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Green Pepper Steak with tomatoes and onions, served over rice for a complete meal.
This vibrant and flavorful pepper steak stir fry is easy enough for a weeknight, and good enough for company!
Pepper steak is very easy to make!
Slice your steak very thin and marinate in a little soy sauce and granulated sugar while the other ingredients are prepped. Once quick fried, the steak is tender and flavorful with little crispy edges that I adore. Next, the peppers and onions are sautéed until crisp-tender before adding garlic and ginger to round out the flavors. Everything is coated in a simple but tasty umami sauce thickened with cornstarch.
Finally, ripe tomatoes are stirred in at the end just until warmed, but not cooked. Served over rice, this complete meal can be on the table in under an hour!
Pepper Steak has been popular in the United States since the early 1950’s.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that I’ve eaten this simple pepper steak recipe for at least 50 years. This was a go-to recipe my mom made on a regular basis feeding our little family of seven. I have to admit that as a kid, I used to pick out all the peppers and tomatoes, and just eat the meat. Haha – but not now 🙂
When I started a family of my own, pepper steak was put on our dinner rotation too. I don’t make it as often now, but I should!
I’ve made a few changes to my mom’s recipe over the years.
- The original recipe called for twice the amount of soy sauce than I use now. I found this pepper steak recipe is better with less, but pass extra soy sauce when serving, for those who want more.
- Mom’s recipe calls for a slurry made with cornstarch, soy sauce and almost a cup of water. We now use low-sodium beef broth in place of the water for more beefy flavor in the sauce. More umami = yum!
- Instead of adding garlic and ginger to the skillet before the vegetables, I’ve switched the order. It takes longer for the vegetables to cook so they go in first. Garlic and ginger only need about 1 minute to become fragrant, which is all they really need to bloom. I found that overcooking garlic and ginger can make the sauce bitter.
- And I added onions, because who doesn’t love crisp-tender onions!
All these little tweaks have made this a much better dish that’s fool-proof and flavorful, every time!
Can you use red peppers instead of green bell peppers for pepper steak?
My mom always used green peppers so that’s what I’ve always done. But please feel free to use red bell peppers, or a combination of green and red. It’s all good. Adding sweet onions and small tomatoes doesn’t seem to be as common in similar recipes, but I can’t imagine this dish without them!
What are the best kind of tomatoes to use in pepper steak?
For the dish pictured here, I used some beautiful Campari tomatoes found at our local Wegman’s grocery store. Campari are larger than a cherry tomato, and have a nice sweet flavor. Roma tomatoes would also be a great choice here as they hold together well. I love the size and flavor of these smaller tomatoes, especially for pepper steak. In the summertime, I use small garden fresh tomatoes of any kind or variety, and cut them into bite sized pieces that fit on a fork. It’s all good!
I’ve also researched pepper steak recipes that include canned tomatoes added to the sauce at the end. I personally have not tried using canned and think I’d miss the chunks of soft, fresh fleshy tomatoes. The textural contrasts are lovely in this simple, beefy dish!
What’s the best cut of beef to use in pepper steak?
We haven’t tried every cut of beef for this recipe, but find that sirloin is always a great choice. Back in the day, I used round steak more often, like my mom, which is a little less expensive than sirloin. Flank steak is also a very popular cut for pepper steak. You have several great options here, and only need 1 pound of steak to feed a family of six.
Tips for making great pepper steak:
- Have all ingredients prepped and ready to go. Like most stir-fry recipes, it doesn’t take long to get this dish on the table.
- Make the rice first. Rice takes longer to cook than the beef!
- Slice the steak very thin. To make this a little easier, put the whole steak in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing. It firms up enough to slice easily.
- Be sure to marinate the steak for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. This is the first thing I do, then start the rice, then prep the vegetables.
- Don’t overcook the vegetables. Crisp-tender is best!
- Use regular soy sauce, not low sodium, for the best flavor. I’m very sensitive to salty dishes and always use low-sodium soy sauce, except in this dish. The flavor can taste watered down, in my opinion.
- Finally, don’t really cook the tomatoes. Gently toss them in the warm sauce and serve!
Can pepper steak be made ahead of time?
Yes, this dish is easily made ahead of time, which is great for entertaining. I recommend undercooking the vegetables just a little so they’ll be perfectly crisp-tender when rewarmed. Don’t add the tomatoes until the dish is hot and you’re ready to serve. Done and done!
Gently reheat leftovers reheat in the microwave, taking care not to overcook. I haven’t tried freezing pepper steak, but believe it will be fine. The tomatoes may not hold up perfectly, so the dish won’t be as pretty and vibrant. But it will still taste great!
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Green Pepper Steak
Prep Time: 40 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Yield: 6
Course: Main Course
A quick meaty stir fry with steak, peppers and tomatoes, flavored with garlic, soy sauce and ginger
Ingredients
- 1 pound sirloin or round steak, sliced thin against the grain
- ¼ cup soy sauce divided
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 2 large bell peppers, cubed (red, green, or both)
- 1 large onion, sliced into wedges
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced or grated
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 large tomatoes, cubed (or several small)
- Cooked rice for serving
- Soy sauce for serving
Instructions
- Pour 2 tablespoons soy sauce and sugar over sliced steak. Marinate at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. While the beef is marinating, prep the remaining ingredients.
- In a small bowl or 2 cup measure, combine the cornstarch, beef broth, the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Whisk until blended. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet over medium-high. Add half the beef and cook until browned around the edges. Turn the beef slices over and continue cooking for about 2 minutes more. Remove to a plate and keep warm. Repeat with another tablespoon of oil and more sliced beef until all meat is browned.
- Pour the last tablespoon of oil into the pan. Add the bell pepper, onions and black pepper. Sauté until the vegetables are crisp tender and slightly charred, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the in the garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Sauté, stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Return the cooked beef to the pan, along with any accumulated juices, and the beef broth mixture. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes. Gently fold in the tomatoes and stir to coat. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
- Garnish with additional black pepper and parsley.
- Serve over hot cooked rice. Pass additional soy sauce for serving.
Recipe Notes
Recipe adapted from my Mom
Here are a few more stir fry recipes you might enjoy:
Honey Cashew Chicken
Easy Stir Fry Vegetables
Spicy Basil Chicken Recipe
Love bell peppers? Try this delicious recipe for Mexican Stuffed Pepper with Cheese for another easy weeknight meal. Finally, for another beefy stir fry check out this Crispy Sticky Mongolian Beef recipe. It look insanely delicious!
NurseKim says
Very good! I made this keto by substituting Swerve (1:1) for the sugar and xantham gum for corn starch. I served it over riced cauliflower. Delish!
Tricia Buice says
Hi Kim! SO happy this worked out for you. Love your substitutions and appreciate you taking the time to comment. Bravo!
Shelley says
Good afternoon,
Can the left overs be frozen?
Thanks for your time,
Shelley
Tricia Buice says
Hi Shelley – I have not tried freezing leftovers. I think they will be fine, but the tomatoes may not hold up as well. It should be very edible, just not as pretty 🙂
Pamela says
Made this for supper tonight but without the rice to cut down on carbs. Very tasty! We loved it!
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Pamela! So happy you tried it. Leftovers are delicious too – enjoy!
Stella Serna says
I made the pepper steak for dinner and it was delicious, everyone loved it even though I think I added a little too much red crushed pepper but I love chilli. It looked really pretty too.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks the the feedback Stella! So glad it turned out good for you. I love the crushed red pepper too. Bring on the spicy 😉
Pam says
Woo hoo, Tricia!!! Love pepper steak and with the really beefy taste of sirloin, it’s even better! I need to know where you live so I can live next door and be there to mooch when you cook and bake!!! You’re my kind of cook! ☺
Tricia Buice says
Wish we were neighbors Pam because I’d love to taste some of your amazing creations too! Thanks so much 🙂
Marilyn says
Please tell your mom thanks for the great recipe….it’s absolutely delicious!!!
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Marilyn. Mom would have loved this whole blog thing 🙂 She’s been gone a long, long time but her legacy lives on!
Chris Scheuer says
Delish! This is my kind of dinner, for sure! Love the fresh, crisp veggies and that tender looking beef, yummy!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Chris! The beef is so tender and flavorful – hope you’ll give it a try 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
I love pepper steak and also grew up eating it, but haven’t made in ages! I love your updates, especially the tomatoes tossed in at the end for a fresh bite. Can’ wait to try this 🙂
Tricia Buice says
The tomatoes weren’t my favorite when I was a kid, but I sure love them now. Enjoy!
Liz says
How did you know I needed a new, easy, delicious dinner recipe. I’m stuck in a rut and this pepper steak is perfect!!!
Tricia Buice says
So glad I could help Liz! Enjoy 🙂
Linda says
I love these recipes from the past, the tried and true favorites our mothers made.
Mary says
Tricia this really sounds delicious. I love the ingredients you've used in this dish and I can't wait to give this a try. This is my first visit to your site. I really like the food and recipes you feature here. I'll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
Yay for mom! This looks like savory deliciousness. 🙂
Bri says
Trish..yes it did turn out great. It's one of those recipes that you make and make and then forget about and it falls out of the rotation. My family always accuses me of only trying new recipes and never repeating anything. I just forget which ones everybody likes!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
I have to laugh because as you were talking about picking out all the meat, I was just thinking how I would probably really want to just eat the tomatoes and peppers. Together, we could finish the dish!
Heather says
How do you get yours glossy like in the photo? Made tonight and the sauce was dull looking and tasted like cornstarch.
Tricia Buice says
Hi Heather. Perhaps there was a measurement error. I make this dish all the time and have for years and never had that problem. Our daughter and her in-laws have all made it recently and enjoyed it very much. Make sure you are using aluminum-free cornstarch. Sorry you didn’t care for it.