Name: Pepper Steak Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ pounds flank steak (or sirloin steak, sliced thinly against the grain); 1 tablespoon soy sauce (16 grams); 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8 grams); 1 tablespoon sesame oil (11 grams); ⅔ cup low sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos, 6.5 ounces); ⅔ cup beef stock (5.3 ounces); ¼ cup brown sugar (50 grams); 2 teaspoons ginger paste (10 grams); 2 tablespoon oyster sauce (38 grams); 2 tablespoon cornstarch (16 grams); 2 tablespoons sesame oil (divided, 22 grams); 1 small yellow onion (sliced); 1 red bell pepper (sliced); 1 green bell pepper (sliced); 2 teaspoons minced garlic (10 grams)

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This quick and easy pepper steak recipe is ready in 30 minutes! Tender beef, bell peppers, and a rich sauce make this a better-than-takeout dinner recipe.

If you’re looking for a quick, flavorful dinner, this pepper steak recipe is your answer! With just 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, you can have a sizzling stir fry of tender beef, bell peppers, and a homemade sauce on the table in no time.

This pepper steak is the perfect follow-up to our popular chicken stir fry and delicious alternative to traditional fried rice. This recipe is proof that a homemade meal doesn’t have to take hours to impress. And leftovers are perfect for lunches!

Ingredients for Pepper Steak

A few notes about ingredients in our pepper steak recipe:

What cut of meat is pepper steak? Flank steak has great flavor and is the ideal choice for pepper steak. When cut across the grain in thin strips, it cooks up extra tender. Top sirloin steak or skirt steak are two other options if you can’t find flank steak.
Soy sauce. Use coconut aminos for a gluten free soy sauce alternative. I buy a large bottle of Big Tree brand at Costco.
Cornstarch. One reason why pepper steak is so tender and easy to eat is because of the cornstarch. Cornstarch is part of the marinade and it not only tenderizes the beef, but also prevents it from browning too much. It thickens the sauce and makes it velvety smooth! This is called velveting and you can read about it on bon appétit.
Ginger and garlic. Both key ingredients in making a delicious stir fry sauce.
Oyster sauce. This ingredient is optional, so if you don’t have it in the fridge, don’t worry. But it does give the sauce a deeper flavor.

✨ See the recipe card below for full ingredients and amounts. ✨

How to Make Pepper Steak

Place the sliced steak in a bowl with the soy sauce, cornstarch and sesame oil. Stir to coat. Let it marinate for 30-60 minutes in the fridge.

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, ginger paste, oyster sauce, and cornstarch. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the marinated steak in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until browned and just cooked through. Remove the steak from the pan and set it aside.

In the same skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the onion, red bell pepper and green bell pepper. Stir fry for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender as you prefer. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Return the steak to the skillet with the vegetables. Pour in the prepared sauce and toss to coat everything evenly. Let the mixture simmer over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and everything is heated through.

What to Serve with Pepper Steak

This pepper steak recipe is a great on its own when you want meat and veggies, but what can you serve with this flavorful beef steak?

White rice, brown rice or rice noodles
Roasted potatoes
Egg noodles. I always have partial bag of egg noodles from making slow cooker beef tips!
Then top with sliced scallions or peanuts.

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