This Chinese pepper steak is full of Asian flavors and packed with vegetables, making it a healthy keto dinner option. Plus, it's quick and easy to make - perfect for busy weeknights or weekly meal prep!
When it comes to low-carb dinners, nothing beats a quick and easy meat and vegetable dish. That's why pepper steak has been one of my long-time favorites!
It's perfect for weeknight family dinners because it cooks up in less than 30 minutes. It comes together even faster if all the ingredients have already been prepped and sliced!
That's why I know you're going to love this keto beef stir fry. It's so simple you really don't even need a recipe!
Why you'll love this recipe for Chinese pepper steak
- This recipe for Chinese pepper steak is full of flavor. The combination of soy sauce and garlic gives the dish a delicious Asian-inspired taste.
- It's also packed with vegetables, making it a healthy and nutritious option for dinner. Serve it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for an even lower-carb meal.
- The beef in this dish is tender and savory, making it perfect for a satisfying dinner. Plus, it's quick and easy to make - just 20 minutes from start to finish.
- This recipe is also great for those following a gluten-free and keto diet. Just be sure to use gluten-free soy sauce.
- Leftovers of this dish make a great lunch option for the next day. Just reheat and enjoy!
Ingredients needed for keto pepper steak
When I make my own version of this Chinese take-out dish, I like to use a good cut of beef or sirloin steak. You can also use flank steak or even ground beef for a budget-friendly option.
I usually pair the steak with sliced green peppers and onions stir-fried with some soy sauce, broth, and seasoning. Sometimes, I'll also add in some mushrooms to soak up even more of the delicious sauce!
For more keto-friendly veggies, you can also add some broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, or baby corn. A whole 15-ounce can of baby corn has just 10 grams of carbs, 6 of which are fiber. That's just 4g net carbs added to the 4-serving dish!
How to make keto pepper steak stir fry
Making this Chinese pepper steak is really easy and only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. That's even quicker than ordering take-out and much healthier too! Here's how to do it.
Step 1: Sauté beef
First, brown the beef with some garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat. You can season the meat with salt and pepper either before or after cooking. Once it's done, remove it from the pan and keep it warm!
Step 2: Cook veggies
Next, stir-fry the sliced green peppers and onions until they are tender. I like to add in some sliced mushrooms at this point, too, for added flavor.
Step 3: Add sauce
Now comes the fun part - making the delicious sauce! In a small bowl, mix together broth, soy sauce, and your favorite seasonings. Pour it over the veggies and let everything cook together for a few minutes.
Step 4: Combine and serve
Finally, add the beef back into the pan to combine it with the vegetables and sauce. Let it all simmer together for a few more minutes until everything is heated through.
That's all there is to it!
What to serve with Chinese pepper steak recipe
To keep this dish low-carb and keto-friendly, you can serve it over cauliflower fried rice or kelp noodles. It also goes well with a side of roasted broccoli or a simple green salad.
Enjoy!
Tips for making the best Chinese pepper steak
- If you like your stir-fry with a little kick, add some red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to the sauce mixture.
- You can also marinate the beef in soy sauce and garlic before cooking for even more flavor.
- To make this dish extra saucy, double the amount of broth and soy sauce in the recipe.
- This stir-fry is also a great way to use up any leftover veggies you have in your fridge. Just throw them in with the peppers and onions!
Frequently asked questions
These are the questions I get most about making keto pepper steak. If I don't answer your question here, please leave it in the comments down below.
Red meat is a popular food on keto because it contains zero carbs. But some cooks use seasoning and rubs that aren't carb-free, so you may need to look out for that.
Although I used sirloin in the recipe, flank steak is generally used for stir-frying. That's because it tends to have more flavor and does well when cut thin.
Most of the liquid should evaporate when cooking the vegetables. But you can sprinkle in about ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum into the broth mixture.
Or, a tablespoon or so of almond or coconut flour can be mixed into the soy sauce before adding.
One medium green bell pepper has about 6g carbs, and ¼ cup onion adds roughly 4g carbs.
So the peppers and onions in the recipe contain about 10g total carbs which is just over 2g per serving.
Like This Low Carb Pepper Steak Recipe? Try These!
I hope you enjoy this Asian-inspired low-carb dish. Other keto beef recipes you might enjoy are:
- Korean Beef Bulgogi is specially made from thinly sliced beef and a soy marinade full of umami flavors. Serve with a fried egg!
- Slow Cooker Steak Tips results in tender and flavorful meat every time for an easy no-fuss dinner.
- Keto Vegetable Beef Soup is a Filipino-style beef nilaga made with low-carb ingredients.
- Crockpot Broccoli Beef is super simple to prepare that's it's much faster than grabbing takeout!
- Japanese Hamburger Steak is sure to become your new favorite way to make ground beef patties!
- Ground Beef and Squash is another quick and easy dinner idea for busy weeknights.
Want to try a chicken dish instead? My chicken bok choy stir fry is always a winner.
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Recipe
Keto Chinese Pepper Steak (Stir Fry)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil or avocado oil
- 1 pound sirloin steak cut into thin strips
- 1 clove garlic minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 medium green bell pepper cut into strips
- ¼ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum add more if needed (optional thickener)
- 15 ounces baby corn optional
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the beef strips and garlic; cook until the beef is browned. Once done, season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from skillet.
- Add additional oil to the skillet if needed. Cook pepper and onion in skillet until they are tender.
- Add the broth, soy sauce, mushrooms, and optional xanthan gum and baby corn (if using).
- Cook and stir until mushrooms are softened.
- Stir in the beef and continue cooking until heated throughout.
Notes
- Baby corn will add another 1-2 grams net carbs per serving. Other keto friendly vegetables like broccoli can be added or used in place of the peppers and or mushrooms.
- For a thick sauce, sprinkle in about ¼ to ½ teaspoon xanthan gum. Adding in about a 1 to 3 teaspoons of coconut flour or almond flour to the soy sauce before adding may also work.
- Flank steak is a popular cut to use in beef stir fry so it can be used instead of the sirloin.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Originally Published: December 9, 2010... Last Updated: January 18, 2024, with new photos and additional recipe tips.
Megan
Why was the steak gray when you removed it and then nicely browned when you put it back in? How do I get mine brown?
Erin
What if you don’t have beef broth?
Meredith
Is there something I can use instead of soy sauce? My son is allergic.
Lisa MarcAurele
Coconut aminos is a good substitute but it is a little sweet.
Patricia
I make a lot of Asian recipes. This is really good. The only thing I would change is marinate the meat before stir frying. Also add cornstarch slurry to thicken gravy a bit.
Zoe Bee
Made this for dinner tonight and we absolutely loved it. I used a mix of red and white onions, sweetcorn, mange tout, mushrooms and a green pepper…. all eaten with cauliflower rice. Thanks for your easy recipe.
Penny Roach
I added celery also Worcestershire sauce. No corn. White rice. It was excellent
Rae Ann Woodrow
This dish is fabulous! I used garlic powder instead of fresh garlic and it was perfect. I reversed the order of cooking by carmelizing my onions and peppers first (fajita-style), removed from the skillet, then cooked the steak and mushrooms. I added the onions and peppers back in at the end. For those who say their sauce is watery, adding 1/2 tsp of xantham gum AND keeping the lid off the skillet is the key to a rich, thick sauce. My husband ate 3/4 of the dish the first night, so no leftovers! I will definitely make this again and again.
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks so much for sharing your version! Sounds delish.
Maryann
I love all your recipes , today I’m going to try this recipe and I bought some porterhouse stk
Anne
What kind of steak did you use?
Lisa MarcAurele
I used sirloin but other types like flank steak work too.
Jacqueline
This is sooooooooo delicious! Thank you for all of the wonderful recipes!
Lisa MarcAurele
You're welcome. I'm so glad you enjoyed the stir fry!
J
Thanks for these recipes! Been a subscriber of yours for awhile and enjoy looking at your recipes. Probably going to try this today, looks easy and amazing!
Emily Kemp
Looks and sounds so delicious, can't wait to try it!
Shelley
I made this and it turned out a watery mess. not sauce like at all
Lisa
I typically let some of the liquid evaporate out by cooking a bit longer. Or, you can add a thickener like xanthan gum.
Sandy
Mix a tablespoon or so of coconut or almond flour in with soy sauce before you add it . This will thicken sauce. Don’t overdo flour, but if you do you can add a little water to thin it down.
Alicia
Mine didn't come out saucy like your picture...
Lisa
The beef broth is the base for the sauce. I usually toss it to make sure the pieces get covered with the sauce.
Carly Koehn
I had a very VERY traumatic experience with sesame oil and cannot tolerate it in any quantity anymore. Even the smell of it teeters on making me feel violently ill. Is there something else that can substitute here? Is it critical to the flavor of the dish? I've used the "SkinnyTaste" recipe for pepper steak and loved it, and if it called for sesame oil, I've never included it... Is there any crossover??
Lisa
The sesame is not critical. In fact, I often use avocado oil instead.
Restaurants in USA
Excellent recipe,I will surely have this for dinner tonight.