Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli: A Tasty Family-Friendly Meal

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Are you craving a tasty Asian-inspired meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen? Slow cooker beef and broccoli is the answer. This easy recipe lets you make tender, flavorful beef and crisp broccoli with minimal effort.

You’ll love how the beef soaks up the savory sauce made from soy sauce, beef broth, and a touch of brown sugar. Just toss everything in your slow cooker, set it, and forget it until dinner time. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, and you can serve it over rice for a complete meal.

Exact Ingredients (Plus Possible Substitutes)

Here’s what you’ll need to make slow cooker beef and broccoli:

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck, sliced thin
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Don’t have these exact items? No worries! Try these swaps:

• Use flank steak or sirloin instead of chuck
• Swap broccoli for cauliflower or green beans
• Try chicken broth in place of beef broth
• Replace soy sauce with coconut aminos for a gluten-free option

For extra flavor, you can add:

• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1/4 cup oyster sauce
• 1 sliced onion

Remember, you can adjust amounts to suit your taste. Want it sweeter? Add more brown sugar. Prefer it saltier? Throw in extra soy sauce.

Instructions

Mix beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic in your slow cooker. Add beef strips and stir to coat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

After cooking, take out some broth and mix it with cornstarch. Pour this mix back into the slow cooker and stir well.

Steam broccoli until it’s bright green and still crisp. Add it to the slow cooker.

Cook everything for 30 more minutes on high. This will thicken the sauce and heat up the broccoli.

You can add carrots if you like. Put them in with the beef at the start for soft carrots. For crunchier ones, add them an hour before the end.

Serve your beef and broccoli over rice. You can top it with sesame seeds for extra flavor.

This meal is easy to make and tastes great. It’s perfect for busy days when you don’t have time to cook.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

For the best beef and broccoli, choose a lean cut of beef like flank steak or sirloin. Cut it against the grain into thin strips. This helps keep the meat tender.

Brown the beef before adding it to the slow cooker. It adds extra flavor to your dish. Just a quick sear will do the trick.

Don’t add the broccoli too early. Put it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking. This keeps it bright green and crisp-tender.

Want more sauce? Double the liquid ingredients. You can always thicken it with a cornstarch slurry at the end if needed.

To store leftovers, let the dish cool completely. Put it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can freeze beef and broccoli too. It’ll last about 3 months in the freezer. Just leave out the broccoli, as it can get mushy when thawed.

When reheating, add a splash of water or broth. This helps bring the sauce back to life. Warm it gently on the stove or in the microwave.