Pepper Steak Recipe
This Pepper Steak recipe transforms an affordable cut of beef into a tender, flavorful family dinner. Instead of using expensive steak that’s quickly stir-fried like many restaurant versions, this recipe slowly simmers chuck steak until it’s fork-tender before it’s tossed with sweet onions and colorful bell peppers in a rich, savory sauce.
The extra cooking time is what makes this recipe special. As the beef gently simmers, it absorbs all the delicious flavors while becoming incredibly tender. The onions turn sweet, the peppers stay slightly crisp, and the savory sauce brings everything together into one comforting meal.
If you’ve been looking for a homemade pepper steak recipe that’s easy to make, budget-friendly, and full of flavor, I think you’ll love this version.
Watch me Make Pepper Steak
Why You’ll Love This Pepper Steak Recipe
- Uses affordable chuck steak. No need for expensive cuts of beef.
- Fork-tender every time. Slow simmering creates juicy, tender beef.
- Rich homemade flavor. Browning the beef first adds incredible depth to the sauce.
- Perfect texture. The onions become sweet while the peppers stay slightly crisp.
- Family friendly. Serve it over rice for a comforting meal everyone enjoys.
- Great for leftovers. The flavors become even better the next day.
What Makes This Recipe Different?
Many pepper steak recipes use flank steak or sirloin, which cook in just a few minutes over high heat. This recipe takes a different approach.
Instead of relying on expensive cuts of beef, I use chuck steak, a flavorful and economical cut that becomes wonderfully tender with slow cooking. It takes a little more time, but the reward is incredibly juicy beef that practically melts in your mouth.
Another difference is how the vegetables are cooked. Rather than cooking everything together, I brown the onions and bell peppers separately before adding them back at the end. It only takes a few extra minutes, but it helps the onions stay sweet while the peppers keep their beautiful color and slight crunch. Sometimes the simplest little steps make the biggest difference.
What Is Pepper Steak?
Pepper Steak is a popular Chinese-American dish made with sliced beef, onions, bell peppers, and a savory soy-based sauce. It’s essentially tender steak with bell peppers and onions, all coated in a flavorful sauce and usually served over rice.
There are many versions of this classic recipe. Restaurant-style pepper steak is usually made with quick-cooking steak such as flank steak, while homemade versions often use different cuts of beef and cooking methods.
This recipe is my homemade version. It keeps the classic flavors people love while using slow cooking to transform chuck steak into incredibly tender beef.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Chuck Steak
Chuck steak is the star of this recipe. It has excellent beefy flavor, is budget-friendly, and becomes wonderfully tender after simmering.
Can I use another cut?
Absolutely. You can substitute:
- Flank steak
- Sirloin
- Ribeye
- Skirt steak
- Top round
- Tenderloin
If using naturally tender cuts, reduce the cooking time because they don’t need the 45-minute simmer.
Onion
Onions become naturally sweet as they cook and give the sauce wonderful depth of flavor. Yellow onions work best, but white onions are also a good choice.
Bell Peppers
Green and red bell peppers add freshness, sweetness, and beautiful color. I like using both because the green pepper adds a slightly earthy flavor while the red pepper contributes natural sweetness.
Muna’s Tip: I always cook the peppers separately and add them back just before finishing the sauce. They stay colorful and keep a slight bite instead of becoming soft.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce gives pepper steak its classic savory flavor. I recommend using low-sodium soy sauce so you can season the dish to your own taste.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch thickens the sauce until it lightly coats every slice of beef and every piece of pepper.
Before You Start
Why use chuck steak?
Chuck steak has outstanding flavor and costs much less than premium steak cuts. Slow simmering breaks down its connective tissue, giving you wonderfully tender beef without spending extra money.
Why brown the beef first?
Browning creates deep flavor through the Maillard reaction and leaves delicious browned bits in the pan that become part of the sauce.
Why cook the vegetables separately?
Cooking the onions and peppers separately gives each ingredient the perfect texture. The onions become sweet and tender while the peppers stay vibrant and slightly crisp.
Why simmer for 45 minutes?
Chuck steak needs time. The longer simmer allows the connective tissue to soften naturally, creating tender beef that’s worth the wait.
How to Make Pepper Steak
Step 1 — Brown the Beef
Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chuck steak in two batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. You’re developing flavor here, not fully cooking the meat. Transfer the beef to a plate.
Step 2 — Cook the Onion
Using the same pan, cook the sliced onion until translucent and lightly softened. Remove and set aside.
Step 3 — Cook the Bell Peppers
Cook the peppers for only a few seconds. This helps them keep their beautiful color and slight crunch. Remove and set aside.
Step 4 — Slowly Cook the Beef
Return the beef to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper. Pour in the boiling water, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 45 minutes, or until the beef is fork-tender. If needed, add a little extra water during cooking.
Step 5 — Add the Vegetables
Return the onions and peppers to the pan. Stir gently.
Step 6 — Finish the Sauce
Whisk together:
- Soy sauce
- Cornstarch
- Sugar
- Warm water
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Ginger powder
Pour the mixture into the pan and stir until the sauce thickens and coats every piece of beef beautifully. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Brown the beef in batches instead of overcrowding the pan.
- Don’t rush the simmering time when using chuck steak.
- Slice the vegetables into similar-sized strips for even cooking.
- Taste the sauce before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- If your chuck steak still feels chewy after 45 minutes, simply cook it a little longer. Chuck becomes tender when the connective tissue has fully broken down, not at an exact minute.
What to Serve with Pepper Steak and Onions
The classic way to enjoy pepper steak is over steamed white rice, which soaks up every bit of the rich homemade sauce.
It also pairs beautifully with:
- Jasmine rice
- Egg fried rice
- Buttered noodles
- Spaghetti
- Mashed potatoes
- Steamed broccoli
- Green beans
Muna’s Tip: One day I served this over spaghetti instead of rice, and everyone loved it. The savory sauce coats the pasta beautifully. Leftovers also make an incredibly delicious sandwich tucked into a crusty roll with plenty of onions, peppers, and sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pepper Steak?
Pepper Steak is a Chinese-American dish made with sliced beef, onions, bell peppers, and a savory soy-based sauce.
What is the best beef for Pepper Steak?
Traditional recipes often use flank steak, but I prefer chuck steak because slow cooking transforms it into wonderfully tender beef while keeping the recipe affordable.
Can I use flank steak?
Yes. Flank steak works beautifully but requires much less cooking time than chuck.
Can I use sirloin?
Absolutely. Sirloin is naturally tender and cooks much faster.
Why is my beef still tough?
If you’re using chuck steak, it probably just needs more time. Continue simmering until it becomes fork-tender.
Can I freeze Pepper Steak?
Yes. Freeze it in an airtight container for up to three months. The peppers may soften slightly after thawing, but the flavor remains excellent.
Can I make Pepper Steak ahead of time?
Yes, and I actually think it tastes even better the next day because the flavors have more time to develop.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the sauce has thickened too much, simply stir in a splash of water or broth while reheating.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Related Beef Recipes
Pepper Steak with Onions
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chuck steak cut into medium slices
- 1 large onion cut into medium strips
- ½ green bell pepper cut into medium strips
- ½ red bell pepper cut into medium strips
- 1 leveled teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 2 cup Boiling water
- 3 tablespoon oil
FOR THE SAUCE
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce I used low sodium
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup warm water
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder you can use fresh
Instructions
- In a pan, add three tablespoon oil and fry the chuck in two batches until brown on both sides. Remove and keep aside. Don't crowd the pan when browning.
- In the same oil fry the onion until translucent. Remove and keep aside.
- In the same pan, fry the bell peppers for few seconds and keep aside.
- Add the fried chuck back to the pan, Season the chuck with salt and black pepper. Add two cups boiling water and let it cook on medium heat for 45 minutes or until the meat is tender. Add water if the meat is still tough and continue cooking.
- When the meat is cooked add the onion and bell pepper.
- Mix the sauce ingredients and pour over the steak, stir until the sauce thickens.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- You can use other cuts of meat, like T-Bone, Rib Eye, and Tenderloin.
- You can add more vegetables to the pepper steak, like mushrooms, carrots, and zucchini.
- This post was originally posted in 2017, updated in November 2020, and again in March 2022.
Nutrition
🍽️Complete Your Meal
Complete your meal with these delicious side dishes.
That sounds really tasty! I think peppers and onions were made to go with steak.
Although I don’t eat meat I do cook it every night for my husband. I’ve never tried pepper steak before because I thought it was too complicated. I appreciate the recipe and the printable! I’m going to try it.
My husband loves this dish, I guess men need to have their meat 🙂
I know a few meat lovers who would enjoy this. I used to eat steak but have cut out meat now.
You can use the same recipe using your favorite vegetables!
They all look absolutely delicious. I am having some friends over on Sunday and the Pepper Steak is a must! The recipe is quite easy to follow too!
I would like to try this recipe using white meat because beef is so expensive here. It looks so delicious!
Thank you, Ruth 🙂
I am drooling. This looks so delicious. I don’t think I’ve had pepper steak in a long time.
You have me the best idea! I’m going to try this recipe using chicken breast. Thank you so much.
You are most welcome Dona, chicken is a great substitute.
My mom would totally love this recipe. She is a huge fan of peppers in her dishes.
Hope she enjoys my version!
I made this back in august if 2022 I bought to a friends house he was staying with his nephew at the time and he is a picky eater. I made enough for 3 people . But now I wish I made more his nephew ate well that night he had 2 portions and me and my friend had what was left over and it was devious. So I’ve learned my lesion i make enough for 6 people just so my friend and I have enough to eat
Hi Lisa, Thank you so much for sharing this with me, I’m glad that you all enjoyed my Pepper Steak recipe 😊
This looks SO good. I love a hearty dinner recipe like this.
This looks amazing! I bet it would be goon on tortillas as well as rice! I can’t wait to try it out!
Hmmm, I never thought of using on tortillas! Good idea 🙂
Seriously this Pepper Steak with Onions are so mouth watering, would love to have a taste. Will give this recipe to my sister so she makes one for me.:)
This looks lovely, although I am cutting down on eating meat. Is there anyway to make the recipe vegetarian?
Am a great lover of meat this meal will go down well with me. thanks for the recipe.
I don’t eat meat, nonetheless, this looks delicious! I would probably give it a try and make it and probably replace the meat with tofu.
This recipe can turn vegan and vegetarian easy, hope you enjoy it!
Yum! This looks amazing! I wish I had the ingredients so I could make it for dinner – perhaps this weekend instead!
Your dish is undeniably delicious. How I with I could cook well too. Thumbs up!
I’m not a big eater when it comes to steak but my family is. I’m going to try to make this. I know they’re going to like it. Thanks for the recipe!
You are most welcome!
This looks so irresistibly good!
I was drooling while reading this post lol. Am definitely gonna make this one weekend . Thnaks for the recipe
I’m glad you liked this post 🙂
I think red meat is the way to go but I’m sure white meat with this recipe is just as great. You are definitely right we all cook our meals differently but that’s a good thing because it leads us to share.
You are right Sondra! Chicken also go well if used in this recipe instead of the beef.
Oh wow those dishes look super yummy!! I will have to make them!
Thank you 🙂
Pepper Steak Recipe…. Look Soo delicious. Have never eaten before but wish to ……. Thanks for ur recipes
These are all great dishes. Pepper steak with onions is one of our favorite dishes. This recipe I will have to try for sure. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I love this dish! I make the pepper steak with onions for my boys and chicken for myself. Both goes great over a bed of white rice. Quick and hardy meal for my entire family. Love it!!
Pepper steak is an excellent tasty meal that hardly takes time. Glad you and your family enjoyed it 🙂
I’m going to make your Pepper Steak recipe this evening. Sounds delicious & easy. Let you know how we like it. 🙂
Awesome! hope you’ll love it 🙂
Just saw your recipe for pepper steak. Sound’s delish! Is there a conversion to make it in crockpot? I work and don’t usually have 45 minutes or more to cook in evenings. Any suggestions will help!
Hi Tena, Using crockpot you can cook this dish on high from 3 to 4 hours, on low you can cook it up to 8 hours. Hope this helps.
This recipe sounds wonderful. I bought everything to make it for supper tomorrow. I do have a question. When you add the water to the beef to cook for 45 minutes, you don’t cover the pan? Just want to make sure it turns out good.
Hi Jeri, I didn’t cover the pan while cooking this pepper steak.
I haven’t made pepper steak in awhile. My daughter grandmother use to make it until she passed. I love your recipe because it’s similar to the way I made it but the only thing I did different was, I didn’t add water to the meat. I just seasoned the meat (I used ribeye) and cut it myself. I also put a little sauce to marinate in until i was ready to cook it then I cooked it like hibachi style then I took it out & cooked the veggies with fresh garlic. I like a crunch to my veggies so it was more like a quick little char. I made the sauce as instructed but I used a little teriyaki sauce also then I added the meat & veggies back in the pan & then poured the sauce on top & let the meat tenderize & finish cooking after turning the burner off. My friend & daughter LOVED it & my girlfriend who loves pepper steak but don’t like to eat peppers. I know weird lol. I have made this 5 days in a row last week because they keep requesting for it. We like a little juice or sauce, just enough to cover the rice but they can’t get enough of it. I’m tired of making it already lol. Keep posting. If you could do a recipe for black pepper chicken like the Chinese restaurants, I would lose my mind! Thank you for the awesome recipe.
Hi Tee, thank you for sharing your take on this recipe, it sounds delicious 🙂
I made this last night and it was delicious (love the sauce) and simple to make! I’ll make this often and it will replace the recipe for pepper steak I used to make. Thank you for sharing an incredible recipe!
Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I made this *almost* to the letter~ I used 1 whole red pepper and l whole yellow pepper as the steak I had was just under a pound. Thank you for providing a delicious way to use up a chuck steak 🙂
Hey Deborah, Thanks so much for trying my recipe and sharing your feedback, you made me happy 🙂
Great recipe. We really loved it. However, at the beginning where it has a total cooking time of 35 mins, it really should be at least an hour if you’re cooking the meat in the water for 45 minutes.
Hi Jason, It was a glitch in the recipe card and I have fixed it. Thank you 🙂
How is the total time 35 mins if the steak has to cook for 45 mins ?
Hi Lily, thank you for bringing this to my attention. It was a glitch in the recipe card and I have fixed it.
This looks really good! Glad I found your site.
Thank you 🙂
2 cups of water sounds like a lot.is the gravythick enough? Sounds like a good recipe. I guess it doesn’t need flour? Thanks
Hi Mary, 2 cups of water will evaporate quickly while cooking, but it will give the steak enough time to cook until tender. The gravy will be a little thick but the cornstarch will make it creamy and silky smooth!
I have tried many pepper steak recipes over the years. I grilled chuck steak yesterday and had some leftover. Decided to make pepper steak with it. I searched and found your recipe. Followed it as written. Truly the best.
So sweet of you to say so 🙂 thanks a lot for your kind comment and I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed it.
I made this today and it was freaking delicious. My family loved it!! Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words 🙂
The sauce, onions and peppers were delicious. However….I bought a nice piece of chuck steak, cut it up and cooked according to directions and 2 hours later it was still like shoe leather. I had some uncured beef kielbasa that I cut up and used instead and it was really good. Think I would go with a much higher quality of meat next time.
Glad that you gave my recipe a try!
This is my second time making it and it does not take long to make and is absolutely delicious. Thank you for a quick and easy receipe.
Thanks for your kind comment, glad that you have enjoyed it 🙂
I bookmarked this page and will try to cook the recipe tomorrow, Sunday Philippine time. Seems like easy-to-prepare and the ingredients are not hard to find. I hope I could be able to do it.
Thanks for this recipe! Have been looking for ways to cook meat at home other than my usual sauced/souped stuff. This is a beginner-friendly recipe and I have most of these ingredients at home! Now off to buy my favorite cut of meat 😀 😀
What a great recipe! It looks delicious! Perfect for a sunday lunch relaxing at home
ummm yes please, this sounds amazing!
I’ve missed a good pepper steak! One of the things that I would like to work on is getting a house with a full functioning kitchen.
oh wow. this sounds and looks amazing. I just had fajitas (chicken) with bell peppers and onions tonight. might i ask why you need the cornstarch?
Hi, cornstarch thickens the gravy!
Ooh, this looks SO good! I’ve not had streak in ages, so might have to give this a try later on this week 🙂
Louise x
While reading your steak recipe, I couldn’t help thinking how much rice I could eat along with it. Your recipe looks delicious!
Thank you! I like serving pepper steak with rice too 🙂
This looks so good! I love steak, and this is the kind of thing my husband likes to make regularly, so we’ll have to try this.
This is kinda similar to what we have here in the Philippines. This recipe looks so good.
Nnniiiccceeeee….this is what I had yesterday for lunch, but pork! So nice.
I love sautés there’s delicious and healthy. Yours look fabulous.
This is one of my favorite meals, but yet I rarely make it. I think it will go on the menu for this week!
Hi Muna
i really enjoyed reading your post and i really intend to cook it myself1 i love the suggestion of being made with white meat too: chicken breast will be great in it… Thank you so much for the inspiration1
I’m sure you will enjoy it with chicken too 🙂
This looks so delicious and just like a professional cooking. Would try this during the weekends.
I LOVE ordering pepper steak, but I’ve never made it at home!! I can’t wait to try this!
I love Pepper Steak with Onions. It sounds like a nice dish. I hope to make it soon.
Looks delicious! Will definitely try it!
This looks delicious. I will definitely try the recipe.
Yum Yum, delicious dish. You detail out the recipes so well, perfect for anyone wanting to try at home. I need to try it too. I love steaks and my husband too.
Yum to the yum! I haven’t had this dish since I was a child. I need to make it for my kids. Thank you for another amazing recipe!
Thank you! This is a great dinner. What is your favorite side, mashed potato or rice?
This looks like a great recipe for the meat lovers. Simple and easy to do. Awesome post!!!🤗
If I could give this recipe more than 5 stars, I would! It was so yummy when I made it for dinner. I wouldn’t change a thing
Thank you so much for your feedback Ebony! I’m happy that you have enjoyed it 🙂
Yum ! That looks like diner for me tonight !
That looks and sounds yummy. I love stake.
I don’t eat meet but all of the dishes photographed look delicious. I could see lots os meat eaters enjoying this.
Easy and taste great! I made this recipe as a quick meal for dinner. I didn’t add or take away a thing. My family loved it and it will be one of our future favorites.
Interesting! I haven’t heard about that egg white method for tenderizing beef – thanks for sharing! I agree that steak is one of those things where everyone has their own preferences. All I know is I prefer it like this – with plenty of onions and peppers. I’m thinking this piled on top of a sandwich roll would be delicious!
I never thought of having it as a sandiwch! What a great idea David 🙂
This looks great — tons of flavor, and pretty easy to make. My kind of dish! Thanks.
Made this Saturday Feb. 5, 2022 followed recipe and it turned out very good except I should’ve doubled the sauce other than that it was sooo good thanks for sharing will be making again soon wish I could give more than 5 stars a definite winner 👍👍🤗🤗❤️
Thank you so much for your feedback 😊
This is an excellent recipe. Tried it tonight with white rice. Apparently I misread the ingredients, when I started putting it together I realized I had out brown sugar, so that is what I used. Glad for the mistake!!!
Hi Lavonna, thanks a lot for trying my recipe I’m honored 😊. You forgot to add the sugar but still liked the recipe, and that is what counts 👍
This was one of the best recipes I have ever followed. I added freshly minced garlic and it was perfect. Will be making this often now
Thank you so much for your kind words Hannah, I appreciate your feedback 🥰
Tasty and easy. I used 4 colors of peppers, so pretty as well!
I made this using deer fish turned out amazing
Thank you Lisa, I’m sure my readers appreciate your comment 😊. What type of fish did you use?
I made this for supper tonight – was wonderful! My husband liked it too. I followed the recipe except that as the water cooked down while tenderizing the steak, I added more water a couple of times and continued cooking the steak for the full 45 minutes. It was nice and tender. I also doubled the sauce. We loved it and will definitely make it again!
Thank you for trying my recipe, I appreciate and your feedback 😊