Can I use chicken instead of beef for this recipe?

Yes! Substitute thinly sliced chicken breast or thigh meat and reduce cooking time slightly. The sweet soy–honey sauce pairs perfectly with chicken.

What’s the best cut of beef for pepper steak?

Rib-eye gives the best tenderness, but flank, sirloin, or rump steak also work well when sliced thinly against the grain.

How can I make this recipe lower in sodium?

Use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the dark soy by half. The flavor will still be rich thanks to the honey and garlic.

Can I add vegetables like broccoli or snap peas?

Absolutely. Stir-fry them briefly before adding the beef back to the pan to keep them crisp-tender.

Does this freeze well?

Yes. Cool completely, store in airtight containers, and freeze up to 2 months. Reheat in a pan over medium heat.

Pepper Steak Stir-Fry with Honey Glaze

Name: Pepper Steak Stir-Fry with Honey Glaze
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 650 grams rib-eye steak (thinly sliced); 4 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce; 1 teaspoon black pepper (crushed); 2 teaspoons garlic (minced); 0.5 teaspoon ginger (minced); 2 teaspoons cornflour; 1 tablespoon oil (for marination); 3 tablespoons oil (for cooking); 1 piece red bell pepper (cut into chunks); 1 piece green bell pepper (cut into chunks); 1 piece yellow onion (cut into chunks); 2 tablespoons water (cold); 1 tablespoon honey

Quick Pepper Steak Stir-Fry

Pepper steak works best when the beef stays tender and the vegetables keep some bite. The sauce here is simple enough for a weeknight, but still strong enough to coat rice or noodles without disappearing.

What Makes The Stir-Fry Work

Thin slicing matters more than a long marinade. Cut the steak against the grain, get the pan hot, and cook in batches if needed so the meat sears instead of steaming.

The peppers and onion should soften slightly but still keep structure. If they cook down too far, the dish loses the contrast that makes pepper steak feel fresh rather than heavy.

Sauce Notes

Dark soy gives colour and depth, while honey rounds out the sharper saltiness of the regular soy sauce. If you plan to serve the beef over rice, you can loosen the sauce slightly with a splash of water or stock at the end.

Serving Guidance

Serve it with rice if you want a full main, or keep the portion lighter by using more vegetables alongside the beef. Broccoli, snap peas, or green beans all fit without fighting the sauce.

Useful Variations

Use sirloin, rump, or flank if rib-eye is not practical.
Add mushrooms or broccoli if you want more vegetable volume.
Reduce the honey slightly if you prefer a more savoury finish.

Leftovers

This reheats best in a hot pan rather than a microwave, especially if you want the peppers to keep some texture.