Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef – My favourite dish from the Chinese takeaway made in the air fryer! Crispy strips of beef with little slivers on onion in a tangy spicy sauce. It’s all ready in 25 minutes!
This is a quick and easy dinner, perfect for busy weeknights. We use spray oil, so it’s also a lighter alternative. A family fakeaway favourite!
Nicky’s Recipe Notes
If I had to pick, I think this might be my favourite recipe out of the whole Air Fryer series I’ve been doing this month on Instagram. It’s just so darn tasty that I can (and possibly may have during testing) eat the whole lot to myself!
This is what makes it so good:
✅ It’s quick & easy comfort food (that’s basically my whole personality now) – ready in 25 minutes INCLUDING prep!
✅ It helps me reach my protein goals (especially if I eat two portions 😉) in the most addictive, tasty meal. Nutritional info is at the bottom of all of my recipe cards fyi.
✅ You don’t have to use expensive steak – minute steak or sizzle steak work great! I tested different versions using thin sizzle steak and more expensive ribeye and both were loved equally.
Table of Contents
📋 Ingredients
Beef
Sauce
- Use thin steaks for a quick cook time. Remove excess fat and any gristle and slice against the grain. Minute steak or sizzle steaks work great (I’ve seen them in Sainsburys, Morrisons and Asda)
Abbreviated recipe instructions
***Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post***
Mix steak strips with egg, then mix in cornflour, salt, pepper and white pepper. Add to air fryer basket, spray with oil and air fry at 240C/457F for 8 mins. Add onion, spray with oil, turn down heat to 200C/400F and cook for 5 mins.
Mix sauce ingredients and microwave for 1-2 mins. Add beef and onions to sauce and toss to coat, then serve.
Pro Tip
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket – as the beef won’t crisp up. Work in two batches if needed.
Sprinkle on seasame seeds and spring onions before serving.
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Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef Recipe
Ingredients
Crispy Beef:
- 450 g (1 lb) minute steak (thin steak) cut into thin strips *Note1
- 1 egg
- 5 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in USA)
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp white pepper
- spray oil (I use around 15 ml/1 tbsp altogether)
- 1 medium onion peeled and sliced into thin strips
Sauce:
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp chilli flakes (red pepper flakes)
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato puree (paste for USA)
- 6 tbsp caster sugar or superfine sugar
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce I use Thai-style
Instructions
- Place the steak strips in a bowl and add the egg. Mix together to thoroughly coat the steak in the egg.450 g (1 lb) minute steak (thin steak), 1 egg
- Add the cornflour, salt, pepper, and white pepper.5 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch in USA), ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 1/8 tsp white pepper
- Toss together to coat the steak. It will be a sticky mixture.
- One at a time (so the pieces don't stick), add the steak to the basket of the air fryer, in a single layer. You may have to work in two batches so as not to overcrowd the basket.spray oil
- Spray the steak with spray oil and cook in the air fryer at 240C/457F (I use the 'max crisp' function to enable this temperature *see note 2 below) for 8-9 minutes, shaking twice during the cooking time, until the steak strips are browned and crispy.
- While the steak is cooking, make the sauce. Mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a small sauce pan. Heat over a medium-high heat, while stirring, until it comes to a boil. Then turn off the heat and put to one side. *To microwave the sauce instead: Stir the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring once, halfway through cooking, until the sauce is piping hot and bubbling slightly at the edges.1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp chilli flakes (red pepper flakes), 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 3 tbsp dark soy sauce, 2 tbsp tomato puree, 6 tbsp caster sugar, 2 tbsp tomato ketchup, 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
- Once the steak has been in the air fryer for 8-9 minutes, add the sliced onions. Toss together with the steak and spray with a little more spray oil. Cook for a further 4-5 minutes, now at 200C/400F (regular air fryer setting), until the onion softens and browns slightly.1 medium onion
- Reheat the sauce for 30 seconds or so if it's cooled, then place transfer the steak strips to a bowl. Pour over the sauce and toss together to coat the steak.
- Serve with rice or noodles.
Notes
*Note 1 – Slicing the steak
It’s easier to cut the steak into thin strips if you place it in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up a little. Cut the steak against the grain to ensure it doesn’t go tough and chewy when cooking.*Note 2 – Max Crisp Function
I have a Ninja air fryer that has a ‘Max Crisp’ function that goes up to 240C/475F. If your air fryer doesn’t go that high, then use the maximum temperature (often this is 200C/400F) and cook for 1-2 minutes longer.Can I freeze it or make it ahead?
This recipe works best when made and served right away. Freezing/chilling then reheating means the beef won’t be crispy.However, it does still taste really good. So if you did want to freeze it, then cool, cover and freeze. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat thoroughly in the wok or a microwave until piping hot throughout. You can add a splash of water if it’s a little dry.
Nutritional information is approximate, per serving (this recipes serves 4).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
🍽️ What to serve it with
? Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe works best when made and served right away. Freezing/chilling then reheating means the beef won’t be crispy.
However, it does still taste really good. So if you did want to freeze or refrigerate it, then cool, cover and refrigerate/freeze. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat thoroughly in the wok or a microwave until piping hot throughout. You can add a splash of water if it’s a little dry.
🍲 More Air Fryer Fakeaway recipes
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