Description
A delicious and easy Crockpot Beef and Broccoli recipe featuring tender slices of beef simmered in a savory soy-ginger sauce, perfectly cooked in a slow cooker for effortless weeknight dinners. This hearty dish combines protein-rich beef with nutritious broccoli, all served over fluffy rice and garnished with sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Broccoli
- 1 lb flank steak or sirloin beef, thinly sliced against the grain
- 2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- Cooked rice (for serving)
Sauce
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional)
Optional Thickener
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Thinly slice the flank steak or sirloin against the grain into strips about 1/4-inch thick. If slicing is difficult, freeze the beef for 20-30 minutes to make it easier to cut.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger (or ground ginger), water, and rice vinegar if using. For a thicker sauce, create a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water, and add it to the sauce mixture.
- Add Beef and Sauce to the Crockpot: Place the sliced beef at the bottom of the crockpot. Pour the sauce mixture over the beef, stirring to coat the meat evenly with the sauce.
- Cook the Beef: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the beef is tender and infused with the flavors of the sauce.
- Add the Broccoli: About 30 minutes before serving, add the broccoli florets to the crockpot. Stir gently to combine the broccoli with the beef and sauce. Use fresh or frozen broccoli for this step.
- Thicken the Sauce (Optional): If a thicker sauce is preferred, prepare a cornstarch slurry with cornstarch and cold water and stir it into the crockpot 10-15 minutes before serving. Allow the sauce to thicken during this time.
- Serve: Serve the crockpot beef and broccoli hot over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired for added nuttiness and crunch.
Notes
- Freezing the beef slightly before slicing makes cutting thin strips easier and ensures even cooking.
- You can adjust the sweetness or saltiness of the sauce by varying the amount of brown sugar or soy sauce.
- Use fresh broccoli for best texture, but frozen broccoli works well and is convenient.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.
- Adding rice vinegar is optional but adds a nice tangy balance to the sauce.
- The cornstarch slurry helps thicken the sauce but can be omitted if you prefer a thinner sauce.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
