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
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!
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.
Jessica Joachim says
This Pepper Steak Stir Fry looks delicious! I love easy meals that are good for my family, and I will be making this very soon! I think even the kids will love it because they are obsessed with steak
Heather says
I don’t eat meat but when I was young, my Nana used to make something very similar to this!
Kiwi says
This looks good minus the steak. I dont eat meat anymore but I do indulge in seafood so I wonder if I can subsitute the meat for shrimp.
Bismah Bonnie says
This is my kind of meal as it is served with peppers and rice. The steak is sliced thin which is perfect for someone who doesn’t eat more than a few pieces of meat.
princess quinn says
This is a great recipe that I think even the kids will love. As pepper have high Vit C content. But I think it’s important not to overcook the peppers so as to maintain its nutrients.
Jessica Taylor says
This looks absolutely AMAZING! I get something similar to this at a restaurant near my house. Can’t wait to try and make it myself!
Ruth I says
Oh my, this look so tasty! I bet this will be a favorite in our house, can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
Ann F. Snook-Moreau says
I love stir fries too! And I agree, it’s better to make it at home so you know exactly what’s in it. My hubby would really love this recipe!
Becca Talbot says
This sounds totally scummy! I loved peppered steak anyway, but had never thought to put it in a stir fry before, so what a great idea 😊 x
LavandaMichelle says
What an amazing post! This looks so tasty. I love to make this for my family. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Echo says
This looks so good! I love a great stir-fry and that sauce looks so delicious.
Martha says
Can you use a rib eye steak sliced thin?It looks absolutely wonderful!!!!
Sara says
Yes that will work!
Nina says
This looks absolutely and amazingly mouthwatering and delish. I love stir fry. Thank you for sharing the recipe
Marci | The Southern Smiths says
Oh my gosh this is to die for!! Any thing with bell peppers is always a hit in my house!
Charli Bruce says
This sounds absolutely delicious! Definitely something that I would love to make x
Debbie says
This looks so good and easy! Putting it on my menu plan.
Julie says
Made it tonight it was awesome thank you !
Lori says
Made this last night and it was really good! I made a few changes/additions: I added chunks of onion, three shakes of ground ginger (didn’t have fresh on hand), added three shakes of red pepper flakes, and about a half teaspoon of sesame oil. I also lightly coated my steak in the cornstarch before stir frying it. My family loved it! Will make this again.
bonnie says
This recipe is great! Made it as written! A keeper!
Sara says
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
Jennine Conway says
If i dont have ginger, can i use something else?
Sara says
You can just omit the ginger and it will still be great!
Jen says
Great Recipe!!! It soo tasty 🙂
Sara says
So glad to hear you liked it, thanks for reporting back!
Lee-Ann says
Love this pepper steak stir fry recipe! I tried it last week and it was just wonderful. Gonna use this recipe as an example for my own food blog.
Lashaunda Saunders says
I made this dish tonight. I added sliced onion and ground ginger. Didn’t have fresh. I also used brown sugar instead of white sugar. My family loved it, will be making it again
Sara says
So glad you liked it, thank you for reporting back!
Frida says
Making it right now, smells delicious!
Sara says
Hope you enjoyed it!!