This pepper steak stir fry is thinly sliced flank steak cooked with red and green bell peppers in a savory sauce. A quick and easy meal that tastes even better than take out!
I always order pepper steak at my local Chinese restaurant, it’s one of my favorite dishes. This homemade version is ready in minutes and has that same great restaurant flavor.
There’s nothing better than a delicious Asian dish that’s not only easy to make, but also better than takeout. This pepper steak stir fry is a restaurant quality meal made in the comfort of your own home!
HOW DO YOU MAKE PEPPER STEAK STIR FRY?
This dish is a combination of sauteed bell peppers, browned steak and a savory sauce. The recipe starts by cooking the sliced peppers until tender. The next step is to add the thinly sliced flank steak into the pan. The finishing touch is the 2 minute sauce which gets poured over the meat and vegetables and then simmered until thickened. Add a bowl of steamed rice and dinner is ready!
I used red and green bell peppers in my Chinese pepper steak because that’s what I had on hand. However, any color of bell pepper is perfectly fine. Some bell peppers are sweeter than others. Red, yellow and orange peppers are typically sweeter than green peppers. Some pepper steak recipes call for tomatoes or onions, feel free to add those into the mix if you like.
To make your steak easier to slice, you can place it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. Partially freezing the meat firms it up and makes it easier to get super thin slices. I typically use flank steak for this recipe as it’s readily available and super flavorful. However, sirloin goes great in place of the flank steak, if it’s preferred or if you have easier access to it.
WHAT KIND OF MEAT IS PEPPER STEAK?
Pepper steak isn’t an actual type of meat. The title can make it appear to be a specific type of steak but it’s just the name of the dish because it contains peppers and steak. The steak often used in pepper steak dishes is flank, sirloin, or round steak.
CAN THE STEAK BE COOKED IN THE OVEN?
If you would like to cook the steak in the oven, that’s perfectly fine to do, although you won’t get that seared brown crust. Simply make sure you don’t leave the meat in the oven for too long so that it dries out and becomes tough. You can place your steak in an oven proof pan and bake it for up to 15 minutes, depending on how well-done you like your steak. Be sure to stir it halfway through the cook time.
My family and I absolutely love a good stir fry. It’s so much nicer to make this steak stir fry at home rather than having to get everyone together to go out and eat. We like serving it over rice or sometimes eating it by itself. Either way, it’s delicious.
OTHER BEEF RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Steak Bites with Garlic Butter
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
- Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
- Soy Marinated Flank Steak
- Philly Cheesesteak Pasta
Pepper Steak Stir Fry Video
Pepper Steak Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil divided use
- 1 red bell pepper cored, seeded and cut into strips
- 1 green bell pepper cored, seeded and cut into strips
- 1 1/4 pounds flank steak thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil over medium high heat in a large pan.
- Add the peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes or until just tender. Remove the peppers from the pan and place on a plate.
- Add the remaining oil to the pan. Season the flank steak with salt and pepper to taste.
- Increase heat to high. Add the steak to the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Add the garlic and ginger, then cook for 30 seconds.
- Place the peppers back in the pan with the steak.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sugar, 1/4 cup water and cornstarch.
- Pour the sauce over the steak mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until sauce has just thickened, then serve.
Kathryn says
Bought a bag of grilled peppers and onions from Trader Joe’s and marinated a steak overnight. Could not be a simpler more delicious meal.
Kathleen says
Absolutely delicious. I added sliced mushrooms, onion, and cauliflower rice. Will definitely make it again, thank you for sharing.
APRIL N GUY says
Nice, quick dish. I used sirloin I stead of flank. But that doesn’t stop it from being easy and delicious.
Tip: don’t add salt, given the soy sauce here, you don’t need it.
Cindy Engelbrecht says
Thanks for your suggestions, I will certainly try this over riced cauliflower!
Jawahn Thompson says
I give it five stars! the little servings adjustment tool on this page is really helpful! I adjusted the recipe to 7 servings and cooked it with 2 lbs. of flank steak so wed have leftovers to heat up the next day. came out perfect! normally I do the red (tomato) sauce pepper steak recipes because that’s what I grew up eating but I like this one with the brown sauce better
Neve says
I’ve never commented on a recipe before and have to, this is amazing! Better than ordering it for takeout. Thank you for sharing!
R. Elkins says
Great recipe, and easy to remember! Even grandson and wife, who both hate bell peppers, snarfed it up. I used a little dry vermouth to help deglaze the wok when I added the peppers. Next time, I plan to forego salting the beef (the soy sauce seems to be sufficient), to add more ginger (I like ginger), and to throw in a fistful of roasted peanuts to caramelize with the beef.
Mariakutty Puthusseril says
In prepared yesterday and it’s delicious. Thanks for the recipe
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Jerry says
I do not write reviews however this one I needed too. It has 5 stars for a reason. I made it for my wife and she couldn’t get enough. She made me save the recipe so I can make again and again. Thank u for sharing
Jennifer says
Very good! And quick and easy! I used double the meat and gravy.
Joette Springer says
This was so good! I increased the liquids a bit for more sauce, but other than that, it’s perfect. This one went directly into my hand written Cook book, I will be making it over and over!
Kim says
Best pepper steak recipe! I added a red longhorn pepper to the pepper mix, along with onion and water chestnuts. So good as we transition into cooler weather! I see this being served often in our future!
Lisa A Kiessling says
I made this for the first time a few months ago it was amazing my family loves it I make it often. It was a very good Recipe
Julie says
This recipe is a keeper!! Absolutely delicious. The only changes I made was to add a sliced red onion and 2 red bell peppers instead of a green and red. My boyfriend says green pepper gives him indigestion. Everything else was exactly the same. We ate it on yellow rice. It was fantastic!
Beverly says
Can you use round steak?
Sara says
I think it could work you’ll want to slice it thinly against the grain since it’s a tougher cut of meat.
Maura says
OMG! This was so good! The sauce was so delish. Will definitely make this again and again.
Joy miller says
This is an amazing recipe. And better than our restaurants! I added an onion so I doubled the sauce. All I can say is wow!
Carol Morissette says
I have made this so many times. I keep forgetting to leave a comment. I love this pepper steak. So easy and delicious. I serve it over cauliflower rice and use monk fruit sweetener. Amazing thank you for posting it.
Kris says
LOVE LOVE LOVE these recipes!!!!
I tried the pepper steak stir fry and it was PERFECT!!!! Made for great left overs too!!! and the meat and flavor was just as good as if I made it the first day!!!!!