Quick Stir-Fried Beef and Bell Peppers with Spice Blend

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

A fast, colorful stir fry combining tender beef strips and crisp bell peppers with a vibrant spice blend inspired by regional Texas flavors. This asian fusion-inspired stir fry ready in about 20 minutes pairs flank steak, large red bell pepper, large green bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 3, 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

• 12 oz flank steak
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1 large green bell pepper
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp lime juice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Slice 12 oz flank steak thinly against the grain into 1/4-inch strips. Thinly slice 1 large red bell pepper, 1 large green bell pepper, and 1 medium yellow onion into strips.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add the beef strips to the skillet and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until browned but still tender.
4. Step 4: Toss in the sliced bell peppers and onion along with 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp salt. Stir-fry everything together for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
5. Step 5: Pour in 3 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp fresh lime juice, tossing to coat evenly and heating for another minute. Remove from heat and serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles.