Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe

Introduction

This air fryer crispy chilli beef is a quick and flavorful dish that delivers perfectly tender and crunchy strips of beef coated in a spicy, tangy sauce. It’s an easy meal to prepare that brings the vibrant taste of Asian-inspired cooking right to your home kitchen.

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

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine the marinade ingredients: soy sauce, sesame oil, caster sugar, and Chinese five-spice powder. Add the steak strips and toss to coat evenly. For best flavor, leave the beef to marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours, or proceed immediately to the next step.
2. Step 2: Sprinkle the cornflour over the marinated steak strips and mix until each piece is coated in a floury paste. Separate the strips and arrange them on a plate. Drizzle each piece with a little vegetable oil. Preheat your air fryer to 220°C if it has this setting.
3. Step 3: Place the beef strips on the air fryer cooking rack carefully. Cook for 6 minutes, then turn the strips and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes until the beef is crispy.
4. Step 4: While the beef cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry the crushed garlic, ginger matchsticks, sliced chilli, red pepper chunks, and the white parts of the spring onions for 2–3 minutes until the pepper softens, taking care not to burn the garlic or ginger.
5. Step 5: Add the vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, and tomato ketchup to the wok. Stir well and cook for another minute until the sauce bubbles.
6. Step 6: Add the crispy beef strips into the wok and toss through the sauce thoroughly. Continue cooking for one more minute until everything is piping hot.
7. Step 7: Serve the crispy chilli beef garnished with the green parts of the spring onions and a little extra sauce on the side if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Marinate the beef overnight if possible to enhance flavor and tenderness.
• Adjust the amount of red chilli to control the heat level according to your taste.
• For an extra crunch, try tossing the beef strips in crushed peanuts or sesame seeds before serving.
• Swap the red pepper for other vegetables like snap peas or green beans for variety.

Storage

Store any leftover crispy chilli beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm it gently in a skillet over medium heat to maintain crispiness, or use the air fryer for a few minutes. Avoid microwaving as it may make the beef soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different cut of beef?

Yes, you can use other quick-cooking beef cuts such as sirloin or ribeye, as long as they are thinly sliced for quick cooking in the air fryer.

What can I serve with crispy chilli beef?

This dish pairs beautifully with steamed jasmine rice, noodles, or a simple green salad to balance the spicy and tangy flavors.

Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 125 reviews

• Author: Ethan
• Total Time: 30 minutes (excluding marination time)
• Yield: 2 servings 1x

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Description

This Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef recipe offers a quick, flavorful way to enjoy tender, marinated steak strips coated in a crispy cornflour crust and tossed in a tangy, spicy sauce with vibrant veggies. Using the air fryer ensures a healthier twist with less oil while delivering a perfect crunchy texture on the outside and succulent beef inside. Ideal for a speedy weeknight dinner, it combines aromatic garlic, ginger, chilli, and a blend of sauces for a deliciously balanced Asian-inspired dish.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Beef and Marinade

• 250g thin-cut minute steak, thinly sliced into strips
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus a drizzle for beef
• 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

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Instructions

1. Marinate the Beef: In a bowl, combine rice wine vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, tomato ketchup, Chinese five-spice powder, 2 tsp soy sauce, sesame oil, caster sugar, garlic, ginger, chilli, and white parts of spring onions to form the marinade. Add the thinly sliced steak strips, toss well to coat each piece thoroughly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours to enhance flavor if time allows.
2. Prepare the Beef for Air Frying: Remove beef from the marinade and sprinkle the cornflour evenly over the strips. Toss gently to coat each piece in a floury paste, then carefully pull the strips apart to ensure they don’t clump. Arrange the strips on a plate and drizzle each piece with a little vegetable oil. Preheat the air fryer to 220°C (428°F) if your model requires preheating.
3. Air Fry the Beef: Place the coated beef strips on the cooking rack inside the air fryer basket. Cook at 220°C for 6 minutes, then carefully turn the pieces over and continue cooking for another 4-6 minutes until the beef is crispy and golden on the outside.
4. Prepare the Sauce and Vegetables: While the beef is cooking, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Add crushed garlic, ginger matchsticks, sliced red chilli, red pepper chunks, and the white parts of the spring onions. Stir-fry vigorously for 2-3 minutes until the pepper softens but the garlic and ginger do not burn.
5. Add Sauces and Bubble the Sauce: Into the wok, add the reserved marinade sauce ingredients. Stir everything together and cook for an additional minute until the sauce starts bubbling, intensifying the flavors and slightly thickening.
6. Toss the Crispy Beef with Sauce: Transfer the air-fried beef strips into the wok with the sauce and vegetables. Toss quickly to coat the beef evenly and continue stirring over heat for another minute until everything is piping hot and well combined.
7. Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle the green parts of the sliced spring onions over the dish for freshness and color. Serve immediately with a little extra sauce on the side if desired, perfect paired with steamed rice or noodles.

Notes

• Marinating the beef overnight enhances the depth of flavor but is not mandatory.
• Ensure the beef strips are separated well after coating with cornflour for optimal crispiness.
• Adjust chilli quantity according to your preferred spice level.
• If your air fryer does not have a rack, you can use the basket but avoid overcrowding to maintain crispiness.
• Use gluten-free soy sauce if a gluten-free version is required.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus up to 24 hours marination)
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: crispy chilli beef, air fryer beef recipe, quick Asian beef, air fryer dinner, spicy beef stir-fry