Pepper Steak Stir Fry
This easy pepper steak stir fry is a healthy midweek meal that you can have on the table in just 20 minutes. So, say goodbye to takeout and enjoy this delicious meal at home!
Stir fries are one of my go-to’s for a quick midweek dinner. I love that you can throw everything into one pan, cook it over medium-high heat for a few minutes and you’re done! It can’t get any easier.
My family loves ordering beef stir fry with vegetables when we get Chinese takeout, and this homemade version of steak stir fry with peppers does not disappoint!
The peppers are cooked to a tender crispness and the steak is simply seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Then, everything is tossed in an addictive sweet and salty sauce. The perfect combination!
This pepper steak stir fry is…
- Quick and easy to make. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights!
- Family friendly. The sauce is slightly sweet and not at all spicy, so great for all taste preferences!
- One pan dish. Less fuss and less mess make clean up a breeze!
I think this recipe is just as good as the same dish served in many restaurants. I like to serve it with steamed rice, but it also goes great with fried rice or noodles. Saving time and money makes it all the better and I’m so happy to share this recipe with you!
If you love creating take-out favorites at home, also try my cashew chicken recipe and my delicious recipe for sesame chicken!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This dish has a simple list of ingredients you’ll need and you probably have most of the items in your pantry already!
Steak stir fry sauce:
- Soy sauce – A low-sodium one lets you better control how salty you want your dish to be.
- Water
- Cornstarch – Helps to thicken the sauce
- Honey – Adds sweetness to the sauce and a delicious stickiness
For the stir fry:
- Vegetable oil – You want to stir fry with a neutral oil that high as a high smoke point as you’ll be cooking at a medium-high/high heat. Canola and grapeseed oils are also good options.
- Red and green bell peppers – If you prefer another color of pepper then feel free to substitute!
- Flank steak – Sirloin steak and skirt steak would also work well here.
- Garlic powder – Slightly sweeter and less intense than using raw garlic.
- Salt and pepper – Season to your preferences. Remember, if you use regular soy sauce the stir fry sauce will already have a salty flavor, so taste it before you add more salt.
4 Quick Steps to Make this Recipe
You’ll be amazed at how quickly this steak stir fry comes together! Before you start, gather all your ingredients and tools as the recipe moves fast!
- Make sauce. Place all the stir fry sauce ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup and whisk together.
- Sauté vegetables. Heat vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and add the sliced peppers. Sauté the vegetables for 3 – 5 minutes just until tender. Remove the peppers from the skillet.
- Cook the steak. Add the steak to the same skillet and turn the heat to high. Add in the flank steak and sprinkle it with garlic powder and salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Combine everything. Return the peppers to the pan and pour over the sauce. Simmer for 2 – 3 minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
Enjoy!
Important Steps in Making a Good Stir Fry
If you haven’t tried stir-frying at home, not to worry, the technique is pretty straightforward! Think of it as being like sautéing but at a higher temperature. Here are some key steps to take to ensure your stir fry turns out perfectly every time:
- Prepare all of your ingredients in advance as stir frying moves quickly!
- Cut your peppers and steak into similar sizes so they cook in the same amount of time.
- Heat the pan and oil first before adding in the veggies and then the meat. You want everything to start sizzling once they meet the pan.
- Keep it moving! Stir the ingredients with a wooden spoon or spatula to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan or burning.
Expert Tips
Cut steak across the grain. Flank steak benefits from being cut across the grain. Cutting it this way will make it tender and easier to chew. So how do you cut across the grain? Look at your piece of steak to see which way the muscle fibers (grain) runs. You want to cut in the opposite direction.
Freeze beef first before slicing. It can be tricky to thinly slice steak, but this tip works really well for me. Put the meat into the freezer for 30 – 60 minutes to partially freeze before slicing. It’s soooo much easier to cut the meat when it’s firmer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my pepper steak tough?
It’s true that flank steak or any stir fry steak can be a bit tough, but there are a couple of things you can do to help.
The first thing to do is to make sure you’re cutting the meat across the grain. This will help to shorten the fibres to make the meat less chewy.
The second thing to remember is to season the beef with salt. Salt is a tenderizer. Seasoning the large piece of meat before you slice it can make it a bit easier.
This stir fry can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat it, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water before heating it up in the microwave. The sauce will thicken up in the fridge, so adding a splash of water will help to loosen it up.
I’ve been making this pepper steak recipe for my family for over a year now and am hoping you and yours will enjoy it as much as we do; it’s my husband’s most-requested dinner!
Easy Pepper Steak Stir-Fry
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- ½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- 3 tablespoons (21 g) cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons (42 g) honey
For the Stir-Fry
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided
- 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
- 1½ pounds flank steak, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a 2-cup measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients; set aside.
- Heat 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced peppers, season with salt and pepper, and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, until just tender. Remove from the skillet to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil to the skillet, increase the heat to high, and add the flank steak. Sprinkle with the garlic powder and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Return the peppers to the pan with the steak and reduce heat to medium. Whisk the sauce ingredients again and pour over the steak and peppers mixture. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens. Serve with white rice.
Notes
- Vegetable oil – You want to stir fry with a neutral oil that high as a high smoke point as you’ll be cooking at a medium-high/high heat. Canola and grapeseed oils are also good options.
- Bell peppers – If you prefer another color of pepper then feel free to substitute!
- Flank steak – Sirloin steak and skirt steak would also work well here.
- Honey – You can substitute granulated or brown sugar.
- Storing Leftovers – This stir fry can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat it, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water before heating it up in the microwave. The sauce will thicken up in the fridge, so adding a splash of water will help to loosen it up.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Photography by Dee Frances.
Only the wife and I and there were no leftovers with this recipe. Really tasty.
cool, love it google
That is a great idea for dinner tonight. Thanks lol beans
A tad salty for our taste. I did use 1/2 like sodium soy and 1/2 regular soy sauce due to fact that I am trying to use up the full sodium. Otherwise, my husband really liked it and definitely a recipe I’d make again . I would have added a l Iititle bit more bell pepper.
Made this tonight, the whole family enjoyed the meal, very good, thank you. I also added Hemp Seed Oil
There are lots of food blogger like this But the best food recipe ” Easy Pepper Steak Stir-Fry” is yours. Thanks for giving me this wonderful blog. I will try to make it like you. Best car Detailing services in delhi.
There are lots of food bloggers like this But the best food recipe “Easy Pepper Steak Stir-Fry” is yours. Thanks for giving me this wonderful blog. I will try to make it like you.
Nice recipe, I like the picture. looks delicious.
This looks delicious! I’ll be making it soon.
Honda Talon Problems
Excellent and easy dinner! Made this for the second time for my mom and husband. It was so tender and tasty. Thank you, Michelle❣️Our prayers at the table included Dominic and your family. Sending blessings, strength, hugs, and healing your way! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Tastes great! Eating something delicious right now.
Persis Biryani And Indian Grill In Catonsville.
I am tagging this as one of my easy weeknight meals. Delicious & easy. Loved the flavor and I think my kids actually ate peppers!
This is a really good, basic stir fry recipe. However, I would add
fresh garlic and fresh grated
ginger for extra flavor.
I made this last night using beef shaved steak and it was absolutely delicious. Such a good meal that is ready in no time. Another hit from our favorite Brown-Eyed-Baker!
Made this with one tweak, velveting the meat with baking soda, see https://thewoksoflife.com/prepare-beef-for-stir-fry/
It was overall a delicious dish, will make again for sure.
Made this tonight, the whole family enjoyed the meal, very good, thank you.
You are so welcome, Sara! I’m so thrilled to hear your family enjoyed it :)
Better to use cornstarch/ cornflour in the UK to mix with the raw steak 10/15 mins before cooking. This gives that unique texture to meat that you get in your takeaway. Since learning this “velveting “ method we no longer buy take away. Good luck….just keep velveting your meat
Interesting technique, thanks for sharing, Anne!
Yum
Thank you 😊. I’ll be making this for sure!!
Any suggestions on cooking the rice? Mine NEVER turns out right.
Thanks
Maria
Hi Maria! Honestly, I buy Lundberg rice and just follow the instructions on the back of the bag and it always seems to turn out. We like their jasmine rice; I hope that helps!
This looks delicious! I’ll be making it soon.
Thanks Sally, I hope you’ll enjoy!
This sounds delicious! I’m putting this on my list of meals to make.
Thanks, Patty! Enjoy!