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    Home » Recipes » Asian Beef Recipes

    Pepper Steak Recipe

    Published: Apr 17, 2023 Modified: Apr 17, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Tender cuts of steak pair with fresh bell peppers, green beans, and a blend of savory stir-fry sauces in my easy Pepper Steak Recipe. Best of all, you can have this beef stir fry recipe ready in 30 minutes or less!

    Pepper steak stir fry recipe in a blue and white bowl over white rice
    Jump to:
    • Beef Stir Fry Recipe
    • Pepper Steak Stir Fry Ingredients
    • How to Make Pepper Steak
    • Steak Stir Fry Recipe Tips
    • Steak Stir Fry Marinade
    • FAQs
    • How to Cut Flank Steak for Stir Fry
    • Asian Beef Recipes
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Beef Stir Fry Recipe

    If you were to ask me about my favorite quick and easy meals to make on the fly, my simple beef stir fry recipe would be near the top of the list. There is nothing quite like a good stir fry: stir-frying is a great way to use up leftovers or, better yet, make fresh in minutes for a fast dinner your family will love. 

    Anyone who knows me will tell you I live a fast-paced life and love to get things done, but this sometimes means I'm pressed for time when it comes to getting dinner on the table. This was even more true when my kids were growing up - it's not easy feeding a full house during a busy week of work!

    But this pepper steak stir fry? A total time-saver and a life-saver if you're busy. It's easy to throw together and the flavor is the real reward! You can even do all your prep the day before or over the weekend if you like to meal plan. Let's get started!

    Pepper Steak Stir Fry Ingredients

    • Vegetable oil
    • Thinly sliced steak; use flank steak or sirloin steak
    • Soy sauce; if you're gluten-free, use tamari shoyu or coconut aminos (also soy-free)
    • Garlic; freshly minced, or garlic paste
    • Ginger; freshly minced, or ginger paste
    • Chili paste; Huy Fong brand chili paste, Thai chili paste or Korean gochujang chili paste all work
    • Green beans; use fresh, trimmed green beans for best results
    • Teriyaki sauce; for gluten-free, look for a gluten-free teriyaki sauce such as Kikkoman's gluten-free teriyaki
    • Bell peppers
    • Sea salt
    • Black pepper
    • Green onions; optional, for topping
    • Basil leaves; optional, for topping
    • Cooked rice; alternatively, you can also serve this stir-fry with noodles

    How to Make Pepper Steak

    1. Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat on the stove. Once very hot, add oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.
    2. Add soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili paste to the pan, then immediately add sliced steak.
    3. Sear for 1 minute, then stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until mostly browned.
    4. Add green beans and teriyaki sauce. Cover and allow the beans to steam for 3-4 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
    5. Mix in sliced bell peppers and stir-fry 1 minute more.
    6. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Top with sliced green onions and shredded basil (optional).
    7. Serve over rice or with noodles, and enjoy!
    Close up of pepper steak stir fry recipe in a blue and white bowl over rice

    Steak Stir Fry Recipe Tips

    • Wait until the pan is sizzling hot before adding oil and cooking. To check if the pan is hot, drop a tiny amount of water into the pan (do this before adding the oil). If it's hot enough, it should sizzle up immediately.
    • You don't need a wok, but woks like this wok with a lid are the best for stir-frying. Just make sure you have a cover for the pan so the green beans can steam properly.
    • Pre-trimmed or frozen green beans can be used instead of fresh, untrimmed beans if you prefer. I don't recommend using canned green beans.
    • You can use leftovers to make this recipe.
    • Garlic and ginger paste can be used instead of freshly minced to save time.
    • The beef should be very thinly sliced flank steak or sirloin steak for the best pepper steak. If you'd rather not slice it yourself, ask your butcher to put the steak through a wide mincer for thin strips.
    • Follow this guide to make the perfect rice at home: How to Cook Perfect Rice.

    Steak Stir Fry Marinade

    Our Asian Steak Marinade is amazing and also works so well with this recipe. Try it out as a steak stir fry marinade for super tender steak.

    FAQs

    What is Pepper Steak?

    Pepper steak is a Chinese stir-fry recipe traditionally using thinly sliced beef, bell peppers, and bamboo shoots. The original Chinese dish it takes its inspiration from is black pepper beef, which has a much stronger taste of black pepper in the stir fry sauce.

    Do I need a wok to make this recipe?

    No, you don't need a wok to make pepper steak stir fry! If you don't have a wok, you can just use your favorite large skillet to make your pepper steak stir fry. I recommend a cast-iron skillet as it will give the beef the most beautiful sear. However, any large skillet will do.

    What cut of meat is used for pepper steak?

    Use thinly sliced flank steak or sirloin steak for best results when making pepper steak. You can often buy this pre-packaged as "stir-fry beef".

    Two bowls of Asian beef stir fry with a pot of stir fry leftover

    How to Cut Flank Steak for Stir Fry

    1. Identify the grain of the steak. The grain is the alignment of the muscle fiber in a cut of beef. It's easy to spot - it looks like lines running through the steak!
    2. Always slice against the grain. Slicing against the grain will give you the most tender cuts of beef, so find the grain and slice in the opposite direction it's running.
    3. Cut at an angle instead of straight down, and cut thin slices. For stir-fry beef you want thin, minced slices. For best results cut it to one-fourth of an inch, and no larger than one-half of an inch.
    4. Freezing the beef for approximately an hour will make it easier to cut.
    Sliced flank steak on a cutting board with trimmed green beans and green onions

    Asian Beef Recipes

    • Grilled Sirloin Steak
    • Vietnamese Beef Salad
    • Instant Pot Beef Pho Recipe
    • Keto Beef and Broccoli
    • Try more Leftover Steak Recipes

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    Pepper steak stir fry recipe in a blue and white bowl with fresh basil on top
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    4.80 from 15 votes

    Pepper Steak Stir Fry Recipe

    You are going to love this easy pepper steak stir fry recipe! Not only is it easy to make any day of the week, but it’s super delicious, too. Serve it over rice or noodles, and enjoy! 🍜
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Asian Beef Recipes
    Cuisine: Chinese-American
    Keyword: Asian beef stir fry, beef stir fry, pepper steak recipe, pepper steak stir fry, steak stir fry recipe, stir fry
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 334kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    Equipment

    • Skillet/wok

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 pound flank steak or sirloin steak sliced thin
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons garlic minced, or garlic paste
    • 1 tablespoon ginger minced, or ginger paste
    • 1 tablespoon chili paste
    • 1 pound green beans trimmed
    • ½ cup teriyaki sauce
    • 2 cups bell peppers mixed, sliced (approx. 2 bell peppers)
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup basil leaves thinly sliced
    • 4 cups cooked rice for serving

    See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!

    Instructions

    • Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until sizzling hot. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and swirl the pan to coat the bottom.
    • Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, and 1 tablespoon chili paste to the pan. Immediately add 1 pound sliced flank steak and sear for 1 minute, then stir-fry for another 1 to 2 minutes until the pink is mostly gone.
    • Add 1 pound trimmed green beans and ½ cup teriyaki sauce, then cover the wok or pan.
    • Allow the green beans to steam for 3 to 4 minutes or until they are slightly tender but still crisp. Mix in 2 cups sliced bell peppers and stir fry for another minute.
    • Season with ¼ teaspoon each sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, or to taste. Top with ¼ cup sliced green onions and ¼ cup sliced basil leaves. Serve over rice, and enjoy!

    Notes

  • You can use garlic and ginger paste instead of fresh garlic and ginger to save on prep time making your pepper steak stir fry.
  • If you prefer not to slice the beef yourself, look for stir-fry cut beef, or ask your butcher at the grocery store to put your flank steak through a wide mincer for nice, thin strips.
  • You can buy pre-trimmed green beans or even use thawed frozen green beans if you prefer.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 1040mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g

    Photo credit: Caroline Williams

    • Author
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    Isabel Laessig
    Isabel Laessig
    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
    » About Me
    Isabel Laessig
    Latest posts by Isabel Laessig (see all)
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    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Morena Li Siu says

      May 20, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing this delicious and easy to prepare dish, I like how detailed you made it, step by step. I enjoyed making it 👍

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        May 20, 2021 at 3:22 pm

        Thank you so much, Morena! We're so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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