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Close-up of a delicious pepper steak stir-fry with red and green bell peppers served next to white rice.

Easy Pepper Steak - Family Dinner Recipe

This quick and flavorful Easy Pepper Steak recipe features tender strips of beef, vibrant bell peppers, and crisp onions coated in a savory garlic-ginger sauce, making it a perfect hearty meal for any busy weeknight family dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

For the Beef
  • 1.5 lbs flank steak sliced against the grain into 1/4-inch strips
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce low sodium
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground
For the Sauce
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce low sodium
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar granulated
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
For the Stir-fry
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil or canola oil, divided
  • 1 large green bell pepper seeded and sliced into strips
  • 1 large red bell pepper seeded and sliced into strips
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion halved and sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated or minced
  • Optional: cooked cups white rice for serving

Equipment

  • Large Skillet or Wok
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Cutting Board
  • Sharp Knife

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced flank steak, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp cornstarch, sesame oil, and black pepper. Toss well to coat the beef evenly. Let it marinate at room temperature for at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, 1/4 cup soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, and 1 tbsp cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the marinated beef in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding). Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until browned, then remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the same skillet. Add the sliced green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and yellow onion. Stir-fry for 3-5 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
  5. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet with the vegetables. Stir-fry for another minute until fragrant. Return the cooked beef to the skillet with the vegetables.
  6. Give the prepared sauce a quick whisk again (cornstarch settles) and pour it over the beef and vegetables in the skillet. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats all the ingredients, about 1-2 minutes.
  7. Remove from heat and serve immediately over steamed white rice.

Notes

For extra spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic and ginger. You can also incorporate other quick-cooking vegetables like snow peas, mushrooms, or baby corn.