Description
This Crockpot Beef and Broccoli recipe delivers tender, slow-cooked beef slices infused with a savory soy-ginger sauce, paired perfectly with crisp-tender broccoli. Easily prepared in a slow cooker, it’s a comforting and flavorful meal ideal for busy days, served over steamed rice and garnished with sesame seeds for an authentic touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Vegetables
- 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)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons cold water (if using cornstarch)
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 needed, freeze the beef for 20-30 minutes beforehand to make slicing easier.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, water, and rice vinegar if using. For a thicker sauce, combine cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water to create a slurry and stir it into the sauce mixture.
- Add Beef and Sauce to the Crockpot: Place the sliced beef in the bottom of the crockpot. Pour the sauce over the beef and stir to coat evenly.
- Cook the Beef: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the beef becomes tender and flavorful.
- Add the Broccoli: About 30 minutes before serving, add the broccoli florets into the crockpot. Mix gently with the beef and sauce; if using frozen broccoli, add it at the same time as fresh.
- Thicken the Sauce (Optional): For a thicker sauce, mix cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry and stir it into the crockpot 10-15 minutes before serving. Allow the sauce to thicken while seated with the lid on.
- Serve: Spoon the beef and broccoli over cooked rice and garnish with sesame seeds if desired for a perfect finish.
Notes
- Freezing beef slightly before slicing helps achieve thin, even strips for best texture.
- Adding broccoli late in the cooking process keeps it crisp-tender and prevents overcooking.
- Cornstarch slurry is optional, used to thicken the sauce if you prefer a more gravy-like consistency.
- Any type of rice can be used for serving; white jasmine or brown rice pairs well.
- The recipe can be doubled easily but avoid overcrowding the crockpot to ensure even cooking.
