These 21 Shaved Beef Recipes are absolutely delicious, and I guarantee that you'll love them! Thinly sliced steak or pulled beef in delicious spices I mean, what's not to like?
Thinly sliced steak is the star of many amazing dishes, like Philly cheesesteak, tacos, and fajitas.
So it's time to try everything that shaved beef has to offer fully!
Not only is it incredibly tender and easy to cook, but it's also packed with vitamin B12 and protein.
I'm sure you won't be disappointed when you try these 21 amazing shaved beef recipes. They're delicious, easy, and budget-friendly too!
What Is Shaved Beef?
Shaved beef is just beef sliced extremely thin, thin enough that it cooks through in a minute or two in a hot pan. It usually comes from top round, sirloin, or ribeye, and it's sold under a few different names depending on where you shop. You'll see it labeled shaved steak, sandwich steak, breakfast steak, or sometimes just thinly sliced beef.
It's worth keeping in your freezer because it turns cheap cuts into fast dinners. A tough cut sliced thin across the grain cooks tender in a way the same cut never would as a steak. That's the whole trick behind Philly cheesesteaks, and it's why so many of the recipes below come together in under 20 minutes.
Where To Buy It
- Trader Joe's Shaved Beef Steak, which is the one most people mean when they search for this. It's in the refrigerated meat case, and it's already sliced and ready to go.
- The butcher counter at most grocery stores. Ask for shaved steak or sandwich steak, and they'll slice it for you, often from top round.
- The freezer section, usually sold as sandwich steaks or cheesesteak meat.
- Asian grocery stores, where it's sold frozen for hot pot and shabu shabu. This is the thinnest cut you'll find, and it's excellent for stir-fries.
- Your own kitchen, which costs the least. There's a section below on how to slice it yourself.
How To Slice Your Own
This is easier than it sounds, and it's the cheapest way to get shaved beef, because you can buy whatever cut is on sale.
- Pick a lean cut with a clear grain direction. Top round, flank steak, and sirloin all work well.
- Freeze it for 30 to 45 minutes. You want it firm on the outside but not frozen solid. This is the step that makes everything else possible.
- Find the grain, which is the direction the muscle fibers run, and turn the meat so your knife will cut across those fibers rather than along them.
- Use your sharpest knife and slice as thin as you can manage, aiming for about an eighth of an inch.
- Use it right away or freeze it flat in portions.
Cutting across the grain matters most. Cut it the wrong way and even thin slices come out chewy, because you've left the long muscle fibers intact.
How To Cook It Without Making It Tough
💡 The Four Rules for Tender Shaved Beef
- Get the pan genuinely hot before the meat goes in. Shaved beef wants to sear, not steam.
- Cook it in batches. Crowding the pan drops the temperature, and the beef releases water instead of browning.
- Keep it fast. Most shaved beef is done in 60 to 90 seconds a side. It goes from tender to leathery quicker than almost anything else.
- Take it out and let the sauce finish separately, then return the beef at the very end. This is the single most common fix for tough results.
The exception is slow cooker recipes like the ropa vieja and the pulled beef below, where you're deliberately going long and low so the connective tissue breaks down. Fast or slow both work. It's the middle that ruins it.
1. Beef Chow Fun
This beef chow fun recipe is a perfect way to enjoy shaved beef steak. It's tender, flavorful, and pairs beautifully with rice noodles.
Whether you prefer fresh ho fun or dried rice noodles, this recipe works wonderfully. It's a versatile dish you can adapt to your preferences.
It's not just a simple shaved beef recipe; it's a meal that brings comfort and satisfaction to your dining table. It's a must-try for all beef lovers.
2. Shaved Beef Stir Fry
This shaved beef recipe is a quick and easy meal solution, perfect for those busy weeknights.
With a stir-fry sauce that's so tasty, you'll forget about your favorite takeout place.
Satisfy your cravings in minutes with this delicious shaved beef recipe.
3. Mexican Beef Bowls
These Mexican beef bowls are a shaved beef recipe that's easy to prepare in your slow cooker.
Perfect for meal prep, these bowls feature shaved beef steak, rice, beans, plantains, and peppers for a balanced, flavorful meal.
Make weeknights easier with this delicious, family-friendly shaved beef recipe.
4. Philly Cheesesteak
If you've been looking for the perfect Philly cheesesteak recipe to enjoy some shaved beef, look no further!
This one will make you feel like you're sitting in Philadelphia, with perfectly cooked, thinly sliced steak, caramelized onions, and cheese in a classic combination.
It's so good! You're going to love it!
5. Slow Cooker Sesame Beef
This slow cooker sesame beef recipe is a perfect choice for those who love the rich, tender texture of shaved beef steak.
With its robust flavor profile, this shaved beef recipe is versatile and uses only a handful of common ingredients.
It's an ideal shaved beef recipe for those looking for an easy, family-friendly, and delicious meal.
6. Brisket Quesadilla
This brisket quesadilla recipe is a perfect way to use up leftover brisket. It's a great way to use shaved beef steak and turn it into a delicious meal.
Melted cheddar, red onions, and smoky BBQ sauce fill a tortilla. The result is a quesadilla with crispy edges and a gooey, delicious center.
It's an easy, family-friendly shaved beef recipe. It's not just tasty, but also a great way to reduce food waste by using leftovers.
7. Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef)
This Ropa Vieja recipe is a Cuban-style shaved beef dish simmered in a rich pepper-tomato sauce.
It's a perfect recipe with shaved beef steak, offering detailed instructions for both slow cooker and Instant Pot methods.
This shaved beef recipe is delicious and versatile, making it a great choice for family meals.
8. Beef Stroganoff
Beef stroganoff is one of the most classic shaved beef dishes, and this recipe delivers that authentic flavor!
It features tender, sliced beef smothered in a creamy, delicious mushroom-and-onion gravy.
The best part is that this can be ready on your dinner table in 30 minutes!
9. Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
This beef and cabbage stir-fry recipe is a quick, easy dish that's perfect for any shaved beef recipe.
It's a low-carb meal packed with flavor, with plenty of ways to add your own touch.
It's not just filling, but also a great way to incorporate shaved beef steak into your meals.
10. Easy Mongolian Beef
This Mongolian beef recipe is a great choice for anyone who loves shaved beef recipes. It's packed with tender, flavorful beef and a variety of veggies.
The dish is stir-fried and tossed in a sweet and savory sauce that's absolutely delicious. This recipe features shaved beef steak that's sure to impress.
Best of all, it's so good that it beats takeout any day. Enjoy restaurant-quality Mongolian beef at home in just 30 minutes!
11. Instant Pot Beef Ragu
This classic Italian dish is absolutely delicious, featuring shaved beef with pappardelle in a delicious tomato-based sauce.
It's a hearty, comforting family meal that is easy to make and makes the most of shaved beef!
12. Stir-Fried Bitter Melon with Shaved Beef
If you're looking for a shaved beef recipe, this traditional stir-fried Chinese dish is a must-try.
It's not just about the beef; the homemade black bean sauce adds a unique flavor.
And the best part? It's a recipe with shaved beef steak that's easy to prepare and perfect for family meals.
13. Shredded Beef Taco Salad
This shredded beef taco salad is an exciting twist on a classic recipe with shaved beef steak.
With a zesty cilantro-lime dressing, mango salsa, and queso fresco, it's a vibrant, fun dinner option.
With the added goodness of avocado, this salad is not just delicious but also very nutritious.
14. 15-Minute Beef Stir Fry
If you're looking for a quick and easy shaved beef recipe, this 15-minute beef stir-fry is a perfect choice.
It's a delicious blend of shaved beef steak, vibrant veggies, and a savory sauce that's ready in no time.
This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights when you want a flavorful and satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
15. Beef Brisket Ragu with Pasta
This shaved beef recipe is a tasty, slow-cooked meal, simmered gently in red wine and aromatic herbs until fork-tender.
This hearty beef brisket ragu features shaved beef steak and will fill your home with irresistible, comforting aromas like no other dish can.
Perfect for a cozy Sunday dinner, this dish will become a family favorite, and the best part is, it's incredibly easy to prepare.
16. Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This slow cooker beef enchilada stuffed sweet potatoes recipe is a perfect way to enjoy shaved beef in a unique, flavorful way.
It's not just a recipe with shaved beef steak, but a wholesome meal that's easy to prepare and family-friendly.
With the slow cooker doing most of the work, you can enjoy a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
17. Lime Teriyaki Shredded Beef Taco
This lime teriyaki shaved beef Taco recipe is a simple, family-friendly meal. It's perfect for those who love shaved beef recipes.
The slow cooker does all the work, making the shaved beef steak incredibly tender and juicy. The lime teriyaki flavor adds a unique, delicious twist.
This easy recipe is perfect anytime, making it a go-to for busy families. The result is a moist, flavorful shaved beef that everyone will love.
18. Birria Ramen
This Birria ramen recipe is a great way to use shaved beef steak, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a shaved beef recipe.
With its rich birria consommé and juicy shredded beef, this dish offers a complex flavor profile that's sure to impress.
Adding tender noodles and your favorite toppings makes this dish not just delicious, but also customizable to your tastes.
19. Bulgogi (Korean Barbecued Beef)
Looking for a simple shaved beef recipe? Bulgogi, or Korean barbecued beef, is a straightforward yet incredibly flavorful dish.
With this recipe, all you need to do is marinate the shaved beef steak and grill it. It's as easy as that.
This recipe is easy to follow and makes a delicious, family-friendly meal everyone will love.
20. Beef Shawarma
If there's a Middle Eastern shaved beef recipe that is incredibly popular here in the US, it's definitely beef shawarma.
This recipe features the most aromatic shawarma spices in shaved beef that's served in a pita wrap with veggies and tahini sauce.
It's incredibly tasty! And it's easy to make too!
21. Slow-Cooker Barbecue Pulled Beef
This barbecue pulled beef has the most delicious maple chipotle barbecue sauce, making it a tasty, kid-friendly weeknight dinner!
The best part? It only takes 15 minutes of prep! Serve it on top of buns with coleslaw for a deliciously easy shaved beef dinner!
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually top round, sirloin, or ribeye, sliced very thin. Top round is the most common because it's lean and inexpensive, and slicing it thin solves the toughness that cut is known for.
Yes. Shaved beef, shaved steak, sandwich steak, and breakfast steak all refer to the same thing, and which name you see depends on the store.
Use a hot pan, cook in small batches, and cook 60 to 90 seconds per side. There's a full section above on this, but the short version is that chewy almost always means either overcooked or sliced with the grain instead of across it.
You can, and it works better than you'd expect because the slices are so thin. Break the block apart in the pan as it thaws and drain any water that collects before you try to brown it.
Plain shaved beef is, since it's just meat. Watch the sauces, because soy sauce, teriyaki, and most stir-fry sauces contain wheat. Use tamari or a gluten free soy sauce, and you're fine.
Two days in the fridge, or three months frozen. Freeze it flat in portion-sized bags, and it thaws in about 15 minutes.
The stir-fry at number 2 or the Philly cheesesteak at number 4. Both are forgiving, and neither needs any special equipment.
More Beef Dinners From My Kitchen
If you're here for shaved beef, you'll probably like these too, and these are all mine rather than round-up links:
- Beef and Broccoli, which uses the same thin-slice, fast-sear method.
- Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef for the low-and-slow version.
- Beef Stroganoff, a family favorite around here.
- Steak Tips when you want bigger pieces of beef.
- Korean Beef Sloppy Joes for something a little different.
- Copycat Texas Roadhouse Beef Tips in the slow cooker.
- 40 Fall Beef Recipes for the whole collection.
21 Easy Shaved Beef Recipes
Ingredients
- Beef Chow Fun
- Shaved Beef Stir Fry
- Mexican Beef Bowls
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Slow Cooker Sesame Beef
- Brisket Quesadilla
- Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef)
- Beef Stroganoff
- Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry
- Easy Mongolian Beef
- Instant Pot Beef Ragu
- Stir Fried Bitter Melon with Shaved Beef
- Shredded Beef Taco Salad
- 15-Minute Beef Stir Fry
- Beef Brisket Ragu with Pasta
- Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Lime Teriyaki Shredded Beef Taco
- Birria Ramen
- Bulgogi (Korean Barbecued Beef)
- Beef Shawarma
- Slow-Cooker Barbecue Pulled Beef
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a shaved beef recipe and enjoy your delicious meal!
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutritional information provided is an estimate. For specific dietary needs or concerns, we recommend consulting a nutrition calculator or a qualified expert.
Karen Kelly
Karen Kelly is a nationally syndicated food and travel writer, founder of Seasonal Cravings, and co-founder of The Roam Report. She develops approachable seasonal recipes and covers travel and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Yahoo, Taste of Home, Apple News, NBC, FOX, and other national and regional publications.
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