Perfect crispy strips of beef in a tangy spicy sauce. This is my favourite dish from the Chinese takeaway, so it has a lot to live up to. I will show you how to get that lovely scaly outside, and the best part is that we don’t have to use a deep fryer!
This is one of my go-to dishes. I can almost always count on Chris to say “Crispy Chilli Beef!” when I ask him what he wants for tea.
It’s actually my favourite meal from the Chinese takeaway too. We always order a portion, but it can be a bit hit-and-miss. The beef is sometimes so crispy that it’s hard to tell if there’s any beef at all. There are times when it’s great. I like the homemade version better because I want the crispy outside and the taste of the beef. A crispy, craggly coating with tender beef inside – perfect every time!.
Crispy shredded beef is a beloved Chinese takeout dish. The savory strips of beef fried to a crisp texture and coated in a sweet, sticky sauce are hard to resist. But is this tasty treat actually diet-friendly or does it pack a high calorie punch?
In this article, I’ll break down the calorie count and nutrition profile of Chinese crispy shredded beef. You’ll learn how it compares to other popular Chinese dishes, get tips for lightening it up, and find out if enjoying the occasional order fits into a balanced diet.
Calorie Count of Crispy Shredded Beef
A typical portion of crispy shredded beef contains around:
- 6 oz beef: 330 calories
- Batter and frying oil: 150 calories
- Sweet chili sauce: 80 calories
Total Approximately 560 calories
This is for a generous takeout-style portion Homemade versions may have slightly less oil and sauce, reducing the total calorie count.
Compared to other popular Chinese dishes, crispy shredded beef is moderately high in calories:
- Chicken chop suey: 300 calories
- Vegetable stir fry: 200 calories
- Sweet and sour chicken: 390 calories
The combination of lean beef, batter, frying oil and sugary sauce all contribute to the calorie density.
However, 560 calories for a satisfying main dish isn’t outrageous for an occasional indulgent meal. You can also trim calories with homemade versions or by scaling back your portion size.
Nutritional Profile of Crispy Shredded Beef
Beyond just calories, here is the full nutrition breakdown for a 6 oz portion:
- Calories: 560
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 44g
- Protein: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 1280mg
Over half the calories come from carbs, mostly added sugars from the sauce. About 30% of calories are from fat thanks to deep frying methods.
While crispy shredded beef provides a good amount of protein, it lacks fiber, vitamins or other nutrients. It’s considered more of an infrequent treat than a healthy meal.
Ways to Lighten Up Crispy Shredded Beef
If you want to enjoy this tasty dish while limiting calories, here are some tips:
- Use an air fryer instead of deep frying
- Skip the batter and fry plain beef in just oil
- Choose chicken or shrimp instead of beef
- Request light sauce or on the side
- Bulk up with veggies like broccoli, bell peppers or snap peas
- Enjoy a kid-size portion or split a regular order
Preparing it at home also allows you to control ingredients and portions. Skip dumping batches of oil for frying, opt for lighter cooking methods, and go easy on the sweet chili sauce.
Health Impact of Occasional Indulgence
While crispy shredded beef is high in refined carbs and sodium, eating it infrequently as part of an overall balanced diet is unlikely to negatively impact your health.
However, having it too often can lead to excess calories, fat, sugar and preservatives. This could contribute to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, inflammation and other issues if you overindulge.
To keep this dish as an occasional treat, limit it to once a month or so. Avoid extra large portions that provide over 1,000 calories in one meal.
Balance out the nutritional drawbacks by emphasizing veggies, lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats in your daily diet. Stay active and limit liquid calories from beverages as well.
Tips for Healthier Homemade Crispy Shredded Beef
Here is how to prepare a lighter version at home:
Choose lean beef: Opt for eye of round, sirloin tip or 93% lean ground beef. This slashes saturated fat.
Skip heavy batter: Just coat with a sprinkle of cornstarch instead.
Use smart cooking methods: Bake, skillet cook or air fry instead of deep frying.
Boost nutrition: Add some onion, bell pepper and snap peas.
Create lighter sauce: Use reduced sodium soy, chili sauce, vinegar and honey.
Control portions: Stick to 3-4 oz cooked beef per serving.
Round out the meal: Enjoy with brown rice and steamed greens.
With some simple subs and smart prep methods, you can feel better about enjoying this restaurant classic at home.
Healthier Chinese Takeout Options
If you’re trying to make smart menu picks for Chinese takeout, here are some better options:
- Steamed or pan fried dumplings
- Vegetable egg foo young
- Steamed shrimp and mixed veggies
- Chicken and broccoli in garlic sauce
- Hot and sour soup
- Brown rice
- Stir fry dishes with lots of veggies
In general, steamed and veggie-packed dishes tend to be lower in calories than fried, breaded items drenched in thick savory sauces.
Still, an occasional order of something like crispy shredded beef is perfectly fine – just focus on lighter choices the rest of the time.
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are in Chinese crispy shredded beef? A typical takeout-style portion clocks in around 560 calories. While not a diet bargain, enjoying this dish occasionally is unlikely to derail your goals.
To lighten it up, opt for smaller portions, skip the heavy batter, or bake instead of frying. Boost nutrition by adding veggies and scaling back on the sugary sauce.
When cooking at home, choose lean beef, just coat in cornstarch, and pan fry in a small amount of oil. Round out the meal with brown rice and greens.
While crispy shredded beef is high in refined carbs and sodium, eating it infrequently in moderation can fit into an overall healthy diet. Just be mindful of portions and balance your diet the rest of the time.
How to make Crispy Shredded Chilli Beef
**Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.**
- Place steak slices that are very thin in a bowl and coat them with one small egg.
- Salt, pepper, and white pepper should all be added, and it should all be mixed together. It will stick together, but it needs that sticky coating to have a nice, crisp outside.
- Fry the steak in 2 batches in very hot oil. I like to shallow fry because I don’t have to clean up a big pan of oil afterward. For this recipe, we only need 4 1/2 tablespoons of oil.
- Take the steak out of the pan and fry up some onion, red chili, ginger, and garlic slices.
- Now we’re going to add the sauce to the pan. This is made up of ketchup, dark soy sauce, caster sugar, and sweet chili sauce.
- Stir it all together in the pan and let it bubble for one minute. Then add the beef back in and mix everything together to coat it.
There are a few tablespoons of sauce left over at the bottom of the pan after this recipe is done. It’s possible to make twice as much sauce by adding twice as much rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, ketchup, and sweet chili sauce. You can make it a little lighter by mixing half light soy sauce with half dark soy sauce.
What do we need?
- For the BEST taste, I like to use thin-cut or quick-cook sirloin steak. You can use ribeye instead, or you can use flank/skirt steak or rump steak. When you cut flank or rump steak, make sure the slices are very thin. If they are too thick, the meat can get chewy. Always sliced AGAINST the grain.
PRO TIP – Place the steaks in the freezer for around 30 minutes to firm up a little. This will make it much easier to slice the steak nice and thinly.
Ziangs: How to make REAL Chinese Takeaway Crispy Shredded Beef
FAQ
How many calories are in a crispy shredded beef?
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Typical Values
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per 100g
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per 1/2 pack
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Energy
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352kcal
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449kcal
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Fat
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19.7g
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25.1g
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Saturates
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1.6g
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2.1g
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Mono-unsaturates
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11.8g
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15.1g
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How many carbs are in Chinese crispy beef?
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Protein
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9.2g
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Carbs
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36.5g
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Fat
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8g
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How many calories are in shredded beef?
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Serving Size
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Calories
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1 oz boneless, cooked
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82
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100 g
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288
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1 cup cooked, shredded
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348
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1 cup cooked, diced
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386
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How many calories in a crunchy shredded beef taco?
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Nutrition Facts
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|
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For a Serving Size of 1 taco
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|
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How many calories are in Shredded Beef Crispy Taco? Amount of calories in Shredded Beef Crispy Taco: Calories 245
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Calories from Fat 144 (58.8%)
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% Daily Value *
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How much fat is in Shredded Beef Crispy Taco? Amount of fat in Shredded Beef Crispy Taco: Total Fat 16g
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What is crispy shredded beef?
Crispy salt and pepper beef, also known as ‘ crispy shredded beef ‘ is one of our family’s favourite Chinese beef dish. Crispy deep fried beef steak tossed with restaurant style classic mix of salt, pepper, Chinese five spices and fresh crisp vegetables.
How long do you deep fry shredded beef strips?
Heat oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot enough (165-175°C (330-350°F) temperature range), shallow-fry the shredded beef strips for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until they turn golden brown. Set it aside and drain excess oil on kitchen paper. Once all the meat strips have been shallow-fried, put them aside.
What is Chinese crispy beef?
Crispy beef is a popular dish in Chinese takeout menus. This Chinese crispy beef is a restaurant-quality recipe featuring super crispy strips of beef smothered in a sweet tangy glaze with fresh chili. Easy to prepare and loaded with flavor, your Asian dinner will be ready in just 30 minutes.
How to make crispy chilli beef (shredded beef)?
Let’s learn how to make crispy chilli beef (shredded beef), Cantonese style. Our recipe is sweet, crispy and full of meaty savouriness that you’ll fall in love with it once you try it. Cut the steak into thin strips and marinate them with oyster sauce for 15-20 minutes. Mix cornflour and Chinese five spice powder in a separate bowl.