Some of the best family meals come from hard seasons, when home cooks had to make simple ingredients go further and still put something hearty on the table. This old-fashioned budget-minded supper is the kind of recipe that earned its place by being dependable, comforting, and easy to pull together with very little fuss, making it just right for busy days when you want dinner to feel generous without costing much.
Serve this over hot white rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles to catch every bit of the savory gravy. If you want to round out the plate, simple sides like buttered green beans, corn, a crisp side salad, or warm dinner rolls all fit in beautifully and help make it feel like a full family meal.
Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Pepper Steak
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 lb round steak, cut in strips
Directions
1. Place the strips of round steak in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Scatter the sliced green bell peppers and sliced onion evenly over the beef.
3. Pour the soy sauce and beef broth over everything.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beef is very tender and the peppers and onion are soft.
5. Stir well before serving, then spoon the pepper steak and gravy over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
Variations & Tips
For a richer gravy: If you like a little more sauce for spooning over rice or potatoes, add an extra 1/2 cup beef broth at the start. The flavor will stay savory, and you'll have more of that delicious cooking liquid to serve with dinner.
For picky eaters: Slice the peppers and onion a little larger so they are easier to pick around, or reduce the onion slightly if your family prefers a milder flavor. The long slow cooking helps everything soften and mellow nicely.
For the most tender beef: Round steak can be wonderfully flavorful, but it really benefits from the full low-and-slow cooking time. If it is not fork-tender yet, give it a little longer rather than turning up the heat.
Easy serving idea: This is especially filling served over rice, but it also works beautifully over egg noodles or mashed potatoes if that's what you have on hand. A starch underneath helps stretch the meal even further for larger families.
