Description
Beef Stir Fry with Honey Pepper Sauce is a quick and flavorful dinner featuring tender beef strips cooked with colorful bell peppers and onions in a sweet and mildly spicy honey pepper sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish combines simple ingredients to create a balanced and satisfying meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 300–400g flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
- 1–2 bell peppers, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
Sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free option)
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp water or broth
- Optional: 1 tsp cornstarch (for thickening)
Other
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil for stir frying
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Thinly slice the beef against the grain to ensure tenderness. Chop the bell peppers and onion into bite-sized pieces, and mince the garlic and ginger. Having everything ready makes the cooking process seamless.
- Make the Honey Pepper Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, freshly cracked black pepper, and water or broth. If you want a thicker sauce, add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the mix and whisk until smooth.
- Cook the Beef: Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the beef and stir-fry until just browned but not fully cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
- Stir-Fry the Vegetables: In the same skillet, add a bit more oil if needed. Stir-fry the onion, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger until the vegetables are tender-crisp and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the beef to the pan and pour the honey pepper sauce over the mixture. Stir well to coat everything evenly and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the beef is cooked through and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Serve Immediately: Remove from heat and serve piping hot over steamed rice or noodles. Enjoy the burst of sweet and spicy flavors.
Notes
- Use high heat to ensure quick cooking and to lock in flavor.
- Slice beef thinly so it cooks fast and remains tender.
- Give the honey pepper sauce a quick whisk before adding to keep ingredients well blended.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary to get a good sear.
- Add vegetables last to keep them crisp and avoid mushiness.
- Customize the vegetables based on season or preference (e.g., broccoli, snap peas, mushrooms).
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari.
- Top with toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onions for extra crunch and freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stir Fry
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: beef stir fry, honey pepper sauce, quick dinner, stir fry recipe, weeknight meal, gluten free stir fry