Pepper steak is a Chinese-inspired meal with plenty of sauce, bell peppers, and onions. This is a stir-fry-style meal but made in the slow cooker! Wonderful served over rice and has plenty of sauce (or gravy) to go around.

If you like Chinese-flavored meals, try my Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli and Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Why this pepper steak recipe works

This recipe is easy but has so much flavor and tastes like a restaurant-style meal but made in your own kitchen. The sauce has quite a few ingredients, but all are pantry staples and easy to assemble.

The slow cooking tenderizes the beef way more than cooking on the stovetop, and the sauce marries together during the long cooking time. We also like to make slow cooker swiss steak, slow cooker flank steak, or slow cooker beef and broccoli.

Recipe Ingredients

• Beef – cut top sirloin or round steaks into 1/2 inch strips (some stores carry this already done for you and call it stir fry beef). Flank steak works but the beef will have a more stringy texture. We also love to make Slow Cooker London Broil!
• Bell peppers – one red and one green
• White onion – sliced, though you can mince it if you have guests who don’t like big chunks of onions.
• Water and beef bouillon cubes – mix hot water and bouillon cubes to start the base of the sauce.
• Brown sugar – honey or white sugar works, too.
• Soy sauce – I use standard soy sauce in this recipe, not low sodium. Note that there is no table salt in this recipe so using regular soy sauce is important.
• Worcestershire sauce – adds a touch of tang and layer of flavor to the sauce.
• Cornstarch – this helps make the sauce thick and velvety.
• Seasonings – ground ginger, garlic powder, black pepper and brown sugar
• Red pepper flakes – This is optional if you like a spicy dish. (Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the photos).

Step-by-Step Directions

Step One – In a small bowl, add the water and beef bouillon cubes. Microwave until hot, about 30 seconds.

Step Two – Dissolve the beef bouillon into the water, do this by squishing the cubes with the back of a spoon.

Step Three – Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, seasonings, and cornstarch. (Add red pepper flakes if you want your sauce spicy).

Step Four – Whisk these ingredients until smooth. This may not seem like a lot of sauce, but the beef, onion, and peppers will create more sauce while cooking.

Step Five – Add the sauce mixture to the slow cooker.

Step Six – Add the beef strips on top of the sauce.

Step Seven – Next, add the onions.

Step Eight – Then add the bell pepper strips.

How to Serve

So many different ways to serve pepper steak. Choose what your family enjoys most.

• White rice is the perfect side dish. It soaks up the flavors of the sauce and fills the entire family. You can also use brown rice.
• Spaghetti noodles or egg noodles
• Steamed veggies such as broccoli or green beans.
• Quinoa is a healthy option!

Recipe FAQs

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