Description
This Crock Pot Pepper Steak recipe features tender strips of flank steak slow-cooked with colorful bell peppers, onions, and a savory soy-based sauce. It’s an easy, hands-off meal perfect for busy days that yields rich flavors and melt-in-your-mouth beef served over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 lbs flank steak, sliced thinly against the grain into ¼-inch strips
- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced into strips
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup low sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Thickening Agent
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Serving
- Cooked white rice or egg noodles, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: In the insert of a 5-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together the low sodium soy sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper until fully combined.
- Season and Add Beef: Season the sliced flank steak strips with salt and pepper. Add the seasoned steak to the slow cooker and toss to coat well in the sauce mixture.
- Add Vegetables: Place the sliced bell peppers and onion on top of the beef. Do not stir to keep the layers separated.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, until the beef is very tender and flavors meld together.
- Thicken the Sauce: About 20-30 minutes before serving, whisk together 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl until completely smooth. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and stir gently to combine. Switch the slow cooker to HIGH, cover, and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened to your liking.
- Finish and Adjust: Stir in 1 teaspoon of sesame oil just before serving. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if necessary.
- Serve: Serve the pepper steak hot over cooked white rice or egg noodles for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- For best results, slice the flank steak thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness.
- You can substitute the flank steak with sirloin or skirt steak if preferred.
- If you want a spicier dish, add crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- To make it gluten-free, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- The sauce thickening step is important for that perfect glossy finish; do not skip the cornstarch slurry.
- This recipe can be doubled but ensure your slow cooker has enough capacity.
