Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
A delightful dish that brings the bold flavors of Chinese takeout right to your kitchen with tender beef and vibrant broccoli in a savory sauce, all made effortlessly in your slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Total Time: 255 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef sirloin or flank steak, sliced thinly against the grain
- 4 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
- ¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- ¼ cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Slice the beef sirloin or flank steak thinly against the grain.
- Mix the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until well combined.
- Add to slow cooker: Place the sliced beef in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce mixture over the beef, ensuring all pieces are covered.
- Cook on low or high: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours, until the beef is tender.
- Thicken the sauce: In the last 30 minutes of cooking, mix the cornstarch with a splash of water, then stir it into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce.
- Add broccoli: About 30 minutes before serving, add the broccoli florets on top of the beef. Cover and continue to cook until the broccoli is tender.
- Finish with sesame oil: Once cooked, drizzle sesame oil over the dish and stir gently to combine.
- Serve: Enjoy the beef and broccoli over rice or noodles for a hearty meal.
Notes
Slicing the beef against the grain ensures tenderness. Add broccoli later in the cook time to keep it vibrant. Adjust sauce thickness with cornstarch as desired.