Description
This Slow Cooker Pepper Steak recipe is a flavorful and easy-to-make Asian-inspired dish featuring tender strips of flank steak cooked low and slow with colorful bell peppers, onions, and a savory sauce. Perfect for a hands-off dinner, it delivers a deliciously rich and comforting meal served over rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Coating
- 1½ lbs flank steak or sirloin, sliced into thin strips
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Sauté and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Serving
- Cooked rice, for serving
Instructions
- Coat the Beef: In a large bowl, toss the sliced flank steak or sirloin strips with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch until they are evenly coated, which helps thicken the sauce during cooking.
- Sear the Beef (Optional): Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef strips and sear them for 1 to 2 minutes just until lightly browned. This step adds extra flavor but can be skipped if short on time.
- Prepare the Crock Pot: Transfer the seared beef into the crock pot. Add the sliced onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and minced garlic on top.
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ½ cup beef broth, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes if using.
- Add Sauce and Cook: Pour the mixed sauce evenly over the meat and vegetables in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Optional Thickening: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir it into the crock pot about 20 minutes before serving. You can also add sliced mushrooms or snow peas during the last hour of cooking for extra vegetables.
- Serve: Serve the pepper steak hot over cooked rice for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir into the crock pot 20 minutes before serving.
- Feel free to add sliced mushrooms or snow peas during the last hour of cooking to increase vegetable content.
- Searing the beef before slow cooking is optional but enhances flavor and texture.
- Serve with steamed rice or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
