Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy slow cooker preparation: The beef and vegetables go directly into the crockpot without a separate browning step.
• Two cooking options: Choose LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
• Colorful vegetables: Red and green bell peppers add plenty of color alongside the sliced onion.
• Savory-sweet sauce: Teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, garlic and brown sugar create the flavorful cooking liquid.
• Flexible beef choice: The original recipe allows either beef stew meat or sliced beef strips.
• Simple thickening method: Cornstarch and water turn into a quick slurry that thickens the sauce during the final 20 minutes.
• Minimal hands-on cooking: Once the ingredients are assembled, the slow cooker handles most of the work.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat or sliced beef strips
• 2 cups sliced bell peppers (red and green)
• 1 medium onion, sliced into rings
• 1 cup teriyaki sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water

Ingredient Notes

Beef

The recipe gives you a choice between 1 pound (450 g) of beef stew meat and sliced beef strips. Whichever option you use, spread the beef evenly across the bottom of the crockpot before adding the vegetables.

Red and Green Bell Peppers

Use 2 cups of sliced bell peppers, specifically a combination of red and green. They cook directly over the beef along with the onion.

Onion

Slice one medium onion into rings. The onion goes over the beef with the bell peppers before the sauce is added.

Teriyaki Sauce

One cup of teriyaki sauce provides the main liquid and flavor base. It is mixed with garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar and black pepper before being poured into the crockpot.

Garlic and Soy Sauce

Two minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce deepen the savory character of the teriyaki mixture.

Brown Sugar

One tablespoon of brown sugar contributes sweetness to the sauce and complements the teriyaki base.

Black Pepper

The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper, mixed directly into the sauce before slow cooking.

Cornstarch and Water

One tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water are reserved for the final stage. Mix them together before stirring the slurry into the crockpot during the last 20 minutes.

Equipment

• Slow cooker or crockpot
• Medium mixing bowl
• Small bowl for the cornstarch slurry
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Knife and cutting board
• Large spoon for stirring

How to Make Crockpot Pepper Steak

1. Add the Beef

Place the beef into the crockpot and spread it evenly on the bottom.

2. Add the Vegetables

Add the sliced bell peppers and onion over the beef.

3. Mix the Sauce

In a bowl, mix teriyaki sauce, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar and black pepper.

4. Pour in the Sauce

Pour the sauce mixture over the ingredients in the crockpot.

5. Slow Cook Until Tender

Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until the beef becomes tender.

6. Thicken the Sauce

In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Stir it into the crockpot during the last 20 minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce.

7. Stir and Serve

Gently stir the pepper steak before serving.

Tips for the Best Results

• Spread out the beef: Arrange it evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker as directed rather than leaving it in one pile.
• Layer the vegetables over the beef: The supplied method places the bell peppers and onion on top before adding the sauce.
• Mix the sauce separately: Combine the teriyaki sauce, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar and black pepper before pouring it into the crockpot.
• Choose the cooking schedule that works for you: The recipe supplies both LOW and HIGH slow cooker options.
• Use tenderness as your cue: The beef should be tender at the end of the main cooking stage.
• Mix the slurry before adding it: Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl first instead of adding dry cornstarch directly to the sauce.
• Add the slurry near the end: It goes in during the final 20 minutes, not at the beginning of slow cooking.
• Stir gently before serving: This distributes the thickened sauce without unnecessarily breaking up the ingredients.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting the layering order: Start with the beef, then add the peppers and onion before pouring in the sauce.
• Leaving the sauce ingredients unmixed: Combine them in a bowl first so the brown sugar and seasonings are distributed through the liquid.
• Adding dry cornstarch directly to the crockpot: Mix it with the supplied 2 tablespoons of water to form a slurry first.
• Adding the slurry too early: The recipe specifically reserves it for the final 20 minutes.
• Ignoring the tenderness cue: The supplied time ranges are guides; the recipe specifies tender beef as the goal.
• Stirring aggressively at the end: The final direction specifically calls for a gentle stir.

Substitutions and Variations

The original recipe already provides one useful choice: you can prepare Crockpot Pepper Steak with beef stew meat or sliced beef strips.

No other substitutions or variations were included with the supplied recipe. Changes to the peppers, sauce or seasonings would therefore be personal variations rather than part of the original instructions.

Serving Suggestions

The original recipe does not specify a side dish. Serve the pepper steak hot after gently stirring the thickened sauce through the beef, bell peppers and onion.

For optional serving ideas, cooked rice or noodles can provide a simple base for the saucy beef and vegetables. These are general serving suggestions and are not part of the original recipe.

Storage and Reheating

Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe, so this article does not assign a storage duration or reheating method that was not supplied.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Crockpot Pepper Steak made with?

This recipe combines beef, red and green bell peppers and onion with a sauce made from teriyaki sauce, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar and black pepper.

What kind of beef can I use?

The supplied recipe allows either beef stew meat or sliced beef strips.

Do I need to brown the beef first?

No browning step is included in the supplied directions. The beef goes directly into the crockpot.

What bell peppers does the recipe use?

Use 2 cups of sliced red and green bell peppers.

How long does Crockpot Pepper Steak cook on LOW?

The supplied cooking time is 6–7 hours on LOW, until the beef becomes tender.

How long does it cook on HIGH?

Cook on HIGH for 3–4 hours, again using tender beef as the doneness cue.

How do I thicken Crockpot Pepper Steak sauce?

Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir this slurry into the crockpot during the final 20 minutes of cooking.

Can I add the cornstarch at the beginning?

The supplied method specifically adds the cornstarch slurry during the last 20 minutes rather than at the beginning.

How much teriyaki sauce do I need?

The recipe calls for 1 cup of teriyaki sauce.

Does this pepper steak contain soy sauce too?

Yes. In addition to the teriyaki sauce, the recipe includes 1 tablespoon of soy sauce.

What should I serve with Crockpot Pepper Steak?

No accompaniment was supplied with the original recipe. Rice or noodles are optional general serving ideas rather than original recipe components.

How many servings does this recipe make?

A specific serving yield was not supplied, so no serving count has been assigned.

Related Recipes

• Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
• Crockpot Recipes
• Beef Stew Meat Recipes
• Beef and Pepper Recipes
• Easy Dinner Recipes

Recipe Card: Crockpot Pepper Steak

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) beef stew meat or sliced beef strips
• 2 cups sliced bell peppers (red and green)
• 1 medium onion, sliced into rings
• 1 cup teriyaki sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Place the beef into the crockpot and spread it evenly on the bottom.
2. Add the sliced bell peppers and onion over the beef.
3. In a bowl, mix teriyaki sauce, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and black pepper.
4. Pour the sauce mixture over the ingredients in the crockpot.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until the beef becomes tender.
6. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Stir it into the crockpot during the last 20 minutes of cooking to thicken the sauce.
7. Gently stir the pepper steak before serving.

Recipe Notes

• Use either beef stew meat or sliced beef strips as supplied in the recipe.
• Layer the peppers and onion over the beef.
• Mix the sauce ingredients together before pouring them into the crockpot.
• Cook until the beef is tender.
• Combine the cornstarch and water before adding the slurry.
• Add the slurry during the last 20 minutes to thicken the sauce.
• Gently stir before serving.

Storage and Reheating

Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe.