20-minute Beef Chow Fun

This Beef Chow Fun is easy to make in just 20 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner. With rice noodles, bean sprouts, scallions and flank steak this is a dish that will have you craving seconds!

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• Why you will love this recipe
• What you need to make it
• How to make it
• Tips & tricks
• Recipe FAQ
• More quick & easy weeknight dinner recipes
• Recipe
• Reviews

I love noodle dishes and love trying new versions. Beef Chow Fun is a new favorite that's so easy to make, and with the perfect balance of having lots of flavor without being too overpowering.

Now my version is not 100% traditional, but it is Beef Chow Fun in that it is beef stir fried with rice noodles, which is the meaning of the name.

This version uses ingredients I always have at home and uses the noodles I can find at my regular supermarket.

Why you will love this recipe

• It's quick to make and all done in 20 minutes
• It's easy to make with just a few simple steps
• Loaded with flavor but at the same time subtle in taste
• Delicious on its own, as well as with a few nice sides

What you need to make it

Ingredient notes

• Rice noodles: I use the thickest dry rice noodles I can find in my regular supermarket, if you find even thicker noodles I recommend to use those. If you can find fresh rice noodles, even better! Either way, follow the cooking instructions on the package.
• Flank steak: Make sure to slice it against the grain, or it will end up tough. Have a look below for how to identify the grain and cut against it.
• Bean sprouts: Make sure to rinse them well
• You can add more veggies if you wish - some great additions are thinly sliced carrot, broccoli and baby corn

Ingredient substitutions

• Japanese soy sauce can be swapped for Chinese soy sauce, but it will change the flavor and color
• Mirin can be subsituted for Shaoxing wine, dry sherry, a sweet white wine, and in a pinch a dry white wine with a little bit of sugar added
• Flank steak can be substituted for another tender cut of beef, like rump steak or sirloin
• Scallions can be swapped for green onions

How to make it

1. Bring out the flank steak and find where the grain is. You want to cut against the grain, or the meat will end up tough. The "grain" is actually the muscle fibers running through the meat, and usually pretty easy to spot if you know what you're looking for - they look like threads running in one direction next to each other.
2. Now slice the meat across the threads - that is, "against the grain". Make the slices about ¼ inch (0.5 cm) thick.
3. After the meat is sliced, cut it the other way into bite-size pieces.
4. Now it's time for the marinade. Mix together all the ingredients in a bowl large enough to hold the meat.

5. Add the meat and mix until it's all well covered, then set aside to marinate for 10-60 minutes
6. In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the stir-fry sauce
7. When the meat is done marinating, it's time to start cooking. Cook ginger and garlic for 1 minute in oil over medium-high heat.
8. Add the beef and sear for 1 minute per side.

9. Add scallions
10. Add noodles, bean sprouts and stir-fry sauce
11. Stir-fry for 1 minute while mixing it all well
12. Taste test and season as needed with white pepper and salt

Tips & tricks

• Make sure to cut the beef against the grain to avoid tough meat
• For even more flavor you can marinate the meat longer, up to 1 hour
• Have everything prepped before cooking - this dish cooks quickly!
• Make it gluten free: Make sure the rice noodles, corn starch, oyster sauce and soy sauce you're using are all gluten free
• Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days
• Freeze leftovers to keep them for up to 3 months

Recipe FAQ

More quick & easy weeknight dinner recipes

Love quick & easy weeknight dinners, like this Beef Chow Fun? Then put these on the list for next week!

• Spicy Vodka Pasta
• Salmon Stir Fry with Cilantro & Lime
• Pink Sauce Pasta
• Baked Cod in Foil
• Air Fryer Orange Chicken

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...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

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