Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Yum! I was really craving beef with an Asian flavor, so I chose to make this simple slow cooker steak. It's definitely in my top 5 main dishes. I hope you enjoy!

• 2 tbsps vegetable oil
• 3 lbs (or so) boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into strips
• 1 tbsp (5 to 6 cloves) minced garlic
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsps sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 green bell peppers, cut into strips
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• cooked white or brown rice

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-low heat. Brown steak strips in 2 batches. Add garlic; cook and stir 2 minutes. Transfer steak strips, garlic and pan juices to slow cooker.
2. Add onion, soy sauce, sugar, salt, ginger and black pepper to slow cooker; mix well. Cover; cook on LOW 6-8 hours or until meat is tender (up to 10 hours). Add bell pepper strips during final hour of cooking.
3. Blend water and cornstarch until smooth; stir into slow cooker. Cook uncovered, on HIGH 15 minutes or until thickened. Serve with rice.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Meal Budget:

• Steak (1.5 lbs)= $9.27
• Low-sodium soy sauce (1/2 of bottle) = $1.08
• Bell peppers (3) = $2.67
• Frozen chopped onion = $0.44
• Rice (per serving) = $0.33
• garlic, salt/pepper, ginger (new = $2.99), cornstarch (new = $0.99)

Total meal = $13.79

Per serving (6-8 servings) = $1.72- $2.30!