Description
This Slow Cooker Pepper Steak recipe delivers tender beef strips, colorful bell peppers, and onions in a savory sauce. It’s a hearty, comforting, and easy dish perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, offering a hands-off approach to a classic Chinese-American inspired meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (900 g) beef sirloin or flank steak, sliced into thin strips
- 2 bell peppers (red and green), sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (mixed with 2 tbsp water, for thickening)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions or sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare beef: Slice steak into thin strips, cutting against the grain for tenderness.
- Brown meat (optional): Sear beef strips in olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned. This adds depth of flavor.
- Layer ingredients: Place the browned beef, sliced bell peppers, sliced onion, and minced garlic into your slow cooker.
- Mix sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef broth, low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, ground ginger, and black pepper.
- Pour sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 6-7 hours or on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender and the peppers are softened.
- Thicken sauce: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, stir the cornstarch and water mixture (slurry) into the slow cooker. Allow the sauce to thicken.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds, if desired. Serve this easy slow cooker pepper steak hot over steamed rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- For the most tender beef, ensure you slice the steak thinly and against the grain.
- If you prefer firmer peppers, add them during the last hour of cooking instead of at the beginning.
- Adjust the amount of brown sugar to suit your preference for sweetness.
- Red pepper flakes can be added for a touch of heat, or omit them if you prefer a milder dish.
- Browning the beef before adding it to the slow cooker enhances the flavor and texture, but can be skipped if you’re short on time.
- To thicken the sauce without cornstarch, remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking and allow it to simmer and reduce.
- Avoid overcooking the peppers, as they can become mushy.
- Ensure you use cuts of beef with some marbling for the best tenderness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Chinese-American Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion