• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bake It With Love

  • Easter
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easter
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Main Dish

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2024 by Angela Latimer · 9 Comments

Panda Express Beijing Beef

Jump to Recipe
pin image with top photo horizontal image an angled overhead view of the crispy wok fried beijing beef with peppers and onions in the sweet and tangy beijing sauce garnished with chopped green onion in a black cast iron pan on grey background and bottom photo a tall overhead photo of the beijing beef in the pan garnished with green onion and sesame seeds

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.

Large square overhead image of the panda express beijing beef served with wok fried crispy chunks of beef red pepper and onion in beijing sauce.
Jump to:
  • 🥢 Panda Express Beijing Beef {Copycat Recipe}
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Panda Express Beijing Beef
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🐼 More Panda Express Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

🥢 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.
sliced beef being marinated before coating with cornstarch and being wok fried

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.
beijing sauce ingredients mixed and ready for cooking

Cook the Beijing Beef

marinated beef being coated in cornstarch before adding to the heated oil in wok
marinated beef strips being wok fried in oil
wok fried beef set aside on paper towels before stir frying the sliced onions and red peppers
onions and peppers in oil and garlic being stir fried in wok
beef peppers and onion being wok stir fried with beijing sauce
stir fried peppers and onions placed on the plate with the wok fried beef strips
  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!

horizontal image an angled overhead view of the crispy wok fried beijing beef with peppers and onions in the sweet and tangy beijing sauce garnished with chopped green onion in a black cast iron pan on grey background

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe 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.

>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<

collage of four panda express recipe images with a transparent brick red overlay for text title 'Panda Express copycat recipe index'

🐼 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
Tall overhead photo of the beijing beef in the pan garnished with green onion and sesame seeds.

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Large square overhead image of the panda express beijing beef served with wok fried crispy chunks of beef red pepper and onion in beijing sauce.
Print Recipe Leave A Comment
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
5 from 78 reviews

Panda Express Beijing Beef (copycat recipe)

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!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 394kcal
Prep 15 minutes minutes
Cooking 10 minutes minutes
Marinade Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 55 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

Ingredients
 

Panda Express Beijing Beef

  • 1 lbs 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

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

Panda Express Beijing Sauce

  • 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

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

Beef Marinade

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the marinade ingredients (beaten 1 large egg, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon cornstarch). Add the sliced 1 lbs flank steak and mix until smooth. Cover with cling film and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour.

Beijing Beef Sauce

  • In a small bowl, combine the Beijing Beef 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 hoisin sauce, 3 tablespoon ketchup, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce). Mix Beijing sauce until smooth, then set aside.

Beijing Beef

  • Heat your wok, large skillet, or frying pan with 1 cup peanut oil at medium-high heat. Place 6 tablespoon cornstarch into a medium-sized bowl and coat marinated beef with cornstarch. Discard the remaining marinade.
  • Transfer the coated beef to the heated wok and fry beef until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to turn the beef as needed, to brown all sides of the cut pieces.
  • Remove the cooked beef from the wok and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Remove any debris in the cooking oil and increase the temperature to cook on high heat.
  • Stir fry the sliced ½ cup red bell pepper and ½ cup yellow onion until they reach your desired level of tenderness, about 2-3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Transfer the cooked peppers and onions to the plate that the beef is set aside on.
  • Add the Beijing sauce to the wok, cooking on high until it comes to a boil and thickens. This should take between 3-5 minutes.
  • Once the sauce has thickened, return the beef and vegetables. Stir until well coated with the Beijing sauce and the beef is heated through. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 394kcal (20%) | Carbohydrates: 40g (13%) | Protein: 28g (56%) | Fat: 13g (20%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Cholesterol: 115mg (38%) | Sodium: 956mg (42%) | Potassium: 531mg (15%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 23g (26%) | Vitamin A: 716IU (14%) | Vitamin C: 26mg (32%) | Calcium: 42mg (4%) | Iron: 2mg (11%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Beef Dishes, Copycat Recipes, Dinner Recipes, Entrees, Main Dish
Cuisine American, Asian, Chinese
« Orange Crush Soda Cupcakes with Orange Crush Soda Buttercream Frosting
Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast »

Share This Recipe!

  • Share
  • X
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 78 votes (72 ratings without comment)

    Thanks for coming! Ask anything - or let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Rocky says

    June 13, 2023 at 8:59 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! I veganized your recipe by using TVP in place of steak, kept everything else the same (used a vegan oyster sauce)! All ingredients are pantry staples for me, making this so easy and it was delish.

    Reply
  2. Angelina B says

    May 10, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    5 stars
    Super easy and delicious.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    September 28, 2022 at 2:41 pm

    Do we not drain the oil before adding the Beijing sauce to the pan?

    Reply
    • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

      September 28, 2022 at 6:45 pm

      You shouldn't have a ton of oil left in the wok. You can either a) remove some oil if needed, leaving about a tablespoon of oil to cook in or b) remove the oil, wipe your wok clean, and start with a bit of fresh oil. Thanks for asking!

      Reply
    • Jordan says

      May 20, 2023 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      Definitely adding this to my favorites. Exceeded my expectations and taste WONDERFUL! Will be re-making for sure!

      Reply
  4. Terry S. says

    August 19, 2022 at 7:48 am

    5 stars
    I wish Panda Express still had this on the menu, incredible dish!

    Reply
    • NV says

      August 10, 2023 at 9:13 pm

      The Panda Express we go to still has the Beijing beef, we just had it for dinner!

      Reply
  5. Cynthia Reed says

    August 18, 2022 at 11:49 am

    5 stars
    I didn't have the flank steak so I used a NY strip steak, really a great recipe for all of us home cooks!

    Reply
  6. Bart says

    July 23, 2022 at 9:00 am

    5 stars
    I love that this recipe is here, when it was gone off the menu at Panda Express I made your Beijing Beef recipe and have now mastered making it at home! Endless Thanks!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

pin image with top photo horizontal image an angled overhead view of the crispy wok fried beijing beef with peppers and onions in the sweet and tangy beijing sauce garnished with chopped green onion in a black cast iron pan on grey background and bottom photo a tall overhead photo of the beijing beef in the pan garnished with green onion and sesame seeds
Author bio photo with cake.

Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

More About Me ->

Cinco De Mayo Recipes

  • Best homemade CRUMBL churro cookies baked and decorated and served on a plate with some cinnamon sticks next to them.
    CRUMBL Churro Cookies
  • Flavorful guacamole seasoning is best when homemade like this easy DIY spice blend in white bowl.
    Guacamole Seasoning
  • Square image of prime rib quesaritos.
    Prime Rib Quesaritos
  • Best albondigas tacos recipe using hearty Mexican meatballs in a savory tomato and chipotle chili sauce.
    Albondigas Tacos
  • Square image of sliced Arrachera steak on a cutting board.
    Arrachera (Mexican Steak for Tacos)
  • Square split image showing different Mexican casserole recipes to make.
    Mexican Casseroles
See more Cinco De Mayo →

Tasty Dinner Ideas

  • A square collage of four images showing easy summer crockpot meals including tender London broil pot roast, green beans and potatoes, grape jelly meatballs, and pork carnitas tacos.
    Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas
  • Panda Express honey sesame chicken copycat recipe plated with rice and garnished with more white sesame seeds.
    Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
  • A square image showing a bowl of tender wok fried marinated chicken with celery, onions, and black pepper sauce.
    Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken
  • Best leftover lobster recipes page image featuring four favorite dishes in a square collage.
    Leftover Lobster Recipes
  • Square collage image featuring 4 tasty recipes using leftover hard boiled eggs.
    Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs Recipes
  • Spider taco ring on baking sheet with taco toppings in the body and sliced olives for eyes.
    Spider Taco Crescent Ring
See more Main Dish →

Footer

pin image with top photo horizontal image an angled overhead view of the crispy wok fried beijing beef with peppers and onions in the sweet and tangy beijing sauce garnished with chopped green onion in a black cast iron pan on grey background and bottom photo a tall overhead photo of the beijing beef in the pan garnished with green onion and sesame seeds

As Seen On

As seen on these popular sites: Mashed, Tasting Table, Parade, MSN, Yahoo, Delish, The Pioneer Woman, Today, Taste of Home, and more.

↑ back to top

About

  • Meet The Team
  • Photo Sharing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me
  • Accessibility Statement

Recipes

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Breakfasts
  • Cookies & Bars
  • Videos
  • Articles

AI-Free

Everything on Bake It With Love is created by me, where I share my experiences, with help from my team members and family.

I promise that BIWL is 100% free of AI content.

Get Social

Visit us on your favorite social media platforms!

Copyright © 2016-2025 Bake It With Love

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.