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Slow Cooker Pepper Steak Recipe

4.9 from 145 reviews

This Slow Cooker Pepper Steak is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender beef sirloin strips slow-cooked with vibrant bell peppers, onions, and a savory sauce made of beef broth, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal served over rice or noodles, this recipe combines sweet, salty, and umami notes in a rich, thickened sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Vegetables

  • 2 pounds beef sirloin (cut into strips or chunks)
  • 1 onion (diced or sliced)
  • 3 bell peppers (sliced, any color combination)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)

Sauce and Seasoning

  • 3/4 cup beef broth
  • 3 beef bouillon cubes (crumbled)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey (or brown sugar)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp ground ginger (or fresh grated ginger)
  • Salt & pepper (to taste)
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch (plus extra if needed for thickening)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Slow Cooker: Place the beef strips evenly in the bottom of your slow cooker. Top with the diced onion and sliced bell peppers, arranging the vegetables around and on top of the beef to ensure even cooking and flavor infusion.
  2. Mix the Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, beef broth, crumbled bouillon cubes, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, ground ginger, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt and pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined, ensuring the cornstarch is fully dissolved for thickening.
  3. Add Sauce to Slow Cooker: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker, making sure everything is coated to maximize flavor.
  4. Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook the pepper steak on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours. The long, slow cooking process will tenderize the beef and meld the flavors beautifully.
  5. Thicken the Sauce if Needed: After cooking, check the sauce consistency. If it is too thin, mix a little extra cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 10–15 minutes until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
  6. Serve: Serve the pepper steak warm over hot rice or noodles. Enjoy each hearty, cozy bite full of rich flavor.

Notes

  • You can use any color combination of bell peppers to add visual appeal and a variety of flavors.
  • For a gluten-free version, ensure the soy sauce is gluten-free or substitute with tamari.
  • Adjust honey or brown sugar to your preferred level of sweetness.
  • To add heat, include red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
  • Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and also freeze well.

Keywords: slow cooker pepper steak, easy slow cooker recipes, pepper steak recipe, beef sirloin slow cooker, hearty beef dinner, make ahead dinners