Easy Pepper Steak Recipe
Make this pepper steak stir fry with thin slices of pork steak sautéed with bell peppers, red onion and tomatoes in savory sauce. A quick and easy dinner recipe!
Wholesome meals that come together in under an hour are a favorite of mine, and our keto pepper steak fills at least a couple of weeknight dinners in our house! Coating the pork steak strips in paprika, salt, and pepper before cooking it in the pan seals in the deep flavor profiles of the spices, resulting in deliciously flavored, tender, melt-in-the-mouth meat.
Allowing the steak several minutes to cook alone in the olive oil means all the juices from the meat will coat the pan. When it’s time to throw in green pepper, red onion, and tomato, the vegetables will absorb the rich meaty flavors, creating a deep taste with every forkful. A drop of Worcestershire sauce brings a hit of sour sweetness, deepening the taste of the meat and veg even further.
Creating our keto pepper steak dish will take just 30 minutes of your day – yes, it’s possible to whip up a low-carb, protein-packed meal for the family in minutes! Once you’ve made this dish a couple of times, feel free to play around with flavors, switching up spices and adding fresh herbs to suit your palette.
Ingredients
- Pork Steak: The key ingredient in our pepper steak recipe is, of course, steak! To make the cooking process quicker and create a diverse bowl of meat and vegetables, slice the pork steak into ¼-inch x 2-inch strips. Slicing the steak into smaller pieces means it will cook faster, absorbing all of the flavors coating the hot frying pan.
- Broth: To aid all of the ingredients in making a flavor-packed sauce for the steak to bathe in, it’s necessary to add some liquid. The broth is our liquid of choice as it adds salty depth and doesn’t take away the spotlight from the steak and vegetables. Beef or vegetable broth will both work in this recipe, so use whichever one you already have in your storecupboard!
- Green Peppers: Green peppers are low in carbs and calories, making them a fantastic ingredient to utilize in keto dishes. They have a slightly bitter taste when eaten alone, but combined with smoky paprika, sweet red onion, and juicy tomatoes, the peppers transform into green strips of flavor.
- Red Onion: Less acrid and pungent than white onion, red onion has an earthy sweetness that echoes the notes of the tender steak. Our recipe needs a small red onion, thinly sliced so it doesn’t take long to cook, and the slices melt down into the sauce.
- Tomato: Bringing gorgeous scarlet color and fragrant, fruity juice, fresh tomatoes are non-negotiable for our keto pepper steak! Either use one large tomato cut into chunky wedges or a handful of cherry tomatoes sliced in half. The tomatoes will soften when cooked, melting into the sweet sauce and coating the meat in a vibrant, fresh burst of sweet flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Known for its unmistakable umami, tangy flavor, Worcestershire sauce is a great partner for meat, bringing out the steak’s natural sweetness. Worcestershire sauce has a kick that heightens the mellow dish into a flavor explosion.
- Paprika: Paprika and meat are also ideal partners, and for our keto pepper steak recipe, I like to use sweet, smoked paprika. If you prefer more fiery heat, hot paprika, dried chili flakes, or cayenne can be used as spicy substitutes.
- Olive Oil: The subtle flavor notes of olive oil are perfect for getting the slices of steak coated well with the seasoning, spices, and oozy tomatoes. Unlike coconut or extra virgin olive oil, the subtle taste of olive oil doesn’t take away from the core flavors of the dish. Instead, olive oil simply acts as a base in the pan for all the delicious flavors to meld together and coat the meat.
- Salt: It’s wise to be mindful when adding salt to this recipe as many broths, both vegetable and meat-based, contain significant salt already. To better tailor the seasoning to your preference, either use reduced salt broth and add your own salt or only use a small amount to prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
- Pepper: A good grinding of black pepper, along with paprika and salt, coats the meat strips in a savory spice mix that, once fired in olive oil, becomes part of the delicious sauce. Along with a punchy aroma, black pepper also brings a gentle kick of heat that sits in the background of the dish.
Our keto pepper steak recipe takes just 30 minutes to go from kitchen to table, making it a quickfire, satisfying meal to whip up when time is short. This is a one-pan recipe, so you don’t have to be concerned about a mountain of dishes once you’ve finished cooking! With 5.5g of net carbs per serving, this keto pepper steak recipe is the perfect fit for late-weeknight dinners or a weekend lunch with friends.
- Season the steak. Once the steak has been cut into smaller slices, sprinkle it generously with paprika, salt, and pepper, tossing the meat through the spices to achieve an even coating.
- Sauté the steak and veggies. Heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté the steak strips for 5-7 minutes, moving the meat around the pan so it cooks well. Add the peppers and onions and cook the mixture for a further 5 minutes.
- Add liquids and simmer. Add the broth into the pan, along with the Worcestershire sauce, and simmer over low to medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes. The sliced tomato can then be added to the pan. Continue to gently stir all of the ingredients together and cook the tomatoes for 2 minutes, allowing them to heat through and slightly soften.
- Season and serve. Adjust the seasoning and serve hot alone or over keto pasta.
Tips And Variations
Keto Pepper Steak With Sesame Garnish: A dusting of lightly toasted sesame seeds over the top of the keto pepper steak gives it a beautiful, warm, nutty finish. The sesame seeds stick to the sweet slices of steak and provide a little crunch, too.
Keto Pepper Steak And Mushrooms: Mushrooms and steak have been partners in the kitchen for quite some time, with many falling in love with the delicious contrast of flavors and textures both ingredients provide. Adding chunky sliced mushrooms into the pan with the meat increases the volume of the dish, adding more texture, flavor, and nutrients.
Chili Keto Pepper Steak: Fresh and dried chili both have the power to transform recipes into spicy, delicious meals. Using a teaspoon of dried chili when coating the beef will add warmth, and garnishing with thin slices of fresh chili adds a pop of color and a bold punch of heat.
