This pepper steak recipe is a flavorful, easy to make dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. Thinly sliced sirloin steak stir fried with onions and bell peppers and garlic in a savory sauce that's so delicious!
Want more yummy recipes like this one? Try this Crispy Chilli Beef, Teriyaki Chicken Bowls, and this easy Bulgogi Bowl!
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This pepper steak stir fry recipe is not only a delicious dinner but it's a homemade version of one of the most popular Chinese takeout dishes! Now, I'm putting my own spin on this popular stir-fried Asian-inspired recipe and making one of my favorite dishes for the blog!
This easy meal can be made in under 30 minutes from the comfort of your own home. It's perfectly seasoned steak cooked with sweet bell peppers and fresh vegetables in a flavorful sauce that's finger licking good.
At first bite, I was immediately taken back to my local Chinese restaurant that we used to frequent as a kid. This was my favorite dish!
Key Ingredients
A few simple ingredients go a long way with this recipe! One thing I love about this recipe is that it's made from pantry staples and ingredients that can easily be found at the grocery store.
- Top sirloin steak - sirloin steak is my favorite because of its beefy flavor. You can also use flank steak, skirt steak, or top round steak. If you're fancy, you can use ribeye steak too! I like using top sirloin because it has the best flavor and is one of my favorite cuts for this dish.
- Sesame oil - I love sesame oil for its nutty flavor. If you don't have any, you can also use vegetable oil or olive oil.
- Worcestershire sauce - this is my favorite ingredients for that tangy umami taste.
- Beef broth - for additional flavor and to thin out the sauce. Chicken broth can be used here as well.
- Ginger - freshly grated ginger is my favorite and really gives the savory brown sauce so much character.
- Soy sauce - low-sodium soy sauce or regular soy sauce both work for this recipe. I used low sodium soy sauce and it came out perfectly.
- Bell peppers - green bell peppers and red bell peppers are ideal for this recipe. They not only add color but flavor. The green peppers are on the more bitter side while the red peppers have a sweeter flavor. Both compliment the savory sauce so well for this Chinese pepper steak recipe.
- Brown Sugar - to add a hint of sweetness and balance out all of the umami flavor. The brown sugar also helps caramelize the sauce adding so much flavor!
- Corn starch - this is the thicken the homemade sauce.
Variations
- If you'd like to give this dish a kick of spice, add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or chili sauce.
- Add mushrooms, asparagus, and even fresh tomatoes or baby corn for add more fresh vegetables to the homemade sauce.
- Try adding oyster sauce for a sweet and salty take on this Chinese American dish.
- If you're not serving with rice, you can also serve with cauliflower rice or stir fry noodles.
Tips
- This easy pepper steak recipe can be made in under 30 minutes - that being said, be sure not to overcook your beef. It's easy to do, thinking that the beef needs to cook longer, however, 2-3 minutes per side for a quick sear is perfect!
- Be sure to cut the meat against the grain. To do this, cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers in the meat. This ensures that the meat is tender.
- To make cutting the steak easier, you can freeze the steak for 20 minutes prior to slicing so that it's firmer and easier to cut into thin slices.
- When cooking the beef, do not overcrowd the pan. If your pan is too small to cook all of the meet at once, simply cook the beef in batches.
- Do not remove any of the browned bits in the pan, they add SO much flavor to the sauce!
How to make Pepper Steak
- First, thinly slice the sirloin steak into strips and add to a large bowl. Then season with salt, black pepper, ground ginger, ground coriander, and onion powder. Toss to ensure every piece of steak is coated.
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl - brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and freshly grated ginger. Mix together and set aside.
- Add one tablespoon of sesame oil to a large skillet and heat oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add beef strips in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Place on a plate with a paper towel to drain any excess oil. Pro tip: cook beef in batches to ensure that the pan doesn't get overcrowded.
- Add remaining tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan and add sliced green and red peppers and onions. Saute in the pan until the peppers begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic and pour in the sauce.
- In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and 2-4 tablespoon of water until smooth. Pour cornstarch mixture and beef broth into the pan and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, about 4-5 minutes. Stir continuously.
- Add steak back into the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Serve over white rice or brown rice and top with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Storage
This pepper steak stir-fry actually keeps really well. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat it, simply allow it to thaw in the refrigerator and microwave it until it's warm.
What to serve with Pepper Steak
I love serving this pepper steak recipe with rice, however, it also goes well with honey sriracha brussels sprouts, sesame noodles, cheesy cauliflower bites with sriracha mayo, or a house salad.
For something to drink, my bourbon smash and bourbon sangria are so good with this pepper steak recipe!
Recipe FAQs
To make pepper steak from scratch, season the meat, then sear in a cast iron skillet. Then cook the peppers and onions and garlic and add the sauce ingredients. Cook until the sauce thickens then add the beef back into the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes and serve.
Pepper steak is made with beef steak. The kind of steak tends to be flank steak, top sirloin steak, or skirt steak.
More Beef Recipes!
- Bavette Steak
- Salisbury Steak Recipe
- Oven Baked Chuck Roast
- Birria Quesadillas
- Mexican Spaghetti
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
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Pepper Steak Recipe
Equipment
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Top Sirloin
- ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ tsp Ground Coriander
- ½ tbsp Onion Powder
- 2 tbsps Brown Sugar
- 3 tbsps Worcestershire Sauce
- ⅓ cup Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Freshly Grated Ginger
- 2 tbsps Sesame Oil
- 1 Red Bell Pepper , sliced
- 1 Green Bell Pepper , sliced
- 1 small Yellow Onion , sliced
- 3 cloves Garlic , diced
- ⅔ cup Beef Broth
- 2 tbsps Cornstarch
Directions
- First, thinly slice the sirloin steak into strips and add to a large bowl. Then season with salt, black pepper, ground ginger, ground coriander, and onion powder. Toss to ensure every piece of steak is coated.
- Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl - brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and freshly grated ginger. Mix together and set aside.
- Add one tablespoon of sesame oil to a large skillet and heat oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add beef strips in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Place on a plate with a paper towel to drain any excess oil. Pro tip: cook beef in batches to ensure that the pan doesn't get overcrowded.
- Add remaining tablespoon of sesame oil to the pan and add sliced green and red peppers and onions. Saute in the pan until the peppers begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add garlic, and pour in the sauce.
- In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and 2-4 tablespoon of water until smooth. Pour cornstarch mixture and beef broth into the pan and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, about 4-5 minutes. Stir continuously.
- Add steak back into the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Serve over white rice or brown rice and top with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
- This easy pepper steak recipe can be made in under 30 minutes - that being said, be sure not to overcook your beef. It's easy to do, thinking that the beef needs to cook longer, however, 2-3 minutes per side for a quick sear is perfect!
- Be sure to cut the meat against the grain. To do this, cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers in the meat. This ensures that the meat is tender.
- To make cutting the steak easier, you can freeze the steak for 20 minutes prior to slicing so that it's firmer and easier to cut into thin slices.
- When cooking the beef, do not overcrowd the pan. If your pan is too small to cook all of the meet at once, simply cook the beef in batches.
- Do not remove any of the browned bits in the pan, they add SO much flavor to the sauce!
- If you'd like to give this dish a kick of spice, add red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or chili sauce.
- Add mushrooms, asparagus, and even fresh tomatoes or baby corn for add more fresh vegetables to the homemade sauce.
- Try adding oyster sauce for a sweet and salty take on this Chinese American dish.
- If you're not serving with rice, you can also serve with cauliflower rice or stir fry noodles.
Rate + Review
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