Quick Beef Stir-Fry with Colorful Bell Peppers and Ginger

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-28 · Updated 2026-07-28

Tender strips of beef stir-fried with crisp bell peppers and fresh ginger create a flavorful and fast meal perfect for weeknights. This Asian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs flank steak, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 lb, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
• 1 medium, sliced into thin strips red bell pepper
• 1 medium, sliced into thin strips yellow bell pepper
• 1 medium, sliced into thin strips green bell pepper
• 1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 sliced green onions
• 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp cornstarch, and 2 tbsp water until smooth and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 1 lb thinly sliced flank steak, season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until browned but still tender. Remove steak and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp sesame oil. Add 1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger and 3 minced garlic cloves, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 1 medium each of sliced red, yellow, and green bell peppers (about 3 cups total) and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender.
5. Step 5: Return the cooked beef to the skillet. Pour in the soy sauce mixture and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Stir-fry everything together for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and garnish with 2 sliced green onions before serving immediately with steamed rice or noodles.