Chilli Beef with Peppers and Onions | Easy Spicy Stir‑Fry Beef Recipe

Chilli beef, peppers and onion
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A quick and flavour‑packed chilli beef with peppers and onions is the perfect recipe for anyone craving a fast midweek dinner, a spicy stir‑fry, or a healthy beef recipe that delivers big flavour with minimal effort. This easy chilli beef recipe combines tender strips of beef, crisp bell peppers, and onions in a bold, glossy sauce infused with garlic, soy, and chilli heat. It’s a brilliant choice for fakeaway nights that feels both vibrant and satisfying.

Ready in minutes, this beef, pepper and onion stir‑fry brings together fresh vegetables and savoury spices for a dish that’s as colourful as it is delicious. Whether you’re searching for a spicy beef recipe, a quick chilli beef stir‑fry, or a healthy fakeaway alternative, this version ticks every box while keeping the flavours bold and balanced.

Serving Suggestions for Chilli Beef with Peppers & Onions

  • Steamed rice or egg‑fried rice — the simplest, most reliable base to catch all the chilli juices.
  • Soft flour tortillas — turn it into a wrap or fajita‑style dinner with shredded lettuce and a squeeze of lime.
  • Crispy potato wedges or fries — great for a more indulgent, fakeaway feel.
  • Noodles — egg noodles or rice noodles make it feel like a quick stir‑fry bowl.
  • Green veg on the side — tenderstem broccoli, green beans or pak choi add freshness and balance the heat.
  • Simple cucumber salad — cooling, crunchy and perfect against the spicy beef.
  • Shredded lettuce, spring onions and fresh coriander — for a lighter, build‑your‑own bowl.
  • Roasted or charred corn — sweet, smoky and a lovely contrast to the chilli.
  • Lime wedges & chilli flakes — for brightening and boosting the heat at the table

Variations: Chilli Beef, Pepper & Onions

  • Extra‑Hot Chilli Beef — keep the chilli seeds in, add chilli paste, or finish with chilli oil for more heat.
  • Sticky Chilli Beef — add a spoon of honey or brown sugar for a glossy, sweet‑hot finish.
  • Black Pepper Beef — increase the black pepper and add a splash of oyster sauce for a Chinese‑style twist.
  • Chilli Beef & Broccoli — stir‑fry tenderstem broccoli with the peppers for extra crunch and colour.
  • Chilli Beef Noodle Bowl — toss the cooked beef and veg with egg noodles or rice noodles.
  • Chilli Beef Lettuce Wraps — serve in crisp lettuce cups with lime and coriander for a lighter option.
  • Chilli Beef & Cashew — add toasted cashews for crunch and a nutty contrast.
  • Chilli Beef & Mushroom — sauté sliced mushrooms with the onions for earthy depth.
  • Sweet & Sour Chilli Beef — add a splash of rice vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar for balance.
  • Chilli Beef Fajita‑Style — serve with tortillas, shredded lettuce and lime for a Tex‑Mex feel.
  • Chilli Beef Fried Rice — chop the cooked beef and stir it through fried rice with spring onions.
  • Chilli Beef & Pineapple — add pineapple chunks for a sweet‑spicy contrast.
  • Chilli Beef with Hoisin — stir in a spoon of hoisin for a richer, stickier sauce

Chilli beef, peppers and onions

Spicy, savoury chilli beef stir‑fried with peppers and onions, perfect for quick weeknight dinners and easy, flavour‑packed meals.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • Large frying pan

Ingredients
  

  • thin steak, cut into stripes
  • ¾ tsp chinese 5 spice
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ½ onion, sliced
  • ½ red pepper, deseeded and sliced
  • ½ green pepper, deseeded and sliced
  • 1-2 red chillies, finely sliced
  • 1 tsp garlic paste
  • 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1½ tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½-1 tsp chilli powder

Garnish

  • 3 spring onions, finely sliced

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, add the beef stripes and mix in the Chinese 5 spice and set aside.
  • Prepare the sauce, in a small bowl add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, sugar, ginger and chilli powder and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a pan, add the beef strips and fry for around 5mins until browned all over. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • Add the onions, peppers, chilli and garlic to the pan and fry until the vegetables begin to soften, but not too soft as you will want a bit of a crunch.
  • Return the beef to the pan, stir in the sauce and cook for a few mins.
  • Serve alongside some plain or egg fried rice, or even some noodles with some spring onions sprinkled on top and some shop bought prawn crackers on the side.