There's nothing quite like succulent beef paired with crunchy, mildly sweet bell peppers! This simple Pepper Steak recipe is a great one-pan-dish for days when you need easy but delicious food.
A quick look at bell peppers
Did you know that bell peppers are fruits, not vegetables? They are actually classified as berries! Seems strange, right? We always see them in the vegetable section in groceries and markets. Though they are scientifically considered fruits, in the culinary world, they are often treated and cooked like a vegetable.
They definitely add to the overall visual appeal of the dish due to their vibrant and sharp colors. But more than just making your dish look appetizing, each color have their own taste palette that elevates the dish even more. They also add more texture to the dish, which is equally important!
The red, orange, and yellow ones have sweet and fruity tones. While the green and purple ones have fresher and slightly tart flavors. It’s all about the maturity level of the berries. The green bell peppers are harvested early and are just basically the less ripe version of the other colors. Red being the ripest is the most nutritious while green bell peppers are crispier than most.
Now about the beef...
For this recipe, you can use the tender cuts of beef like ribeye, strip, flat iron, or flank steak. However, if you can get your hands on a good quality sirloin or tenderloin, the better. They take less time to cook as they are very tender. It's also important to cut them into thin slices so the flavor from the slurry gets absorbed quicker.
Foxy tips for a perfect Pepper Steak
[ticon icon="exclamation-circle"] Cooking beef can be tricky sometimes. Even if you get a prime cut which can be expensive, you could ruin them if you do not know how to cook them. The way to keep these cuts of beef tender and juicy is to cook it very quickly over high heat. Never overcook them or they might become dry and chewy.
[ticon icon="exclamation-circle"] Slice the beef against the grain. If this is the first time you heard of this, it simply means to slice the beef perpendicular to the direction of the meat fiber. Doing it this way makes it easier to chew the beef once cooked.
[ticon icon="exclamation-circle"] For easier slicing, you can freeze the meat until it is firm but not rock-hard
[ticon icon="exclamation-circle"] Bell peppers can be eaten raw, so cook them just enough for their flavors to be released but still retain their crispiness and vibrancy.
If you love beef as I do, try these as well!
Printable Recipe
Simple Pepper Steak Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 pound beef tenderloin or sirloin cut into thin slices
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 small onion - coarsely chopped
- 1 big red bell pepper - cored, seeded and cut into strips
- 1 big green bell pepper - cored, seeded and cut into strips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
SLURRY
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the cornstarch, salt and, pepper. Add the beef slices coating each slice with the cornstarch mix.
- In a large pan or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Saute garlic and onion until tender and aromatic. Add the bell peppers and cook for 2-3 minutes or just until half cooked. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Turn heat to high. Add butter and the beef strips. Cook for 2-3 minutes just until slightly browned. Do not overcook to keep the meat tender and juicy.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together water, soy sauce, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch to make a slurry. Pour the mixture to the beef and add back the bell peppers.
- Season with salt and pepper as needed. Cook for another minute or so but do not overcook and bell peppers should still be a bit crisp.
- Remove from heat and serve on top of rice immediately.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in April 2015. Updated in September 2020 to include new photos, more tips, and a recipe video.
Kelly Polton says
Love the recipe
Alana says
Hi from the US.. your recipes are really great and so easy to follow.. everything that i’ve tried was a hit.! Especially this one and the spicy tuna roll.. thank you..
Bebs says
That is so wonderful to hear, Alana. Thanks for the great review!
Vanessa says
I just finished cooking this and it’s so good. My picky eater daughter tried 3 strips of beef with rice and voila, she loved it! Thanks Bebs for this recipe. It’s a keeper!!!!
Bebs says
That is so great to hear, Vanessa! Happy that you and your daughter like it.
Vanessa says
I just finished cooking this and it's so good. My picky eater daughter tried 3 strips of beef with rice and voila, she loved it! Thanks Bebs for this recipe. It's a keeper!!!!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
This looks really tasty Bebs. Peppers and beef always make a nice dinner and I am fortunate enough that peppers are easy to find in my neck of the woods.