Unbelievably Easy Keto Crockpot Pepper Steak Recipe Loaded with Flavor!

Crockpot Pepper Steak is a hands-off meal that is super flavorful, simple, and comforting. This slow cooker version of the stir-fried Chinese American favorite is full of sliced beef and sweet bell peppers cooked in an umami beef sauce. The savory richness of the dish and just how simple it is to cook and prepare will make you want it again and again!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Effortless Cooking: It's a dump-and-go recipe, perfect for busy weeknights.
Tender Beef: The slow cooker tenderizes the beef more than stovetop cooking does.
Freezer-Friendly: You can freeze it before or after cooking for meal prepping.
Versatile: Serve it over rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, or enjoy it as a low-carb meal.
Customizable: Easily adjust the spice level or change the vegetables to your liking.

What is Pepper Steak?

Pepper steak is a Chinese-American dish consisting of sliced beef steak cooked with sliced bell peppers and onions. The sauce is soy sauce-based thickened with cornstarch. It’s a dish that brings the flavors of a classic Chinese-American take-out dish without the fuss.

Ingredients You'll Need

For the Crockpot Pepper Steak:

Beef sirloin strips: Sometimes called sirloin tips or beef for stir fry when precut. You can also use sirloin steaks that you cut into long slices. Sirloin is the most traditional and most tender cut of beef to use for this recipe. If you can't find steak for stir fry that has already been cut, use sirloin steaks and slice them into long strips about 1 inch thick. Nearly any lean or well-trimmed cut of beef will do as long as it’s sliced thin. The thin cut allows the beef to cook more quickly and become more tender. Be sure to trim your meat of any large pieces of fat. If your beef isn’t pre-sliced or sliced thinly enough, cut your steak into beef strips, much like you see in restaurant stir-fry. I’d keep them at about ¼”-½” thick. Remember, they’ll shrink a bit as they cook.
Bell peppers: A combination of green, yellow, red, and orange is visually appealing and offers a variety of flavors. Change the color of bell peppers: use all green peppers instead of a combination of colorful peppers. Cut your green peppers and onions in the same way and the same size to ensure they cook evenly.
Onions: Sliced onions add depth to the flavor profile. If you are out of fresh onions, you can add in a tablespoon or two of minced dried onions for an easy substitutions.
Garlic: Minced garlic enhances the savory flavor.
Beef broth: Forms the base of the sauce. Pour the beef broth in the crock pot.
Bouillon cubes: Adds richness to the broth. We recommend using beef broth, but you can use water and toss in some bouillon cubes for added flavor.
Soy sauce: Provides umami and saltiness. Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds a tangy and savory depth. To add a bit of tangy and deep flavor, you can mix in a tablespoon of Worcestershire Sauce.
Honey: A touch of sweetness to balance the savory flavors.
Ground ginger: Adds a warm, aromatic spice. Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.
Black pepper: For a hint of spice. Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.
Salt: To enhance the overall flavor. Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.
Cornstarch: Added to the broth as a thickener. You do not have to thicken the sauce. The pepper steak will taste great without it. But if you do, add the cornstarch or arrowroot starch to the slow cooker along with the rest of the food at the beginning of cooking time.
Rice vinegar: Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.
Sesame oil: Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.

Keto Variation

Steak: Flank steak or top sirloin, sliced thinly against the grain, are recommended.
Baking soda: Used for velveting the meat, tenderizing it prior to stir-frying.
Tamari: A gluten-free soy sauce alternative. It’s a more flavorful and entirely gluten-free kind of soy sauce. And it has more flavor and fewer carbs than things like coconut aminos.
Chili garlic sauce: Adds a spicy kick. You can find this spicy condiment in the International Foods aisle of most grocery stores. Chili Garlic Sauce has zero carbs and is not the same as sweet chili sauce, so make sure you read the labels. You can also use Sriracha. It’s not quite as flavorful and does have a few carbs but it adds only 0.75g per serving.
Glucomannan: Preferred over xanthan gum for thickening the sauce in keto recipes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Slow Cooker Method

Make the sauce: Combine hot beef broth, bouillon cubes, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, ground ginger, black pepper, salt and cornstarch in a mixing glass. Stir well, crushing the bouillon cubes.
Combine ingredients: Place beef strips into the slow cooker. Add peppers, onions and garlic on top of the beef.
Pour sauce: Pour sauce on top.
Slow cook: Set to LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours. If possible, stir the ingredients halfway through.
Serve: When finished, stir well and transfer to a serving dish. Serve over rice or noodles or as a side with mashed or baked potatoes.

Instant Pot Method

Add ingredients: Add the soy sauce, beef broth, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using.
Sauté beef: Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the sesame oil and beef to the pot. Cook 3-5 minutes or until beef is browned.
Combine and pressure cook: Add the soy sauce, beef broth, and rice vinegar. Add beef back into the pressure cooker along with the salt, pepper, ground ginger, and cornstarch if using. Close the lid and seal the valve. Set manual, high pressure to 8 minutes.

Keto Pepper Steak Instructions

Make the sauce: Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
Tenderize the beef: In a large bowl, toss the steak slices with the baking soda to coat. Let stand 15 minutes to tenderize, then rinse thoroughly with water. Let drain and pat dry.
Stir fry the beef: In a large skillet or wok over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add slices of meat in a single layer and sear quickly, about 1 minute on each side (depending on how thinly you sliced it). Remove to a plate and repeat with more oil and more meat until all the meat has been cooked to your liking.
Cook vegetables: Add the vegetables to the pan and stir fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until becoming tender.
Combine and serve: Add the meat and any accumulated juices back into the pan. Stir in the sauce and cook until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper (and more chili garlic sauce if you like!). Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Tips for the Perfect Crockpot Pepper Steak

Crispier Peppers: Add the peppers to the crockpot during the last hour of cook time for a crisper texture. Keep in mind though, that the peppers give the sauce flavor and you won't have as much of it if you don't cook them for the entire 6 hours.
Even Cooking: Cut your green peppers and onions in the same way and the same size to ensure they cook evenly.
Versatile Seasoning: Other versions I’ve tried included toasted sesame seeds, honey, lime, pineapple chunks, or even peanut butter if you’d like a little bit of Thai flair for your supper. Let me know what you come up with in the comments below.
Freezing: This slow cooker pepper steak recipe freezes ahead very well. Simply add the sauce to the bottom of a freezer bag, then top with thin slices of raw beef then the vegetables. Squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can before sealing and storing it flat in your freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to cook, simply dumb the contents of the bag into the Crock Pot. You’ll need to add a little extra cook time if you don’t thaw the ingredients first.

Serving Suggestions

Rice or Noodles: If you aren’t watching your carbs, serve over white rice or egg noodles.
Low-Carb Options: If you’re watching your carb intake, pepper steak is also tasty in a low-carb wrap or even rolled into your favorite leafy green. Another low-carb option would be to serve it over cauliflower rice.
Side Dishes: Serve with Chinese-style green beans or egg drop soup for a complete meal.
Appetizer: Serve with Fried Wonton Recipe - This recipe makes an easy appetizer.

Variations and Customizations

Make it Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or even a few jalapeno peppers to make a spicy pepper steak. Add in red pepper flakes if you prefer your dish to be a bit spicy.
Change the Meats: You can easily change the meat to what you have on hand. Cut the meat into strips or leave it as a whole piece.
Add Mushrooms: Mushrooms can be added to this pepper steak recipe. If you prefer, you can also cook the mushrooms in a skillet and serve over the top when the recipe is finished cooking.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate: Store in an air tight container for up to 4 days for a delicious lunch the next day.
Freeze: Place the leftover pepper steak in a freezer container or a zip lock freezer bag. If stored properly the pepper steak will last about 3 months. When you are ready to serve again, place in the freezer container in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Then reheat in the microwave or stovetop until heated thoroughly. Serve with rice and your favorite vegetables.

Is This Recipe Healthy?

Low-Carb: It’s low-carb written as-is. It’s low-carb written as-is.
Gluten-Free: Served alone without rice as a side, pepper steak itself is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free soy sauce and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. Both options are usually available at a regular grocery store.
Macros: The macros for a serving of pepper steak itself (no rice or noodles!) are 8 carbs, 33 grams of protein, and 20 grams of fat. Note that the 20 grams of fat is including the liquid in the Crock Pot. For lower fat content, scoop out a serving with a slotted spoon, leaving most of the liquid in the slow cooker. If you need the fat for a keto diet, dish up as much liquid as you can.

Keto Pepper Steak: Additional Tips

Slice Steak Thinly: Even with velveting, you still want to make sure to slice the steak very thinly. This is easiest to do when the steak is partially frozen. It shouldn’t be rock solid, but it shouldn’t give completely as you try to slice it.
Sear in Batches: Sear the steak in batches. This allows for more even cooking and you can make sure each piece cooks through perfectly. Again, this takes a but more time but makes a world of difference to the texture and flavor.
Thickening Sauce: If your sauce is thin after you have cooked it for a bit, push all of the meat and vegetables to one side of the pan. Whisk another quarter teaspoon of glucomannan or xanthan gum into the sauce. It should thicken up quickly.
Tenderizing Steak: You can tenderize beef with cornstarch or baking soda. For keto pepper steak, velveting the meat with baking soda is a lower carb option. Toss it with the sliced steak with baking soda and let sit 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly before cooking.

Keto Pepper Steak: FAQs

What cut of beef is best for pepper steak? Flank steak, top sirloin, and top round steak are great choices for this pepper steak stir fry. They are relatively inexpensive and slice nicely against the grain for thin slices.
How many carbs are in keto pepper steak? Traditional pepper steak recipes often contain sugar and cornstarch and can have anywhere from 15 to 30 grams of carbs per serving. This Keto Pepper Steak recipe has only 4.7g of carbs and 1.3g of dietary fiber.
Can I use a different cut of beef instead of chuck roast? Absolutely! While chuck roast is great for slow cooking, you can also use shoulder roast or cross-rib roast. Just keep in mind that the cooking time may vary slightly depending on the cut you choose.
What can I substitute for liquid aminos? If you don't have liquid aminos, you can use soy sauce or tamari as a substitute. Just be mindful that soy sauce is not keto-friendly if you're avoiding gluten, so tamari is a great alternative!
How can I store leftovers from this recipe? Once your Keto Steak and Peppers has cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 2-3 months for a quick meal later!
What can I serve with this dish if I'm following a keto diet? This dish is versatile! You can enjoy it over keto rice, zoodles (zucchini noodles), or cauliflower rice. It also makes a delicious filling for lettuce wraps or as a topping for salads.
Can I add other vegetables to this slow cooker recipe? Definitely! Feel free to add other low-carb vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

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tags: #keto #crockpot #pepper #steak #recipe