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A serving of easy slow cooker pepper steak with tender beef and colorful bell peppers

Hearty Weeknight Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Enjoy a hearty and flavorful slow cooker pepper steak perfect for a weeknight meal. This recipe features tender beef, colorful bell peppers, and a savory sauce, all cooked to perfection in your slow cooker.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Large skillet (optional)
  • Paper towels
  • Medium bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Whisk

Ingredients
  

Beef

  • 1.5-2 lbs flank steak, sirloin steak, or stew meat cut into 1-inch strips

Vegetables

  • 2-3 large bell peppers red, green, and/or yellow for color, thinly sliced
  • 1 large onion thinly sliced

Sauce

  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger

Thickener

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water for slurry

Other

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for searing
  • salt and pepper To taste

Instructions
 

Instructions

  • Pat beef strips dry and season with salt and pepper.
  • Optionally, sear beef in a skillet with vegetable oil for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned; then transfer to slow cooker.
  • Whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a bowl; pour over beef.
  • Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beef is tender.
  • During the last 30-60 minutes, add sliced bell peppers and onion to the slow cooker and cook until crisp-tender.
  • Whisk cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry, then stir into the slow cooker and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider marinating the beef for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) in a portion of the soy sauce and ginger before searing. Adjust the amount of brown sugar to your sweetness preference. Serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal.