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This pepper steak recipe is one of those perfect stir fry recipes that comes out tasting better than a restaurant meal; with its tender steak and colorful bell peppers it will quickly become one of your favorite dishes.

 

 

I love delicious recipes that are loaded with vegetables. When they taste great and have a high nutritional value, that is winning.

The secret to making this recipe taste so great is the flavorful sauce. Do not be scared of this homemade sauce. It only has 5 ingredients!

It is easier than you think to make a large bowl of this popular stir-fried pepper steak that will come together quickly for an easy weeknight meal.

What is pepper steak?

Pepper steak is not black pepper coated steak. This is a homemade version of your local Chinese restaurant’s bell pepper steak stir fry dish.

It’s a dish where you cook steak and bell peppers in hot oil and cover them with a sticky soy sauce glaze and serve it over rice. It makes a truly delicious dinner that everyone will enjoy.

 

 

What ingredients are in pepper steak?

• Cooked Rice: use your favorite; for this recipe I like plain white rice, jasmine rice, or even brown rice
• Soy Sauce: this is the base flavor for the savory sauce we use in this dish; you can use low sodium soy sauce but if the flavor isn’t right, add more salt
• White Sugar: this mixes with the soy sauce to make the glaze sticky so it can coat the veggies and steak; brown sugar can be substituted in a pinch
• Cornstarch: this thickens the sauce so it can be nice and thick on each bite
• Ground Ginger: this adds a nice spice to the sauce
• Garlic: this has health benefits giving the sauce more nutrients as well as adding a great flavor and smell to the sauce
• Vegetable Oil: this is a classic stir fry oil that won’t add flavor, but gives a nice crisp to everything cooked in it
• Sesame Oil: this adds the best flavor to everything cooked in it; who doesn’t love extra sesame flavor cooked into each bite
• Stew Meat: this is one of my favorite cuts of beef to use because it is already diced, no extra chopping needed in the kitchen
• Yellow Onion: chopped into bite sized pieces this will add texture and take on the flavors of the other ingredients in this easy recipe
• Bell Pepper: you can use any color you have, but I do like using green bell peppers best because the color looks so great next to the steak
• Green Onions: these are a beautiful garnish with a light and fresh onion flavor; they are my favorite for giving dishes a fresh taste
• Sesame Seeds: these are optional, but they are so pretty sprinkled on top of your bowl and they are really good for you too

Pro Tip: While I like using green peppers because the color is so nice, try mixing green, yellow, and red bell peppers to make rainbow pepper steak stir fries.

 

 

How to make pepper steak:

1. Whisk sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
2. Add steak and cover with sauce.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then use a slotted spoon to add the meat to the skillet.
4. Brown all sides, then add vegetables and cook until translucent.
5. Add marinade sauce and green onions and cook until thickened.
6. Serve over rice immediately.

 

 

What steak is used for pepper steak?

I love making pepper steak with stew meat because it comes already cut straight from the store. You could use a more tender cut of meat like a top sirloin steak or even a ribeye round steak if you prefer those cuts of meat.

But I love using stew meat because it is fast, easy, costs less, and with my tenderizing trick it ends up tasting just like fancier cuts of meat.

How to tenderize pepper steak:

To tenderize the stew meat pepper steak, you have to let it sit in the soy sauce marinade. That is how you break down the muscle fibers of the meat so it will cook faster and be ready to eat without a long cooking time.

 

 

What sides go with pepper steak and rice?

Any sides you normally order from Chinese restaurant menus would go well with this pepper steak n rice dish. 

Our Favorite Side Dishes are:

• Broccoli Cashew Salad
• Air Fryer Egg Rolls
• Buttered Rice
• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Summer Fruit Salad
• Ramen Noodle Salad

Is pepper steak healthy?

Yes pepper steak is healthy! It has vegetables, nutrients in the sauce, and is a great source of protein.

You can also customize this recipe by adding more of your favorite stir fry vegetables in while you are cooking. In addition to sweet bell peppers try adding snow peas, mushrooms, or even broccoli.

 

 

How to store leftover pepper steak:

Store leftover pepper steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. I like to portion it into single servings so I have easy grab and go lunches for the week.

Can you freeze pepper steak?

Yes you can freeze pepper steak! Be sure to let it cool completely before putting it in the freezer. I like to put it in the fridge first, then transfer it to the freezer the next day. That prevents ice crystals from forming inside the container.

 

 

How to reheat pepper steak:

My favorite way to reheat pepper steak is to put it in a lightly oiled pan and sauté until it is warmed through. You can also put it in the toaster oven if you need a more hands off approach. If it is frozen, you should let it thaw overnight before reheating it.

Pro Tip: For best results, reheat your pepper steak slowly. If you quickly try to heat it in the microwave, you risk the meat becoming tough and not having a great leftovers texture.

The Best Recipes with Stew Beef…

• Polynesian Beef
• Instant Pot Barbacoa
• Beef Tips with Stew Meat
• Easy Crock Pot Beef Stew
• Beef Paprikash
• Easy Beef Stroganoff Crock Pot
• Barbacoa Quesadillas
• Barbacoa Sandwich

Whether you are making this for a fast weeknight boost or to serve dinner guests, this pepper steak is easy, delicious, and a perfect dish for any time of year.

 

Originally Posted: January 18, 2016

Photos and Text Updated: May 9, 2023

 

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