Garlic Pepper Beef Recipe Jollibee Style

This recipe is a home made version of the popular garlic pepper beef or sometime called garlic pepper steak from Jollibee. In my opinion, this is more like a modern version of beef tapa. And what makes this dish savory and mouth watering is the gravy. You will not believe how easy it is too cook this dish. All you have to do is marinate the beef with soy sauce and stir fry it until cooked. Since the beef is thinly sliced, it doesn’t need a long time to cook it. Cooking it too long will make the beef tough and chewy. The gravy is also simple to make and just needs a little technique to bring out the taste of the beef.

You need to make roux or paste out of melted butter and flour by cooking it in a pan and whisk it until it turns into a paste. Then pour the broth and the rest of the gravy ingredients until thick enough. Just combining the butter, flour, broth, spiced and cooking it will not tastes as good as the technique of making a roux first when cooking the gravy.

Jollibee Garlic Pepper Beef : A Taste of Filipino Comfort Food at Home

When I think of garlic pepper beef, my mind drifts to the warm, comforting meals we’d have as a family during Sunday afternoons. My cousin Tito Boy first introduced me to this dish years ago, calling it a “modern twist on tapa.” For many of us, this savory delight isn’t just a recipe; it’s a memory of lazy weekends and the familiar aroma of beef sizzling in the pan. Inspired by the popular Jollibee garlic pepper beef, this homemade version captures that iconic flavor with just a few ingredients and some easy techniques. Let’s dive into this delicious recipe and discover why it has become a Filipino favorite.

Bringing Garlic Pepper Beef into Your Home Kitchen

Garlic pepper beef is beloved for its tender slices of beef coated in rich, peppery gravy. This dish, popularized by Jollibee, is not only a fast-food hit but also something we’ve come to make at home, especially when cravings for something both savory and comforting strike. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. With thinly sliced beef marinated in soy sauce, it cooks quickly, making it a perfect meal for busy days.

The star of the dish, however, is the gravy. It’s not just about combining ingredients; it’s about using the right technique to elevate the flavor, making it so rich and satisfying. Here’s what I learned from my Ate Liza, who always emphasized the importance of making a good roux for any sauce-based dish.

The Secret to Perfectly Tender Beef

One of the keys to a good garlic pepper beef is the texture. To achieve this, thinly sliced beef is essential. The thinner the cut, the quicker it cooks, which means you can preserve its natural tenderness without overcooking. When you’re working with thin beef, remember: a quick stir-fry over medium heat is all it takes. My uncle Ramon would always remind me, “Too much cooking makes it tough, like chewing leather.” Those words stick with me every time I prepare this dish.

To start, marinate the beef in soy sauce and oyster sauce. This combination adds a savory depth to the meat while keeping it tender. When massaging the meat, I use a squeezing motion to let the marinade penetrate deeply, ensuring each slice is infused with flavor. After just a few minutes of stir-frying, the beef is beautifully browned and ready to be set aside while we prepare the magic—the gravy.

Making the Roux: Why This Technique Transforms the Gravy

Now, let’s talk about that roux. A roux is simply a paste made from melted butter and flour, but don’t let its simplicity fool you—it’s what makes the gravy luxuriously thick and smooth. My Lola Mila, who taught me the basics of sauces, would say, “A roux brings everything together.” And she’s right! Without this step, the sauce would be thin and lacking that rich texture we all love.

To make the roux, start by melting butter in a pan over medium heat. Then, gradually add the flour, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. You’ll see it transform into a smooth, golden paste. This process ensures that the butter and flour cook together, which brings out a slightly nutty flavor and keeps the sauce from tasting raw.

Once the roux is ready, pour in water and add a beef cube for extra richness. Keep whisking! This step is essential for achieving a gravy that’s thick, creamy, and full of flavor. A sprinkle of garlic powder, salt, and pepper enhances the gravy, making it the perfect complement to the garlicky beef.

A Touch of Fried Garlic: Adding That Filipino Twist

If you’ve been to a Filipino household, you’ll know that garlic is almost sacred in our cooking. In this dish, fried garlic adds a crunch and depth of flavor that really brings everything together. Fry the garlic until it’s golden brown, and then set it aside as a garnish. When added to the final dish, this crispy garlic elevates each bite, giving it a hint of nuttiness and crunch. It’s a small detail, but it’s what makes garlic pepper beef truly irresistible.

Serving Garlic Pepper Beef: The Ultimate Filipino Comfort Meal

The final step? Combine the beef with the rich gravy, letting the flavors meld together for a few moments. Scoop a generous portion onto a bed of steamed rice, top it with the fried garlic, and you have a complete meal. Every bite of this garlic pepper beef with rice feels like a warm hug, perfect for sharing with family and friends.

While many associate garlic pepper beef with Jollibee, it’s so much more than a fast-food meal. It’s a taste of home, a dish that combines simple ingredients with techniques that bring out their best qualities. The roux-based gravy, the thinly sliced beef, the crispy garlic garnish—each element comes together to create a meal that’s both flavorful and nostalgic.

A Brief History of Garlic Pepper Beef

Though it may seem modern, garlic pepper beef carries a connection to classic Filipino flavors. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of beef tapa, a traditional dish made with marinated beef, usually served for breakfast with garlic rice and eggs. The soy sauce marinade and garlic are common elements, linking it back to Filipino cuisine’s love for savory, comforting flavors. Jollibee’s take on this beef dish has only made it more accessible, inspiring home cooks like us to create our own versions.

So next time you’re craving something cozy and flavorful, try this homemade garlic pepper beef. Whether it’s your first time making it or it brings back memories of family meals, this dish is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Enjoy the rich, garlicky aroma, the tender beef, and the comforting gravy that brings it all together—just the way it does for my family every time I make it.

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4 from 3 votes

How to Cook Garlic Pepper Beef Jollibee Style

Garlic pepper beef is a savory, tender dish of thinly sliced beef coated in a rich, garlicky gravy with a peppery kick, perfect over steamed rice.

Prep Time8 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time23 minutes mins

Course: Beef Recipe

Cuisine: Filipino

Keyword: chicken pastil panlasang pinoy, garlic pepper beef, garlic pepper steak, Jollibee style beef recipe

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 304kcal

Author: Manny

Ingredients

• 1/2 kilo beef sirloin sliced thinly
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp. oyster sauce
• 1/2 cup cooking oil

Ingredients for gravy:

• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 Knorr beef cube
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper powder

For garnishing

• 1 head garlic peeled, minced and sliced

Instructions

How to cook Garlic Pepper Beef:

• In a small bowl, combine beef with soy sauce and oyster sauce then massage the meat in a squeezing motion using your hands. Heat oil in a pan and stir fry the beef in medium heat until it turns brown. Transfer into a serving plate.
• To make the gravy, melt the butter in a pan in medium heat and add the flour. Whisk continuously until it turns in to a roux or paste. Add beef cube and water then continue to whisk.
• Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper and continue to whisk and cook until it turns into a gravy. Add more water if the gravy becomes too thick.
• Add the beef in the pan and stir. Add fried garlic then serve with steamed rice and enjoy!
• (To make fried garlic, fry the chopped garlic in cooking oil until brown.)

Video

Notes

Cooking Tips on Garlic Pepper Beef:

Use Thinly Sliced Beef for Tenderness

When making garlic pepper beef, use thinly sliced cuts, like sirloin or ribeye, to ensure quick and even cooking. Thin slices allow the marinade to soak in deeply, making each piece more flavorful. Overcooking is easy to avoid with thin beef, as it needs only a brief stir-fry to stay tender.

Whisk Continuously When Making the Roux

Creating a smooth roux is essential for a rich, lump-free gravy. Melt the butter in the pan first, then add the flour gradually, whisking constantly to form a golden paste. Continuous whisking prevents clumping, giving your gravy a silky texture and a subtle, toasty flavor.

Add Fried Garlic Last for Extra Crunch and Aroma

Adding fried garlic as a final garnish enhances both flavor and texture in this dish. Fry chopped garlic in oil until golden brown, then sprinkle it on top just before serving. This simple addition brings a satisfying crunch and deep, fragrant aroma that elevates every bite.