Hunan Beefis one of the most popular stir-fried dishes, and you can make it right in your own home! Thinly sliced steak and a variety of vegetables are cooked with a rich, sweet, and spicy sauce all in one pan.

top view of a serving of hunan beef in a white bowl

Hunan beef is one of my all-time favorite take out dishes! Each bite is a burst of sweet, salty, savory, and spicy flavors. The aromatic sauce perfectly complements the beef and veggies, and when this dish is served with somesteamed rice,instant pot quinoaor rice noodles, it makes for a hearty and well-rounded meal!

Although there are a lot of ingredients that are needed for the Hunan sauce, most of them are pantry staples that you should already have on hand.

The subtle sweetness mixed with a hint of spiciness is one of the best flavor combinations! If you are looking for a new and unique weeknight meal, this is the perfect recipe to try. You and your family will fall in love with this delightful and satisfying Hunan beef!

side view POV of a wooden spoon with hunan beef

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

A tasty take out copycat recipe!
Packed full of protein and veggies.
A quick and easy one-pan meal.
The perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors!

Recipe Ingredients

top view of portion dishes with raw ingredients for hunan beef

Flank Steak—Sliced into thin strips. You can also use stir-fry beef.
Frozen Veggies—Any mix of veggies will work great! You can also dice up and use any fresh veggies you have on hand.
Beef Broth—Adds a rich, umami flavor.
Soy Sauce—Or use coconut aminos if you want to make this dish gluten free!
Sriracha Sauce—To add some spice! If you don’t have any sriracha, you can use your favorite brand of vinegar-based hot sauce.
Oyster Sauce—A staple ingredient in authentic Hunan beef.
Honey—Slightly sweetens your beef and veggies.
Rice Vinegar—Adds a nice tang that cuts through the other salty and sweet flavors.
Cornstarch—Thickens the sauce.
Spices—A simple mixture of ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Hunan Beef

Step #1.Heat a small amount of oil in a large pan. Once the pan is hot, add the beef strips and cook all the way through.

sauce pan with the cooked mix for the hunan beef recipe

Step #2.Add the stir fry veggies to the pan and continue cooking until the veggies are thawed and softened.

Step #3.While the veggies are cooking, combine the beef broth, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, oyster sauce, honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, ground ginger, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Whisk until homogenous.

POV with a wooden spoon over a sauce pan with the cooked mix for the hunan beef recipe

Step #4.Add the sauce to the pan and cook on high heat until the sauce has thickened. Serve over rice or noodles and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

What is Hunan sauce made of?

Hunan sauce is typically made up of rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, oyster sauce, beef broth, soy sauce, and chili paste or hot sauce. All of these ingredients have unique flavors that work together wonderfully to create a tasty sauce that is sweet, salty, savory, and spicy!

Where did Hunan beef come from?

Hunan beef and other Hunan-style dishes originate in the Hunan province of China. This style of food is popular for its unique, aromatic flavors and tongue-tingling spice. As the traditional Hunan recipes have been adapted to suit Western palates, dishes like Hunan beef tend to be more sweet and less spicy, but it’s still just as delicious!

Can I skip the cornstarch?

The cornstarch in this recipe will help thicken your Hunan sauce! Without it, you will be left with a watery, runny sauce. If you don’t have any cornstarch, or just prefer not to use it, you could also thicken your sauce with arrowroot powder or some all-purpose flour.

close up top view of a serving of hunan beef in a white bowl

Expert Tips

If you’re having trouble finding flank steak at your local grocery store,you can use pre-sliced stir-fry beef instead! This is a great substitute and will not affect the taste of your dish.
Instead of having to cut and wash a bunch of veggies,I like to use a frozen bag of veggies to cut down on prep time. This will also allow you to use a wider variety of vegetables that you might not be able to find fresh near you.
The honey in this dish helps cut the sharpness of the soy sauce and heat of the red pepper flakes.If you don’t have honey, you can use light or dark brown sugar instead.
When cooking the beef,be sure not to overcrowd your pan. If your pan is small, cook the meat in batches so that it can brown evenly.
If you want to add more heat to your Hunan beef, you can use chili paste instead of sriracha or hot sauce!

How to Serve and Store Hunan Beef

When serving this dish, I like to let the natural sweet and spicy flavors of this Hunan beef shine! I usually serve it over some steamed white or brown rice. Since there’s already plenty of meat and veggies in this dish, you can feel good serving it all on its own! Or, if you’re feeling fancy, try whipping up a side of easyegg rolls, cream cheese rangoons, or potstickers to complete the meal!

If you have leftovers, you can store Hunan beef in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you are ready to enjoy this dish again, simply reheat it by placing a single serving in the microwave for about a minute or until warm all the way through!