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    Home » Recipes » 30-Minute Meals

    By Amy · Published: Sep 8, 2021 · Updated: Sep 8, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy 16 Comments

    Chinese Pepper Steak

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    Pepper steak and onions in a skillet with overlay text that says, “Chinese pepper steak”.

    This hearty and flavorful Chinese Pepper Steak is one of my very favorite meals. Not only is it super-easy to prepare using simple ingredients, it comes together in under 30 minutes from start to finish!

    Overhead view of Chinese pepper steak and onions in a skillet by a striped towel.

    It’s also budget-friendly which is a total WIN when it comes to a delicious and comforting dinner the whole family will love. Serve it over cooked rice for a complete meal! 

    Ingredients Notes

    Overhead view of ingredients needed to make pepper steak and onions.
    • Flank steak – sliced into ¼ inch strips across the grain. Flank steak can be substituted with sirloin, if desired.
    • Bell peppers – I use one green and one red bell pepper.
    • Garlic – minced fresh garlic. Feel free to use the jarred minced garlic if you’re in a hurry!
    • Granulated white sugar – brown sugar can also be used.
    • Yellow onion – you’ll need one medium onion.
    • Ground ginger – I use half of a teaspoon, but feel free to use more or less, depending upon your personal preference!
    • Soy sauce
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Vegetable oil – sesame oil can also be used.
    • Corn starch
    • Sesame seeds – optional garnish.
    Front closeup view of Chinese pepper steak and onions in a skillet.

    Helpful Hint for Slicing the Beef:

    Place your beef in the freezer for about 20 to 30 minutes before slicing so it will firm up a bit… this makes it so much easier to slice!

    How to Make Pepper Steak and Onions

    Following is a brief overview of how to prepare – please see the recipe card for full detailed instructions.

    A collage of five images showing how to make Chinese pepper steak.
    1. Prepare the sauce by whisking together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, ginger and corn starch in a small bowl. Set aside.
    2. Heat half of the oil in a skillet or wok and cook the peppers and onions for about four minutes, then add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate or a bowl.
    3. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and cook the beef for about five minutes, or until browned on both sides and fully cooked.
    4. Return the peppers and onions to the skillet with the beef and stir to combine.
    5. Pour in the sauce and stir to coat as evenly as possible. Cook for approximately one to two minutes (while stirring), or until sauce is thickened. Sprinkle with sesame seeds when serving, if desired.
    Overhead closeup view of Chinese pepper steak in a skillet with a pair of tongs.

    Enjoy!

    More 30 Minute Meals You’ll Love

    • One Skillet Italian Chicken
    • Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
    • Salmon Patties

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    Overhead view of Chinese pepper steak and onions in a skillet.

    Chinese Pepper Steak

    An easy, delicious and budget-friendly dinner prepared in less than 30 minutes using simple ingredients!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Keyword: chinese pepper steak
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Amy

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup soy sauce low sodium
    • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar or brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger more or less, to taste
    • 2 ½ tablespoons corn starch
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
    • 1 medium green bell pepper cored, seeded and sliced into ¼ inch strips
    • 1 medium red bell pepper cored, seeded and sliced into ¼ inch strips
    • 1 medium yellow onion sliced into ¼ inch slices
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
    • 1 to 1 ¼ pounds flank steak sliced into ¼ inch strips across the grain
    • ¼ teaspoon sesame seeds optional garnish

    Instructions

    • Prepare the sauce by whisking together the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, ginger and corn starch in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
    • Heat 1 ½ tablespoons (half) of the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the peppers and onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender crisp (stirring frequently). Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
    • Transfer bell pepper and garlic mixture to a plate or bowl and return skillet to burner.
    • Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the skillet.  Add steak and cook for 5 minutes, or until browned on both sides and fully cooked (stirring frequently). Leave juices in the skillet with the steak.
    • Return peppers, onions and garlic to skillet with the steak and stir to combine. 
    • Pour in the sauce and stir to coat as evenly as possible. Cook for approximately 1 to 2 minutes (while stirring), or until sauce is thickened.
    • Sprinkle with sesame seeds when serving, if desired.

    Notes

    • *Sirloin can be substituted for flank steak.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 1243mg | Potassium: 760mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1049IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 4mg

    If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheBlondCook or tag #theblondcook!

    Originally published September 2018. Updated with new photos, new text, recipe slightly revised and republished September 2021.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Joann says

      May 02, 2021 at 7:23 pm

      As I was searching for a delicious recipe for my husband and I, I got lucky and pick the right one. This is gonna be our pepper steak go-to from here on out. It was so easy to make. I doubled the sauce for the meat and right before it was done I added some water to a little over medium-high heat to thicken it. It was absolutely delicious we will be adding this dish to our favorites. Thank you so much Amy for sharing your recipe with us. Greatly appreciated.

      Reply
      • Amy says

        May 03, 2021 at 7:31 am

        Thank you so much, Joann – So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Doreen says

      March 06, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      I am crazy for Chinese food Probably too often. Let me say, This was fabulous!! I couldn’t find flank steak so I used Skirt steak which I’ll never use again. Too chewy.
      One question how would I make more gravy/sauce? I like a bit more too cover the rice.
      Thanks so much.

      Reply
    3. Steve says

      December 31, 2020 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      easy, delicious recipe. Better than take out

      Reply
    4. Gary Reich says

      October 21, 2019 at 10:33 am

      How long do I have to marinate the steak?

      Reply
      • Amy @ The Blond Cook says

        October 21, 2019 at 12:19 pm

        Hi Gary, it marinates while you’re preparing the vegetables. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Hank says

      March 19, 2019 at 12:16 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much, my fiancé always orders this from our favorite Chinese restaurant,. I love it also but hate the MSG’s added. Your recipe was easy n great . I had a flat iron steak ( I don’t know if they are the same but was Perfect) , n only changes , probably cause I made a lot , was I added lil more ginger n lil more sauces . Again thank you, we will be making this a lot . Do you have a General Tso recipe?

      Reply
      • Amy @ The Blond Cook says

        March 19, 2019 at 5:02 pm

        Thank you so much, Hank! So happy to hear you both enjoyed it and will be making it at home more often. General Tso Chicken is actually on my list… be looking for it in the near future! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Jackie JG says

      January 04, 2019 at 7:28 am

      Do you have an instant pot version for this recipe? Looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Amy @ The Blond Cook says

        January 05, 2019 at 9:29 am

        Hi Jackie, thanks so much! I do not have an Instant Pot version of this recipe but plan to in the near future!

        Reply
    7. Nora Charles says

      September 07, 2018 at 11:34 pm

      Sounds divine. Do you add the marinade with the steak when you cook it or just the steak pieces themselves? I’d hate to toss out all that lovely marinade.

      Reply
      • Amy @ The Blond Cook says

        September 10, 2018 at 7:08 am

        Hi Nora, Yes I added the marinade when I cooked the steak. You can do it either way. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

        Reply
        • Trigger says

          April 03, 2019 at 6:21 pm

          You never said do you slice the beef before you cook it or after I know you put it in the freezer for 10 minutes but went?

          Reply
          • Amy @ The Blond Cook says

            April 04, 2019 at 5:15 am

            Hi Trigger, slice the beef before cooking. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

    8. Elizabeth says

      September 05, 2018 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      This was so incredibly easy to make and SO much better (and less epensive) than takeout.

      Reply
      • Amy @ The Blond Cook says

        September 10, 2018 at 7:03 am

        Thanks so much, Elizabeth! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hey, I'm Amy Brinkley! Welcome to my online kitchen. I love cooking simple, family-friendly recipes with everyday ingredients.

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