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Easy Weeknight Pepper Steak Stir-Fry

A close-up of glossy, saucy pepper steak mixed with vibrant green and red bell pepper strips on a white plate.
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Make this restaurant-quality Chinese Pepper Steak at home in under 30 minutes. You get tender beef strips, crisp bell peppers, and onions coated in a savory, glossy sauce. This is the best quick beef stir fry for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (for beef marinade)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (for beef marinade)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (for beef tenderizing)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for searing beef)
  • 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, cut into wedges
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup beef broth
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (for sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional, for depth)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (for thickening sauce)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Combine the sliced flank steak with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and baking soda in a bowl. Mix well and let it sit for 10 minutes to tenderize the beef.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), brown sugar, sesame oil, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and black pepper to create the sauce. Set aside.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the marinated beef in a single layer (work in batches if necessary) and sear quickly until browned, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the beef from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Add a little more oil to the skillet if needed. Add the bell peppers and onion. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
  5. Add the minced ginger and garlic to the skillet. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Return the seared beef to the skillet with the vegetables.
  7. Give the prepared sauce mixture a quick whisk and pour it over the beef and vegetables.
  8. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and peppers, about 1 minute.
  9. Remove the skillet from the heat immediately. Serve your flavorful pepper steak hot over steamed white rice.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of ground black peppercorns to the sauce mixture for a stronger pepper taste.
  • If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the brown sugar to 1/2 tablespoon.
  • This recipe works well with sirloin steak if you do not have flank steak available.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://daisyrecipe.com/easy-pepper-steak-quick-beef-stir-fry/