Go Back
A serving of easy slow cooker pepper steak with tender beef and colorful bell peppers

Classic Easy Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

This classic slow cooker pepper steak recipe offers tender beef and colorful bell peppers in a savory, rich sauce. It's an easy and delicious meal perfect for any weeknight.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
  • Medium Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Small Bowl

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 ½ - 2 lbs sirloin steak, flank steak, or stewing beef cut into thin strips
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 2-3 garlic minced
  • 3-4 bell peppers a mix of red, green, and yellow for color, thinly sliced

For the Sauce

  • 1 ½ cups beef broth
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar or honey

For Thickening

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water for slurry

Other

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Pat the beef strips dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet and sear the beef strips in batches until browned; transfer to the slow cooker.

Cooking

  • In the same skillet, sauté the sliced onion until softened, then add minced garlic and cook until fragrant; transfer to the slow cooker.
  • Whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and brown sugar; pour over the beef and onions.
  • Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
  • During the last 30-60 minutes, stir in the sliced bell peppers.
  • Whisk cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry; stir into the slow cooker and cook on high for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Notes

For best results, do not skip searing the beef, as it adds a deeper flavor. Adjust cooking time for bell peppers based on your preferred tenderness; for a crisper texture, add them closer to the end of the cooking time.