Print

Quick 30-Minute Chinese Pepper Steak Stir Fry

Close-up of a serving of amazing 30-minute pepper steak with beef, red and green bell peppers, and onions.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Make this Chinese Pepper Steak recipe for a fast, flavorful weeknight dinner. You get tender beef strips, crisp bell peppers, and onions coated in a savory sauce, ready in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (for marinating)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (for marinating)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda (for tenderizing beef)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 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
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (for sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons cold water (for cornstarch slurry)
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Combine the sliced beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and baking soda in a bowl. Mix well and let it sit for 15 minutes. This technique helps you get tender beef strips.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, 1/4 cup soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil to create the sauce. 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 (work in batches if necessary) and sear quickly for 1-2 minutes per side until browned. Remove the beef from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the bell peppers and onion. Stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
  5. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the vegetables. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the vegetables. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
  7. In a separate small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens to coat the back of a spoon.
  8. Return the seared beef to the skillet. Toss everything together quickly to coat the beef and vegetables evenly in the savory steak stir fry sauce. Cook for 1 minute to heat through.
  9. Remove from heat immediately. Serve your flavorful Asian beef recipe hot over steamed white rice.

Notes

  • For a takeout style pepper steak, add 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper to the sauce mixture for an extra kick.
  • If you prefer a slow cooker pepper steak method, combine all sauce ingredients, beef, peppers, and onions in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Thicken the sauce at the end with a cornstarch slurry before serving over rice.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/easy-pepper-steak-quick-30-minute-stir-fry/