Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli Recipe
This Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli recipe offers a flavorful and tender take on the classic Chinese-American favorite. Thinly sliced beef chuck roast is slow-cooked in a savory sauce made from beef stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger until melt-in-your-mouth tender. Broccoli florets are added near the end and cooked until crisp-tender, then thickened with a cornstarch slurry to create a deliciously glossy sauce. Perfect for an easy, comforting weeknight meal with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3.5 hours (on HIGH) or 6.5 hours (on LOW)
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes (HIGH) or 6 hours 45 minutes (LOW)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Sauce
- 2 lbs. beef chuck roast, sliced thinly across the grain
- 1 cup beef stock (or beef broth)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. dried ground ginger (or 1 Tbsp. fresh grated)
Thickening and Vegetable
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 12 oz. broccoli florets (about 3 cups)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the beef stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and ground ginger until well combined.
- Layer beef and add sauce: Place the thinly sliced beef at the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and mix gently to coat all slices evenly.
- Cook beef: Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours until the beef is fully cooked and tender.
- Thicken sauce and add broccoli: Remove ¼ cup of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker and whisk it together with cornstarch to create a slurry. Pour the slurry back into the slow cooker, stir to combine, and then add the broccoli florets. Continue cooking on HIGH for another 30 minutes or until the broccoli is tender and the sauce has thickened to a glossy consistency.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the beef and broccoli hot with your choice of sides such as steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- Slice the beef thinly across the grain to ensure tenderness.
- You can substitute beef stock with broth or even water if needed, but stock adds more flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
- If fresh ginger is used instead of dried, reduce the quantity accordingly as fresh ginger is more potent.
- Adjust the brown sugar amount for sweetness preference.
- Broccoli can be substituted with other vegetables like snap peas or green beans if desired.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: slow cooker beef and broccoli, easy beef and broccoli, crockpot beef recipe, Chinese beef recipe, slow cooker dinners
