Slow Cooker Pepper Steak (Printer-Friendly)
Tender beef and bell peppers slow-cooked in a rich, savory soy-garlic sauce for a comforting weeknight dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 1 1/2 lbs flank steak or sirloin, sliced into thin strips
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large bell peppers (red and green), sliced into strips
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Sauce and Seasonings
06 - 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
07 - 1/3 cup beef broth
08 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
11 - 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
→ Garnish
13 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
# How to Make It:
01 - Arrange the sliced steak strips evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Scatter the sliced bell peppers, onion, and minced garlic over the beef in an even layer.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, brown sugar, cornstarch, black pepper, and salt until smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, until the beef is fork-tender and the vegetables are cooked but still retain a slight crunch.
06 - Stir the contents thoroughly, then garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
07 - Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce thickens into this glossy glaze that coats every strip of beef and makes the house smell incredible for hours.
- It takes about fifteen minutes of real work and then the slow cooker does everything else while you live your life.
02 -
- Lifting the slow cooker lid repeatedly lets steam escape and adds thirty minutes of cooking time each time, so keep it closed.
- The cornstarch must be whisked into cold liquid before going into the cooker or it will clump into unappetizing little balls.
03 -
- Slice the meat against the grain and at a slight angle so every bite is tender rather than chewy.
- Use tamari instead of regular soy sauce if you need it to be gluten free, and the flavor stays virtually identical.