4.95 from 19 votes

Orange Beef (BETTER Than Takeout!)

By Chris JoePublished Oct 19, 2023
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19 Comments

Servings: 4

30 mins

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This Orange Beef is a wonderful weeknight meal that is so easy to bring together! The crispy, seared beef is paired with a bright, savory orange sauce and pairs so well with a freshly steamed bowl of rice! This recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, and you’ll be making it again and again!

Orange beef in a bowl

Watch the Orange Beef Recipe Video Below!

Close up of orange beef cooking in a wok

Ingredients for Orange Beef

This Orange Beef recipe is a so delicious! The crispy beef pairs so well with that savory, citrusy orange sauce.

What type of Beef should I use?

You can use a wide variety of cuts of beef for this recipe! I prefer flank steak for Orange Beef due to its tenderness and fat ratio, but here are some common cuts you can buy to make this recipe at home:

  • Flank Steak
  • Sirloin
  • Top Round

Ingredients

  • flank steak or sirloin cut into 3″ long strips against the grain about ¼” thick
  • white pepper
  • light soy sauce
  • baking soda
  • Shaoxing wine
  • sesame oil
  • cornstarch
  • orange zest
  • neutral oil
  • light soy sauce
  • orange juicer
  • brown sugar
  • chicken stock (or water)
  • crushed red pepper
  • distilled white vinegar
  • cornstarch slurry – cornstarch + water
  • garlic
  • ginger
Orange beef over steamed white rice with orange slices

Tips for Orange Beef:

  1. Choose the Right Cut of Beef: Use a tender cut of beef like sirloin or flank steak. Slice it thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness.
  2. Marinate the Beef: Marinate the sliced beef for at least 15-30 minutes to infuse it with flavor and tenderize it. The baking soda in the marinade will help tenderize the beef during this process!
  3. Extra Crispiness: If you like your Orange Beef extra crispy, before stir-frying, toss the marinated beef slices in cornstarch. This will help create an even crispier texture when you cook it.
  4. Aromatics: Garlic and ginger add a nice depth of flavor. Sauté them until they’re fragrant first before adding your Orange Beef sauce.

Cooking With a Wok (Alternatives)

By now, you know that I LOVE cooking with my carbon steel wok! It is my #1 most recommended kitchen tool, as I believe it is perfect for high-heat cooking and results in restaurant quality Chinese food!

If it is your first time cooking with a wok, make sure to read my “How To Season a Wok” post. There is a video included that shows exactly how to season your brand new wok and how to maintain it so it lasts for years.

If you cannot or do not want to use a wok, you can use a large pan, cast iron, or even a dutch oven.

My KEY TIP would be to avoid crowding your pan – crowding can lead to your Orange Beef not cooking thoroughly and becoming mushy. If you think your dish will be crowded, use a larger pan, cast iron, or dutch oven, OR cook in batches.

If you liked this Orange Beef recipe, check out some of the most popular recipes on the blog! Please consider leaving a review and letting me know your thoughts about the recipe. It really helps out the blog!

If you tried this Orange Beef or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

4.95 from 19 votes

Orange Beef

By: Chris Joe
Servings: 4
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Orange beef over steamed white rice with orange slices
This Orange Beef is a wonderful weeknight meal that is so easy to bring together! The crispy, seared beef is paired with a bright, savory orange sauce and pairs so well with a freshly steamed bowl of rice! This recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, and you'll be making it again and again!
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Ingredients 

Sauce

Cornstarch Slurry

Aromatics

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced (10g)

Instructions 

  • Slice steak against the grain into strips. Add to a bowl and marinate with white pepper, light soy sauce, baking soda, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, cornstarch and orange zest for 20 minutes.
  • Mix together the sauce ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the cornstarch slurry.
  • In a large wok or non-stick pan, add the oil and heat on high. Add the marinated beef and fry until a crust has formed, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the oil and onto a plate to rest. Remove excess oil leaving about 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan.
  • In the remaining oil, saute garlic and ginger for 30 seconds over medium high heat until fragrant.
  • Add the premixed sauce to the pan, and cook over medium high heat for 1-2 minutes until bubbling and slightly reduced. Add the cornstarch slurry and mix for 30-40 seconds until thickened and glossy. Add back the beef to the pan and mix thoroughly until combined. Garnish with orange slices and serve with freshly steamed white rice and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Slice Against the Grain is my key tip in super tender Orange Beef. If you’re not sure if you are slicing against the grain, look at the meat and follow the lines. They should be running in one direction – these lines are the muscle fibers. Slice across the lines. Cutting the muscle fibers will help keep the beef tender, as the fibers of the muscles won’t be able to get tough when cooked.
Want Extra Crispy Orange Beef? – If you like your Orange Beef extra crispy, before stir-frying, lightly toss the marinated beef slices in cornstarch. This will help create an even crispier texture when you cook it.
Success is in the Prep! – Once you start cooking, Orange Beef will come together very quickly. The key to pulling this off successfully is having all of your ingredients prepped and in bowls right next to your wok or pan! Have your premixed sauce, beef, and vegetables ready and easily accessible during the cooking process.
Re-Stir the Cornstarch Slurry – A cornstarch slurry is a mixture of cornstarch and water that is used often in Chinese cooking to thicken. Before adding it to your dish, make sure your cornstarch slurry has not separated To be safe, I always give my cornstarch slurry one final stir right before adding it.
Avoid Overcrowding – My KEY TIP would be to avoid crowding your pan – crowding can lead to your Orange Beef not cooking thoroughly and becoming mushy. If you think your dish will be crowded, use a larger pan, cast iron, or dutch oven, OR cook in batches.
Storage / Reheating – You can store leftover Orange Beef in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
I like reheat Orange Beef in the air fryer in order to crisp up the beef. When reheating the beef in the air fryer, the sauce with further caramelize and infuse into the crispy batter! Air fry at 350°F for 6-8 minutes or until warmed through and crispy. (If you love air fryer recipes – try my Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, or Air Fryer Orange Chicken)
Alternatively, reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through. I don’t recommend reheating Orange Beef (or any fried food) in the microwave unless you don’t care about the texture and just want to heat it back up as quickly as possible.

Nutrition

Calories: 609kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 3gFat: 58gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gMonounsaturated Fat: 36gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 0.5mgSodium: 1368mgPotassium: 144mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 334IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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4.95 from 19 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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19 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    100% better than takeaway! Absolutely loved this. Quick and easy yet so tasty and full of great flavours. Thanks for such a good recipe that I’ll be making often in future.

    Reply

  6. 5 stars
    This orange beef is better than take out. My daughter demands I make this on special occasions for her. Of course I don’t mind because it’s delicious

    Reply

  7. 5 stars
    Can’t wait to make this recipe again! Delicious and super easy to follow. We love it.

    @wendy127

    Reply