Spicy Hunan Beef Stir-Fry with Bell Peppers

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-29 · Updated 2026-04-29

A vibrant stir-fry featuring tender beef strips tossed with colorful bell peppers in a fiery Hunan-style sauce. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs flank steak, red bell pepper, 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, thinly sliced against the grain flank steak
• 1 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch strips red bell pepper
• 1 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch strips green bell pepper
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp, finely grated ginger
• 1 tsp dried red chili flakes
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2, sliced thinly scallions
• 1 tsp sesame oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, toss 12 oz thinly sliced flank steak with 1 tbsp cornstarch and 2 tbsp soy sauce until evenly coated; set aside for 10 minutes.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp finely grated ginger, and 1 tsp dried red chili flakes; stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add the marinated beef to the wok and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the edges start to brown and beef is nearly cooked through.
4. Step 4: Add 1 sliced red bell pepper and 1 sliced green bell pepper to the wok; continue stir-frying for 2-3 minutes until peppers are crisp-tender.
5. Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar; cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the beef and peppers.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and drizzle 1 tsp sesame oil on top, then garnish with 2 sliced scallions before serving.