Five-Ingredient Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers
A quick and simple beef stir fry featuring tender strips of beef and colorful bell peppers cooked in a savory sauce. This chinese-inspired beef ready in about 18 minutes pairs soy sauce, tablespoons vegetable oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 pound, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
- 1 large, sliced into thin strips red bell pepper
- 1 large, sliced into thin strips green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute.
- Step 2: Add 1 pound thinly sliced flank steak and stir-fry for 3 minutes until browned but still tender.
- Step 3: Add 1 large sliced red bell pepper and 1 large sliced green bell pepper to the pan. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Step 4: Pour in 1/4 cup soy sauce and toss everything together for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef and peppers.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles if desired.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Five-Ingredient Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers take to make?
Total time is about 18 minutes (10 min prep + 8 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Five-Ingredient Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep soy sauce from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Five-Ingredient Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Five-Ingredient Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Five-Ingredient Beef Stir Fry with Bell Peppers?
Chinese beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
