Homemade Pepper Steak

This delicious Chinese Pepper Steak is a quick, budget-friendly alternative to restaurant takeout that doesn’t compromise on authentic flavor. Made in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect answer for a busy weeknight dinner.

 

Pepper Steak Stir Fry

This easy pepper steak recipe creates the most mouthwatering dish, combining tender strips of beef with colorful bell peppers and a savory sauce. It’s a wonderful copycat recipe that allows you to enjoy the same bold tastes and textures as you get from your favorite Chinese restaurants.

The great news is that, with just a handful of ingredients, you can make it at home in just 30 minutes. One of the best things about this pepper steak recipe, versus takeout, is that you can ensure you are getting the freshest ingredients. Plus, you know you control exactly how much ingredient you’re adding and can tailor it to your personal preference.

If you’re a big fan of Chinese cuisine, you should also check out this Kung Pao Chicken and this Sweet and Sour Chicken. 

Why You’ll Love This Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe

• Customizable – It’s easy to customize to your liking. See some great suggestions below. 
• Delicious- Tender beef and vegetables soaked in a homemade savory sauce.
• Quick – A 30-minute meal that you can quickly get on the table. 

Chinese Pepper Steak Ingredients

For The Pepper Steak 

• Vegetable oil – you can use avocado, canola, or coconut oil. 
• Steak – sliced against the grain into thin slices.
• Bell peppers – Red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and orange bell pepper, chopped into bite-size pieces.
• White onion – chopped into bite-size pieces.
• Sesame seeds and sliced green onions – for garnish.

For The Homemade Sauce

• Low-sodium soy sauce – you can use dark soy sauce or light soy sauce.
• Low-sodium chicken broth – you can use beef broth or vegetable broth.
• Rice vinegar – adds just the perfect amount of tang to the sauce. 
• Fresh garlic cloves, and cracked black pepper – add savory flavor to the sauce. 
• Fresh ginger – classic Asian sauce ingredient, but you can also use ground ginger. 
• Brown sugar – adds a wonderful balance of sweetness to the savory ingredients. 
• Sesame oil – key ingredient to giving the sauce Asian flavor. 
• Corn starch – thickens the sauce.

How to make Pepper Steak (Chinese Style!)

Step One: Stir-fry the Steak

• Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the steak and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until browned. Remove the steak to a plate. 

Step Two: Add the Vegetables

• Add the remaining vegetable oil to the skillet. Add the crisp bell peppers and onions and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until tender.
• Add the cooked steak back to the skillet.

Step Three: Make the Sauce

• Whisk together the soy sauce, chicken broth, rice vinegar, garlic, black pepper, ginger, brown sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a large bowl. Pour the stir fry sauce into the skillet.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

Step Four: Garnish and Serve

• Serve the juicy steak and veggies with some of the sauce over a bed of rice.
• Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy!

Variations of Peppered Steak

• Steak: You can make this same recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breast. 
• Sweet bell peppers: We use a colorful mix, but you can use all green bell peppers or red bell peppers. 
• Other veggies: Feel free to throw in other vegetables such as broccoli, snap peas, green beans, shredded carrots, and bok choy.
• Honey: You can swap in honey instead of brown sugar.
• Sauce ingredients: If you want to add stronger Asian flavors to the sauce, you can add a little bit of oyster sauce or hoisin sauce. 
• Spice level: If you like a little bit of heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce. 

Storing Leftover Peppered Steak

Store leftover pepper steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days.  To reheat, quickly stir-fry in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. 

You can also freeze the leftovers for up to a couple of months in a freezer-safe container. 

Best Beef for Pepper Steak

Top round steak, sirloin steak, flank steak, rump steak, or round steak are some tender stir fry options. Skirt steak, flat iron steak, and hanger steak are also good options. 

New York strip and ribeye steak work great, but they are typically more expensive.

How to Make Pepper Steak Tender

For the most tender results, you’ll want to cut the steak into thin strips against the grain. Cutting against the grain means slicing it against the muscle fibers in your cut of beef. This makes the beef more tender.

What to Serve with Pepper Steak Stir Fry

Typically, you will serve this pepper steak over cooked white rice. But you can serve it with brown rice, rice noodles, or ramen noodles. Cauliflower rice or Palmini noodles are great alternatives if you want a lower-carb option.

Tips for Making Homemade Pepper Steak

• Get organized by having the right kitchen tools ready before starting. You’ll need a wok or large skillet, measuring cups/spoons, a whisk, a cutting board, and a sharp knife.
• Take a couple of paper towels and pat dry the steaks before cooking to remove excess moisture. This will help the steak form a nice crust on it.
• If you’re short on time, you can buy stir-fry beef at the grocery store already sliced.
• Pop the steak in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before slicing it. This will firm up the steak and make slicing it a breeze.
• If using fresh ginger, peel the skin first with a vegetable peeler, or you can use a spoon to scrape the skin off. Store the peeled ginger in a zip lock bag in the freezer.

Chinese Pepper Steak Recipe FAQs

Other Easy Asian-Inspired Recipes  

• Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
• Egg Roll in Bowl
• Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork
• Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken
• Egg Fried Rice
• Chicken Teriyaki
• Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta