Description
This Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli recipe is a comforting, easy-to-make dish featuring tender strips of beef chuck roast cooked low and slow in a flavorful sauce of soy, garlic, and brown sugar, finished with crisp-tender broccoli florets. Perfect for a hassle-free weeknight meal, it yields six servings of hearty, delicious, and savory comfort food.
Ingredients
Beef and Sauce
- 1 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into ¼-inch strips
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Vegetables
- 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets (about 3 cups)
Optional Garnish
- Green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup low-sodium beef broth, ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, ⅓ cup dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 3 teaspoons minced garlic until well combined.
- Add beef to slow cooker: Place 1 ½ pounds of beef chuck roast strips into a 4-7-quart slow cooker. Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and toss to ensure all strips are fully coated.
- Cook beef low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 2.5 to 3.5 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and absorb the sauce flavors.
- Thicken the sauce: About an hour before the end of cooking, remove ¼ cup of the cooking sauce from the slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk this with 2 tablespoons cornstarch until smooth. Slowly stir this mixture back into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce.
- Add broccoli florets: During the last 30 minutes of cooking, add the frozen broccoli florets to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine and cover again. For softer broccoli, either add it earlier (with 45 minutes to 1 hour left) or partially thaw before adding.
- Serve: Once cooking is complete, optionally garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve the beef and broccoli hot, ideally over white rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use low-sodium broth and soy sauce to control saltiness in the dish.
- If you prefer softer broccoli, add it earlier in the cooking process or thaw before adding.
- Beef chuck roast is best for slow cooking as it becomes tender and flavorful.
- Garnishes such as green onions and sesame seeds enhance both flavor and presentation but are optional.
- This recipe can be doubled but ensure your slow cooker capacity is sufficient.
