the right vegetables, and made the perfect sweet and sour sauce to round out the trifecta of flavor perfection!

As I've mentioned before, my husband is an absolute Panda Express fanatic. So I worked on this recipe, as well as many other Panda copycat recipes until it received his approval. He gives this a hearty two-thumbs up!

Try my spicy hunan beef or ground beef stir fry if you love stir-fried beef dishes! The teppanyaki style Hibachi Steak and Shrimp is another great beef dinner that the whole family will love!!

🥘 Ingredients

Beijing Beef Ingredients

• 1 lb flank steak (thin sliced, against the grain, into bite-size chunks or strips)
• 1 cup peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
• ½ cup red bell pepper (cut into ½ inch squares)
• ½ cup yellow onion (or white onion - cut into ½ inch pieces)
• 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
• 6 tablespoon cornstarch

Beef Marinade Ingredients

• 1 large egg (beaten)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon water (cold)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Beijing Sauce Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoon ketchup
• 3 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Panda Express Beijing Beef

1. Start with making the beef marinade in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Combine 1 beaten egg with salt, water, and the first 1 tablespoon portion of cornstarch.
2. Place your sliced flank steak in the marinade and mix until well-coated.
3. Cover with plastic wrap or cling film and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour before cooking. *This step could also be done a day in advance, along with making the Beijing sauce and slicing the vegetables.

How To Make Panda Express Beijing Sauce Recipe

1. In a small bowl, combine the Beijing sauce ingredients: water, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, crushed red bell pepper flakes, sugar, ketchup, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, and sweet chili sauce.
2. Mix or whisk until the sauce is smooth, then set aside. *You can also add about ¼ cup of the sauce to your marinating beef for added flavor.

Cook the Beijing Beef

1. Heat a wok, large skillet, or frying pan to medium-high heat with the peanut or vegetable cooking oil.
2. While the wok is heating, add 6 tablespoons of cornstarch to a medium-sized bowl and coat the marinated beef with the cornstarch. Discard any remaining marinade.
3. Transfer the coated, marinated beef to your heated wok and cook until all sides are browned and crispy, about 2 - 3 minutes. Use tongs to turn the beef while cooking, as needed.
4. Once cooked, remove the browned strips of flank steak to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Clear any debris from your cooking oil and increase the heat to cook the vegetables on high heat.
5. Add the sliced red bell peppers and onion and stir fry until they reach your desired level of tenderness. After 2 - 3 minutes, they are usually fork-tender and caramelizing on the edges.
6. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
7. Once the vegetables and garlic are cooked, transfer them to the plate that the cooked beef strips are on and set aside.
8. Place the Beijing sauce in your wok, still on high heat, and bring to a boil to thicken. Cook for 3 - 5 minutes to reach the thickened consistency.
9. Return the fried beef and stir-fried vegetables to the wok with your sauce and toss to coat thoroughly. Continue to toss until the beef is warmed through, then serve immediately.

Serve with my super Panda fried rice, Panda Express chow mein, or Jasmine rice. Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

• Marinate the Beef: For the best flavor and tenderness, marinate the flank steak in the mixture of egg, salt, water, and cornstarch for at least 30 minutes to an hour. If you have time, marinating it overnight can enhance the flavors even more.
• Slice Against the Grain: When preparing your flank steak, make sure to slice it against the grain into bite-size chunks or strips. This will ensure that the beef is tender and cooks evenly.
• Crispy Beef: To achieve the signature crispy texture, coat the marinated beef in cornstarch before frying. Make sure your oil is hot enough before adding the beef to get that perfect golden-brown crispiness.
• Fresh Vegetables: Use fresh red bell pepper and onion for the best texture and flavor. Cut them into uniform pieces so they cook evenly.
• Sauce Consistency: The Beijing sauce should be thick and cling to the beef and vegetables nicely. If it's too thin, let it simmer a bit longer until it reaches the desired consistency. You can thin it with a little water if it's too thick.
• Adjusting Spice Levels: The recipe calls for crushed red pepper flakes in the sauce. Adjust the amount according to your heat preference. Start with less if you're sensitive to spice, and add more if you like it hot.

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🐼 More Panda Express Recipes

Looking for more fabulous Panda Express copycat recipes? I've made enough that it was time to add a dedicated Panda Express Recipes page so that you can find all of your favorite entrees, sides, and appetizers quickly!

All My Panda Express Recipes

• Panda Express Orange Chicken
• Panda Express Shanghai Angus Steak
• Panda Express SweetFire Chicken Breast
• Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast

📖 Recipe Card

More Main Dish