This slow cooker pepper steak recipe has all the flavors the classic take-out dish…without the fuss. Slices of beef slow cooks in a light, homemade sauce with bell peppers and onions. Perfect for busy weeknights or laid back weekends, you can make this crockpot pepper steak as healthy as you want by using your favorite ingredients. Serve this family-friend one-pot meal over you preferred type of rice. Instructions to make Instant Pot pepper steak are also included.
Ingredients For Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
- Beef Sirloin or Flank Steak
- Bell Peppers
- Onion
- Garlic
- Soy Sauce (or coconut aminos for paleo/Whole30)
- Beef Broth
- Rice Vinegar
- Sesame Oil
- Cornstarch
- Seasonings: salt, pepper, ground ginger
How To Make Slow Cooker Pepper Steak
- Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using. Stir until blended.
- Stir in the beef, bell peppers, and onion.
- Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6.
- Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the sesame oil and beef to the pot. Cook 3-5 minutes or until beef is browned. Remove beef from the pressure cooker and set aside.
- Add the onions bell peppers and cook until soft, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the soy sauce, beef broth, and rice vinegar. If needed, deglaze the bottom by of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off off with a wooden spoon.
- Add beef back into the pressure cooker along with the salt, pepper, ground ginger, and cornstarch if using. Stir to mix well.
- Close the lid and seal the valve. Set manual, high pressure to 8 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
FAQs & Tips
What Is Pepper Steak?
Pepper steak is a Chinese-American dish consisting of sliced beef steak cooked with sliced bell peppers and onions. The sauce is soy sauce-based thickened with cornstarch. Pepper steak is usually stir-fried in a wok but of course I’m making slow cooker or Instant Pot pepper steak.
What cut of beef should you use?
Pepper steak is usually made with round, sirloin, or flank steak. I used sirloin steak that I sliced into strips. As with most of my recipes, I encourage you to use ingredients that you can find easily and that fit your budget. The key is to slice the beef into even strips.
Can you make this healthy?
You can make this slow cooker pepper steak recipe as healthy as you want it to be. It’s low-carb written as-is. To also make this paleo and Whole30 compatible, in the place of soy sauce use coconut aminos and & instead of cornstarch use arrowroot starch.
Do you need to thicken the sauce?
You do not have to thicken the sauce. The pepper steak will taste great without it. But if you do, add the cornstarch or arrowroot starch to the slow cooker along with the rest of the food at the beginning of cooking time. This is an optional step.
How do you store leftovers?
Store leftover crockpot pepper steak in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What size slow cooker did you use?
I use a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.
Take-Out Inspired Recipes
PrintSlow Cooker Pepper Steak
This slow cooker pepper steak recipe has all the flavors the classic Chinese-American take-out dish…without the fuss. Slices of beef slow cooks in a light, homemade sauce with bell peppers and onions. Perfect for busy weeknights or laid back weekends, you can make this crockpot pepper steak as healthy as you want by using your favorite ingredients. Serve this family-friend one-pot meal over you preferred type of rice. Instructions to make Instant Pot pepper steak are also included.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef sirloin, sliced into thin strips
- 1 large red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 large green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1/2 low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (use 1 tablespoon for the Instant Pot)
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot starch, optional for thickening
Instructions
- Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using. Stir until blended.
- Stir in the beef, bell peppers, and onion.
- Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6.
- Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the sesame oil and beef to the pot. Cook 3-5 minutes or until beef is browned. Remove beef from the pressure cooker and set aside.
- Add the onions bell peppers and cook until soft, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the soy sauce, beef broth, and rice vinegar. If needed, deglaze the bottom by of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off off with a wooden spoon.
- Add beef back into the pressure cooker along with the salt, pepper, ground ginger, and cornstarch if using. Stir to mix well.
- Close the lid and seal the valve. Set manual, high pressure to 8 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
Notes
- To make this paleo, Whole30 compatible, and gluten-free substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 336
- Sugar: 2.1 g
- Fat: 9.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.9 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 51.5 g
- Cholesterol: 133.8 mg
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13 thoughts on “Slow Cooker Pepper Steak”
Hi 👋 This looks so good, but I don’t have coconut aminos. What can I use for a substitute? I also don’t have rice vinegar. What can I substitute for that, or am I going to ruin the recipe with all these substitutions? TIA!
Hello! You won’t ruin the recipe with the substitutes:-) I would use low-sodium soy sauce in place of the coconut aminos. For the rice vinegar, I would substitute apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Let me know how it turns out!
This was delicious! I can’t believe I didn’t own a slow cooker until this year.
Hi Shannon! I am planning on making this tonight for my fiancé and I, but my Whole Foods is all out of arrowroot flour. Is there anything else you can use for a thickening agent?
Hello! Other suggestions include tapioca flour or cassava flour. If you’re not worried about it being paleo/whole30 compliant you can use cornstarch. Sometimes I skip the thickening step all together:-)
OMG this was so freaking good!
This is the perfect dish for fall and winter. I love how easy the recipe is! Will make again!
Thanks for a great recipe! Another one for my collection!
I do love a good crock pot recipe. It makes life so much easier when you can start the crock pot in the morning and come to a ready-cooked meal at night. I’m so glad I found this one. I made it Whole30 and served with cauliflower rice.
Delicious! I was looking for a paleo recipe!
The slow cooker makes everything so easy! I really enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for sharing! xo~D
Great recipe! This is perfect for this fall weather 🙂
This was fantastic.