Description
Sizzling pepper steak in a crock pot brings tender beef and sweet bell peppers together in a savory comfort meal. Slow-cooked perfection delivers rich flavors that draw you into a hearty dinner experience with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) beef sirloin or round steak, sliced into strips
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
Seasonings and Spices:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- Salt to taste
Liquid and Thickening Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup (79 ml) soy sauce
- 1/3 cup (79 ml) beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Caramelize beef strips in a hot skillet, creating a rich golden-brown exterior that locks in robust flavors and enhances the meat’s natural tenderness.
- Carefully nestle the seared beef into the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution across the base of the cooking vessel.
- Layer vibrant bell peppers, aromatic onions, and minced garlic over the beef, creating a colorful and fragrant foundation for the dish.
- Whisk together a complex sauce combining umami-rich soy sauce, hearty beef broth, tangy Worcestershire sauce, deep tomato paste, freshly cracked black pepper, and warming ground ginger.
- Pour the meticulously crafted sauce directly over the meat and vegetable layers, allowing the liquid to permeate and infuse every component with its bold flavor profile.
- Secure the lid and let the slow cooker transform the ingredients, gently simmering on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours until the beef becomes incredibly tender and succulent.
- During the final moments of cooking, introduce a cornstarch slurry to elegantly thicken the sauce, creating a luxurious, glossy coating that clings perfectly to the meat and vegetables.
- Plate the pepper steak atop a bed of fluffy steamed rice or tender noodles, allowing the rich sauce to cascade and mingle with the accompanying starch.
Notes
- Searing the beef creates a rich, caramelized exterior that locks in deep flavor and prevents the meat from becoming bland during slow cooking.
- Choose tender cuts like sirloin or flank steak for the most melt-in-your-mouth texture that breaks down beautifully in the crock pot.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and ensure cornstarch is certified gluten-free to make the dish safe for those with dietary restrictions.
- Add extra vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms during the last hour of cooking to introduce more nutrients and keep them from becoming mushy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 364
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg