Sichuan Peppercorn Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans
Tender strips of beef stir-fried with crisp green beans and numbing Sichuan peppercorns, creating a bold and spicy Chinese dish. This chinese-inspired beef ready in about 30 minutes pairs trimmed and halved green beans, divided vegetable oil, minced garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
- 8 oz, trimmed and halved green beans
- 3 tbsp, divided vegetable oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 1 tsp, toasted and crushed Sichuan peppercorns
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 3 tbsp water
- 2, sliced for garnish scallions
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss 12 oz thinly sliced flank steak with 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the marinated beef in a single layer and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until browned and just cooked through. Remove beef and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same wok, add remaining 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add 8 oz trimmed and halved green beans and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until tender-crisp and blistered in spots.
- Step 4: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp minced ginger, 1 tsp toasted and crushed Sichuan peppercorns, and 1/2 tsp red chili flakes to the green beans. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 5: Return beef to the wok. Stir in 1 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp water, and 1 tsp brown sugar. Toss everything together and cook for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly and coats beef and green beans.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and garnish with 2 sliced scallions before serving with steamed rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sichuan Peppercorn Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (15 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Sichuan Peppercorn Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep divided vegetable oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sichuan Peppercorn Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Sichuan Peppercorn Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 3 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 3). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Sichuan Peppercorn Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans?
Chinese beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
