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    Home » Main Dishes

    Pepper Steak - Instant Pot or Slow Cooker (Crock Pot)

    Published: Nov 13, 2019 · Modified: Jan 23, 2024 by Sula · This post may contain affiliate links · 56 Comments

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    Pin for Pepper Steak made in the Instant Pot.
    Pepper Steak made in the Instant Pot of Crockpot/ Slow Cooker
    Pepper Steak Made in the Instant Pot
    Instant Pot Pepper Steak Pin.
    pin for instant pot pepper steak.

    Slow Cooker or Instant Pot

    Pepper Steak is a classic dish that warms you through and through on a chilly evening.  It is often described as “Chinese American” but it feels mostly American to me. I guess soy sauce as an ingredient qualifies it as a little Chinese?

    Either way, Pepper Steak is simple and satisfying.  I’ve made this many times in a slow cooker and recently adapted the recipe for Instant Pot use, for even faster and more convenient preparation.

    pepper steak and noodles on a small white plate
    Jump to:
    • Slow Cooker or Instant Pot
    • How to Make Instant Pot Pepper Steak
    • 📖 Recipe

    How to Make Instant Pot Pepper Steak

    To start, cut the beef into strips. The recipe calls for sirloin, but I have used many different cuts of meat, such as chuck or stew meat. When you use an Instant Pot or slow cooker, pretty much any cut of beef becomes tender and delicious. 😃

    raw ingredients for pepper steak

    Sprinkle the beef strips with garlic powder and then brown in a skillet before transferring to the slow cooker (Use the sauté function for the Instant Pot). Cut the green peppers and onion into strips or large chunks as desired. Some people use one green and one red pepper, which sounds lovely and very colorful, but I have always stuck with 2 green bell peppers. Your choice. 😀

    Then, dump all the other ingredients into the slow cooker or Instant Pot.

    sauteed meat and raw veggies in the instant pot

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    In my slow cooker I set it on low for 6 to 8 hours. For the Instant Pot I use the meat/stew setting, which is 18 minutes of cooking time (Note: Estimate about an hour’s total cycle time with the pressure/depressurize steps).

    Once the cooking cycle is done you have the option of serving as-is or thickening the sauce with a mix of cornstarch with water – totally up to you.

    Pepper steak is great with egg noodles or rice, according to preference (And no one needs to know how easy it was!). 😄

    pepper steak and noodles on a small red plate.

    For another easy meal idea, check out my Instant Pot French Onion Chicken. Another delicious comfort food straight from your Instant Pot!

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    plate of pepper steak on noodles.
    4.99 from 106 votes
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    Pepper Steak - Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

    An easy, family favorite meal made in the Instant Pot for fast results, or in the slow cooker to cook all day while you are off to work.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Chinese
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 294kcal
    Author: Sula

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds beef sirloin cut into 2-inch strips
    • 2 to 3 teaspoons Garlic powder or to taste
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • ½ cup beef broth
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • ½ cup chopped onion
    • 2 large green bell peppers seeded and roughly chopped
    • 1 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes, with liquid
    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon white sugar
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions

    • Sprinkle strips of sirloin with 2 to 3 teaspoons garlic powder, or to taste.
      2 to 3 teaspoons Garlic powder, 2 pounds beef sirloin

    Slow Cooker:

    • In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil and brown the seasoned beef strips. Transfer to slow cooker.
      3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 pounds beef sirloin
    • Mix beef broth with cornstarch until dissolved. Pour into slow cooker with meat. Stir in onion, green peppers, stewed tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and salt.
      ½ cup beef broth, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ cup chopped onion, 2 large green bell peppers, 1 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes, with liquid, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon white sugar, 1 teaspoon salt
    • Cover and cook on High for 3 to 4 hours, or on Low for 6 to 8 hours.
    • Thicken as desired with additional cornstarch/water solution. Suggested: start with 2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 4 tablespoons water. Repeat as needed until desired consistency is reached. Mixture must be hot for cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

    Instant Pot:

    • Turn Instant Pot setting to sauté. Add oil and seasoned beef and cook until browned. Turn off the sauté function.
      2 pounds beef sirloin, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 2 to 3 teaspoons Garlic powder
    • Mix beef broth with cornstarch until dissolved. Pour into the Instant Pot with meat. Stir in onion, green peppers, stewed tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and salt.
      ½ cup beef broth, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ cup chopped onion, 2 large green bell peppers, 1 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes, with liquid, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon white sugar, 1 teaspoon salt
    • Cover, seal, and set to meat/stew cooking cycle (18 minutes). When cooking cycle is complete, allow IP to vent naturally for at least 20 minutes before removing the lid.
    • Thicken as desired with additional cornstarch/water solution. Suggested: start with 2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in ¼ cup water. Repeat as needed until desired consistency is reached. Mixture must be hot for cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1142mg | Potassium: 822mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 4mg

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

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    Comments

    1. Teri Burdette

      November 16, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is a favorite of my husband and myself. I made it when my sister visited and she wanted a second helping. It is quick and easy to prepare. The only difference is my husband seasons the meat and we let it marinate for a few hours before I make it

      Reply
      • Sula

        November 18, 2023 at 9:12 am

        Yummy! Thanks for sharing the marinade idea, I might try that sometime. 😁

        Reply
    2. Darla

      April 19, 2023 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight in my insta-pot and my husband and mother-in-law loved it. Keeping this recipe and will make it again.

      Reply
      • Sula

        April 20, 2023 at 7:45 am

        Thanks for trying out one of my favorite recipes Darla! I'm so glad your family enjoyed it like mine does. And thank you so much for the kind review!

        Reply
    3. Cindy carol

      December 17, 2022 at 7:28 pm

      3 stars
      Flavor is good! But I missed having the crunchy veggies. They were almost disintegrated. Meat was tender. I think I will go back to my recipe for stove top.

      Reply
      • Sula

        December 18, 2022 at 7:33 am

        Oh yes, it's pretty tough to keep the veggies crunchy in the Instant Pot! You'd probably have to cook everything else first. then add the veggies and cook on the saute mode until they get to your preferred level of "doneness."

        Reply
        • Desiree Barnhart

          March 07, 2023 at 9:58 am

          So mine doesn’t have a meat/stew button . My options are pressure cooker, rice/grain, steam, sauté, bake, yogurt, slow cooker and, sous vide

          If I do pressure cooker, is that still 18 minutes?

          Reply
          • Sula

            March 07, 2023 at 11:18 am

            Yes, high pressure for 18 minutes.

            Reply
          • Joan

            February 08, 2025 at 9:22 pm

            That seems like an awfully long time in high. I'm guessing that there will be nothing left to the vegetables.

            Reply
            • Sula

              February 10, 2025 at 5:20 pm

              Yes, the vegetables do get very soft.

    4. Colette Zaharko

      October 21, 2021 at 8:00 am

      5 stars
      I love pepper steak. I always thought it was a Chinese recipe, I always see it in a Chinese restaurant, but it does not matter because I love both the Chinese and American versions. I have not tried cooking it in a slow cooker, though, so I would like to try that.
      You always give us the best recipes!

      Reply
      • Sula

        October 21, 2021 at 8:35 am

        Thank you - I hope you try it! It has been a family favorite for many years!

        Reply
    5. Addie

      October 20, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      5 stars
      Such an easy, healthy and delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Sula

        October 21, 2021 at 8:36 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    6. Gina Abernathy

      October 20, 2021 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for a new recipe for the instant pot. This is a great, easy, and delicious looking recipe.

      Reply
      • Sula

        October 21, 2021 at 8:36 am

        The Instant Pot makes it a breeze!

        Reply
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    4.99 from 106 votes (83 ratings without comment)

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