Description
This Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli recipe delivers tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef paired with fresh broccoli in a savory, slightly sweet sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it requires minimal prep and slow-cooks to develop rich flavors. It’s a nutritious, delicious meal that’s great for meal prep and brings a classic takeout favorite to your home kitchen with ease.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 1 lb beef sirloin or flank steak, thinly sliced
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Thickening
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Slice the beef thinly against the grain to ensure tenderness. Lightly season with salt and pepper, then place the slices evenly into the slow cooker.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil until the sugar dissolves and the flavors meld.
- Combine in the Slow Cooker: Pour the sauce over the beef in the slow cooker, stirring gently to coat all pieces evenly. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 4 to 6 hours until the beef is tender and infused with flavor.
- Prepare the Broccoli: About 30 minutes before serving, gently add the fresh broccoli florets on top of the beef. Cover and continue cooking to keep the broccoli vibrant and crisp-tender.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency.
- Final Touches: Stir everything to combine the sauce fully with beef and broccoli. Taste the dish and adjust seasonings if needed before serving.
Notes
- Slice beef thinly to ensure quick, tender cooking.
- Add broccoli in the last 30 minutes to maintain crispness.
- Use fresh garlic and ginger for best flavor.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch slurry to achieve a restaurant-quality sauce.
- Adjust sweetness and saltiness of the sauce to suit your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: slow cooker beef broccoli, slow cooker dinner, easy beef recipe, crockpot beef, healthy beef and broccoli, meal prep dinner