Chinese Pepper Steak
Chinese Pepper Steak offers tender strips of beef stir-fried with crunchy green peppers, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots, all coated in a savory soy-based sauce. Perfect for a quick, flavorful meal that pairs well with rice or noodles, appealing to lovers of bold, Asian-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the steak into narrow strips.
- Brown the steak in 2 tablespoons of oil.
- Combine the steak with garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, and sugar in a crock-pot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Turn the crock-pot to high and add the vegetables.
- Dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir into the crock-pot.
- Cook on high for 15 to 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
- Serve over noodles or rice.
Tips & Substitutions
For a more tender result, marinate the steak in soy sauce and a bit of vinegar for at least 30 minutes before cooking. You can substitute round steak with flank steak or sirloin if preferred. Feel free to add other vegetables like carrots or snow peas for extra color and nutrition. Adjust the sugar based on the sweetness of your tomatoes, especially if using fresh ones.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this flavorful pepper steak over steamed rice or noodles for a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with Chinese Marinated Vegetable Salad for a fresh contrast. For a heartier spread, consider adding sides like egg rolls or steamed dumplings, which complement the dish's savory profile.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, gently warm in a skillet over medium heat or microwave in short intervals, stirring frequently, until heated through. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water to loosen it.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Chinese Pepper Steak contains roughly 105 calories, with 6g protein, 22g carbohydrates, and 1g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (117% of the Daily Value) and dietary fiber (24% of the Daily Value), and a good source of protein and potassium. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 2553mg per serving (111% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the steak and sauce in the crock-pot ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just reheat when you're ready to serve. This dish actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld together.
What can I use instead of water chestnuts?
If you don't have water chestnuts, you can use sliced celery for a similar crunch or omit them entirely. Alternatively, jicama can also work well in this recipe, giving a nice texture and slight sweetness.
Is there a way to make this dish vegetarian?
Yes! You can easily adapt this recipe to be vegetarian by replacing the steak with tofu or seitan. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth if desired, and increase the variety of vegetables for more flavor and nutrition.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).