Tender Pepper Steak in a Crock Pot

If you’re looking for a comforting, hearty meal that you can easily prepare in advance, this Pepper Steak in a Crock Pot recipe is the perfect option. Packed with tender beef sirloin strips, vibrant green bell peppers, savory tomatoes, and a rich umami-flavored broth, this dish is a flavorful and satisfying experience.

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Whether you’re an experienced home cook or new to slow cooking, this recipe delivers great results with minimal effort. Let’s take a deep dive into this slow-cooker classic, exploring the ingredients, the process, and a few tips to make this recipe your go-to dinner idea.

What Is Pepper Steak?

Pepper steak is a Chinese-American dish typically made with tender cuts of beef, bell peppers, and a savory soy-based sauce. The dish often has stir-fried elements, which are then simmered to perfection. By adapting this to a slow cooker, you ensure the beef becomes incredibly tender while the sauce melds all the flavors into a rich, satisfying dish.

Unlike traditional stir-fries, this crockpot version takes advantage of slow cooking to break down the meat, giving it a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The use of bell peppers adds color and a slight sweetness that pairs perfectly with the savory beef.

Why Make Pepper Steak in a Crock Pot?

There are plenty of reasons why making pepper steak in a crockpot is a great idea. Here are just a few:

1. Hands-Off Cooking: Once the ingredients are in the crockpot, all the work is done for you. Set it and forget it!
2. Tender Beef: Slow cooking makes the beef irresistibly tender, as it gently cooks over time.
3. Deep Flavor: Cooking low and slow allows the spices, soy sauce, and vegetables to meld together, producing deep, rich flavors.
4. Meal Prep Friendly: This recipe is excellent for meal prep! You can prepare the ingredients the night before, pop them into the crockpot in the morning, and have dinner ready when you return home.
5. Family Friendly: The flavors in this dish are bold but not overly spicy, making it a great option for family dinners.

Ingredients Breakdown

To make this recipe, you’ll need a handful of common ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your pantry. Let’s look at what each component brings to the dish:

• 2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 2-inch strips: The main protein in this dish is beef sirloin, a relatively lean cut of meat that becomes incredibly tender when cooked in the slow cooker. You can also substitute with other cuts like flank steak or round steak, but sirloin gives the best texture.
• ¾ teaspoon garlic powder: Garlic powder adds depth and a subtle aromatic quality. If you want to amp up the flavor, you can use fresh garlic (about 2 cloves minced).
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil: Used for searing the beef, the oil helps form a caramelized crust on the meat, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish. You can substitute with olive oil if preferred.
• 1 cube beef bouillon + ¼ cup hot water: The bouillon cube is the flavor powerhouse in this dish. Dissolving it in hot water creates a rich broth that coats the beef strips and enhances the savory taste.
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch: This helps thicken the sauce as it cooks, ensuring it coats the beef and veggies perfectly. It also adds a glossy finish to the dish.
• ½ cup chopped onion: Onions provide a natural sweetness and add complexity to the dish. Chopped onions will break down and almost melt into the sauce during the long cooking process.
• 2 large green bell peppers, roughly chopped: The bell peppers are a signature component of this dish. They provide sweetness and a bit of crunch, balancing the richness of the beef.
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, with liquid: Stewed tomatoes bring acidity and sweetness, helping to cut through the richness of the meat. The liquid from the tomatoes also adds to the sauce.
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce: Soy sauce provides a salty, umami-rich backbone to the dish. It balances the sweetness from the sugar and peppers while deepening the overall flavor.
• 1 teaspoon white sugar: A small amount of sugar helps balance the acidity from the tomatoes and rounds out the savory elements of the dish.
• 1 teaspoon salt: Seasoning the dish brings out the natural flavors in the meat and vegetables. Adjust to taste, but remember that soy sauce also adds saltiness.

Directions: How to Make Crock Pot Pepper Steak

This recipe is very simple to follow, and with the help of your slow cooker, you’ll have a comforting, delicious meal with minimal hands-on time. Here’s how to do it step by step:

Step 1: Prepare the Beef

Begin by cutting your beef sirloin into 2-inch strips. Try to keep the strips uniform in size so that they cook evenly. Once cut, sprinkle the beef with garlic powder. This simple seasoning adds a lot of flavor to the meat without overwhelming it.

Step 2: Sear the Beef

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the beef strips in batches, searing them for about 5 minutes on each side. Searing the meat helps to lock in the juices and adds a caramelized crust that deepens the overall flavor of the dish. After searing, transfer the beef to your slow cooker.

Step 3: Prepare the Sauce

In a small container, dissolve the beef bouillon cube in ¼ cup of hot water. Stir until completely dissolved, then whisk in the cornstarch. This will act as the base of your sauce, giving it both flavor and a slight thickening agent.

Step 4: Add the Vegetables

Chop your onions and green bell peppers into large, roughly even pieces. These vegetables will soften as they cook, and larger chunks help them retain their texture. Add the chopped onions and green peppers to the slow cooker on top of the beef strips.

Step 5: Add the Remaining Ingredients

Pour the stewed tomatoes (with their liquid) into the slow cooker, followed by the soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Stir everything together to ensure the beef and vegetables are evenly coated in the sauce.

Step 6: Slow Cook

Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to your preferred cooking time. Cook on High for 3-4 hours if you’re in a rush, or on Low for 6-8 hours if you want to give the flavors more time to develop and the meat to become ultra-tender.

Step 7: Serve

Once the pepper steak has finished cooking, give it a good stir and check for seasoning. If necessary, add a little more salt or soy sauce to taste. Serve your pepper steak over a bed of hot white rice, quinoa, or mashed potatoes to soak up all that delicious sauce.

Tips for Success

• Don’t Skip Searing: While it may be tempting to skip the searing step, it’s worth the extra effort. Searing the beef adds a lot of flavor and helps to lock in the juices.
• Cut Vegetables Evenly: For even cooking, try to chop the onions and bell peppers into roughly the same size. This ensures they cook at the same rate.
• Customize the Peppers: You can mix up the types of bell peppers you use. Red, yellow, or orange bell peppers will add sweetness and color variety to the dish.
• Make It Spicy: If you like heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or sliced jalapeños to the slow cooker for a bit of spice.
• Thicker Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can whisk a bit more cornstarch (about 1 teaspoon) with water and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Variations to Try

• Add Mushrooms: For a heartier dish, consider adding mushrooms. Cremini or button mushrooms work great with the beef and soak up the sauce beautifully.
• Use Chicken: For a lighter version, substitute the beef with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Cook for the same amount of time, and you’ll have a delicious pepper chicken dish.
• Gluten-Free Version: Swap regular soy sauce with gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos to make this dish suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.

Serving Suggestions

• Rice: The classic pairing for pepper steak is white rice. The fluffy grains help to soak up the flavorful sauce, making each bite delicious.
• Quinoa: For a healthier alternative, serve your pepper steak with quinoa.
• Noodles: This dish also pairs wonderfully with egg noodles or lo mein for an Asian-inspired twist.

Final Thoughts

This Pepper Steak in a Crock Pot recipe is the perfect blend of convenience and flavor. It’s a dish that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when, in reality, the slow cooker did all the hard work. With tender beef, perfectly cooked vegetables, and a savory, slightly sweet sauce, it’s sure to become a family favorite!