Stir-Fried Sliced Beef with Water Chestnuts and Baby Corn in Spicy Hunan Sauce
Tender slices of beef sautéed with crunchy water chestnuts, baby corn, and green peppers, all coated in a vibrant, spicy Hunan-style sauce. This Chinese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs beef sirloin, water chestnuts, baby corn for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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 beef sirloin
- 1/2 cup, sliced water chestnuts
- 1/2 cup, halved baby corn
- 1 medium, sliced into strips green bell pepper
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 1 tbsp doubanjiang (fermented chili bean paste)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp mixed with 1 tbsp water cornstarch
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2, sliced for garnish scallions
The wok we’d stir-fry this in → Best Woks for 2026: Carbon Steel, Nonstick & Flat-Bottom Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and 1 tbsp minced ginger, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 2: Add 1 tbsp doubanjiang (fermented chili bean paste) and stir-fry for 20 seconds to release aroma.
- Step 3: Toss in 12 oz thinly sliced beef sirloin, stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the beef is browned but still tender.
- Step 4: Add 1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts, 1/2 cup halved baby corn, and 1 medium sliced green bell pepper strips; stir-fry for another 2 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Step 5: Pour in 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine, and 1/4 cup chicken broth; stir to combine and simmer for 1 minute.
- Step 6: Stir in 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water to thicken the sauce, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until the sauce coats the ingredients.
- Step 7: Finish with 1 tsp sesame oil, toss gently, and garnish with 2 sliced scallions before serving hot.








