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.
Made this tonight, was delicious! Used ground ginger and brown sugar since that’s what I had, and sirloin instead. Definitely making again, maybe half chicken half steak to mix things up!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, I appreciate you reporting back!
Made this with venison steak. Used Tony’s, and nutmeg because didn’t have other spices. Did not use sugar either. Followed other instructions per recipe. LOVED IT! So did wife and kids.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, I appreciate you reporting back!
We all liked this recipe. I have tried several recipes of pepper beef, but this was by far the easiest and best!! I think it was the sugar in the sauce. It really makes the sauce taste like restaurant sauce!! Thanks!!
SO glad to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
This recipe is awesome!! It tastes exactly like what you would find in a Chinese restaurant. The thickened sauce is what makes the recipe.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, thank you for reporting back!
Do i have to use cornstarch
You don’t, but the sauce will be thin!
Sara. Your recipe is slamming…..yummmmmmmmmmy! We making it again tonight! My hubby loves this and I take it for lunch and it’s still yummy! Girl you Rock!!!!!
Yay so happy to hear you’re enjoying it!!
Tried it last night on Cauliflower Rice. Subbed stevia for sugar and used low sodium Soy. It was great! Low calorie!
I made it for Dinner last night. Delicious. I added 1/4 teaspoon of Sesame oil. Thank you for this quick and easy recipe.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for writing in!
Thanks for sharing! I made it tonight and it was yummy! I didn’t have fresh garlic or fresh ginger, so I just used the seasoning versions of the two. Adding this to my recipes!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
This a greatrecipe. I added onion and I use the steak we had on hand, which was a t-bone. I left the sauce as is, which in my opinion can make or break a recipe. So the recipe is a 5 star because of the sauce. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
Made this today for a quick lunch. Great recipe. I added Onion and Tomato, wished I had some ginger but didn’t. 🙁 I will definitely make this many more times. Next time with Ginger. Thank you for this yummy and quick recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you for reporting back!
Do l have to tenderize the meat first?
I will be trying.
Nope, just slice it thin!
I did just like recipe call for exception l added onions and everything was delish.
My family love it, will b making again.
Thanks
We loved this full of flavor and healthy thankyou for sharing
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
I made this for lunch today, made a couple of little changes and it was SO GOOD! I used Low Sodium Soy sauce and I used Ginger powder because I didnt have fresh Ginger. I added some diced onions, 1tbs Sesame oil, crushed red pepper flakes, and about 1tsp. Oyster sauce. I’ll writing this one down and using it again and again! YUM!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
What can I serve with this other than rice?
Noodles, quinoa, cauliflower rice, you could even try potatoes!
Probably a stupid question but is it fresh garlic or the dried minced garlic, same for the ginger, fresh or dried. I like fresh, but want to make sure, thanks
Fresh garlic and fresh ginger!
Making this tonight, adding sliced onion! Can’t wait
Hope you enjoyed it!
Making it right now, smells delicious!
Hope you enjoyed it!!
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
So glad you liked it, thank you for reporting back!
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.
Great Recipe!!! It soo tasty 🙂
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