Sichuan-Style Spicy Beef Stir Fry with Peanuts and Scallions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

A bold and spicy Chinese stir fry featuring tender beef strips tossed with crunchy peanuts, scallions, and a fiery Sichuan pepper sauce. This Chinese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs cornstarch, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry) for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, 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

• 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 whole dried red chili peppers, chopped
• 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns, lightly crushed
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 4 stalks scallions, sliced diagonally
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chicken broth

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, toss 1 lb thinly sliced flank steak with 2 tbsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine, and 1 tsp sesame oil. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add 4 chopped dried red chili peppers and 1 tsp lightly crushed Sichuan peppercorns. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add the marinated beef in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring to get a good sear, then stir-fry for another 2 minutes until browned.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp minced ginger, and 4 sliced scallions. Stir-fry for 1 minute until aromatic.
5. Step 5: Pour in 1/4 cup chicken broth, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp soy sauce. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and toss in 1/2 cup roughly chopped roasted peanuts. Serve immediately with steamed rice.