Dinner

Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef Recipe

BySarah Summers December 3, 2025December 3, 2025

Introduction

Crispy Sweet Chilli Beef is a deliciously crunchy and flavorful dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or impressing guests. Tender beef strips are coated in cornflour, fried to a crisp, and tossed in a sticky, sweet, and mildly spicy sauce. This recipe combines savory, sweet, and tangy elements for a satisfying meal.

A close-up view of a blue bowl filled with glossy, dark brown pieces of meat coated in a thick sauce, mixed with bright red dried chili peppers and fresh green chili slices. The meat looks tender and slightly crispy at the edges, with sesame seeds sprinkled over the top and small green herb leaves adding a touch of freshness. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface, highlighting the rich colors and textures of the dish. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

500g beef strips (thinly sliced)
3 tablespoons cornflour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)
1 small red chili, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
4 spring onions, sliced (separate white and green parts)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Fresh coriander and sesame seeds (for garnish)

Instructions

Step 1: Toss the beef strips with the cornflour until fully coated. Set aside to let the coating adhere.
Step 2: Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the beef strips in batches until golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Step 3: Remove excess oil from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Return the pan to heat and add the white parts of the spring onions, garlic, ginger, and chopped chili. Stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Add soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to the pan. Stir and cook the sauce for 2 minutes until it thickens slightly.
Step 5: Return the crispy beef to the pan and toss well to coat all the pieces evenly with the sauce.
Step 6: Remove from heat, then sprinkle with the green parts of the spring onions, fresh coriander, and sesame seeds before serving.

Tips & Variations

For extra heat, add more chopped red chili or a pinch of chili flakes to the sauce.
Substitute beef with chicken or tofu for a different protein option.
Serve with steamed rice or noodles to soak up the delicious sauce.
Use light cornflour coating for a thinner, less crunchy crust if preferred.

Storage

Store leftover sweet chilli beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat to maintain crispiness, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much. Avoid microwaving to keep the beef crispy.

How to Serve

A close-up of a dish with several pieces of glazed, dark brown crispy meat layered at the bottom and covered with shiny sauce. Bright red chili peppers and fresh green chili slices are spread across the dish, adding contrast and texture. Small white sesame seeds and a few green herb leaves are sprinkled on top, adding more detail. The dish is served in a round white bowl with a rustic blue inner edge, placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare this dish in advance?

You can toss the beef in cornflour ahead of time and prepare the sauce ingredients, but fry the beef just before serving to keep it crispy and fresh.

What can I use if I don’t have sweet chili sauce?

If you don’t have sweet chili sauce, you can mix some chili sauce or sriracha with a bit of honey or sugar to balance the heat with sweetness as a substitute.