“Family favorite slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe. Juicy, flavorful beef simmered is a homemade sauce with bright crisp broccoli over a bed of white rice! Crock pot beef and broccoli that’s better than take out!”
Thanksgiving is over and I am still exhausted, what about you? It seems like I’ve been in the kitchen 24/7 and today I said “mama tiiiiied chile”! But that doesn’t matter because mama’s never get the day off huh? Oh well, I wouldn’t trade my job in for the world!
With busy days like this I simply turn to one of my best friends, my slow cooker!!! If you’re wondering why I don’t have many slow cooker recipes on this site, it’s because I had dreams of starting another site dedicated solely to my families favorite crock pot recipes. What in the world was I thinking y’all? Like ….where did I think I was gonna find the time to do that? LOL Bless my heart!
I decided to just post all those yummy slow cooker recipes right here on Divas Can Cook instead! Today it’s all about this beef and broccoli baby!! Gosh how I love this dish!! It’s quick, easy, with simple ingredients. Beef and broccoli is one of my favorite take-out meals so I was all over trying the homemade crock pot version.
It comes together so quick and even quicker if you triple the recipe and freeze all the prepared ingredients in freezer bags, which is what I normally do. Then I just plop the whole bag in the slow cooker and go on about my day. Love it!
This beef and broccoli is ready in only 3-4 hours which means you can throw this stuff in the slow cooker on your lunch break and get off work ready to eat lunch #2. Or am I the only one who eats two lunches??? This dish is full of flavor and taste much better in the crock pot than if you made it on the stove top. Mainly because those strips of beef get to simmer slowly in all that soy saucy, garlicky, brown sugary, brothy goodness. Don’t plan for leftovers and make sure you use a really goooooooood low sodium soy sauce here since that is the dominant flavor.
Broccoli Tip: I simply can NOT get down with certain veggies cooked in the slow cooker and broccoli is one of them! I like my broccoli bright, fresh tasting with a bit of a bite. This is why I steam fresh broccoli in the microwave for a few minutes as opposed to throwing it in the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients. Although you can totally do that if you don’t mind super tender broccoli.
Watch me make this slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe from start to finish!
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1.2 lbs steak I used flank steak, cut into strips
- 1/2 cup white or yellow onions diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- fresh ginger grated (optional)
- 1 cup chicken or beef broth warmed
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce I like Kikkoman
- 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/4- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2-3 tablespoons cornstarch to thicken
- 3-4 cups fresh broccoli steamed (see note)
- white rice prepared
- Garnish red pepper flakes, sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add steak, onions, garlic and fresh ginger into the slow cooker. (I prefer using my small slow cooker with this recipe)
- In a medium size bowl stir together broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes until brown sugar has dissolved.
- Pour mixture into slow cooker and stir.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until steak is tender to your liking.
- Stir in cornstarch to thicken the sauce. (Alternatively you can scoop out 1/4 cup of broth mixture and mix it with cornstarch to create a thick sauce and then pour this back into the slow cooker to prevent lumps. I never do this though)
- Taste and adjust seasonings if desired (sometimes I'll add in some powdered onion and powdered garlic, black pepper, sriracha and salt, depending on the type of broth & soy sauce I use)
- To serve, place rice on a plate and top with beef and broccoli.
- Garnish with red pepper flakes and sesame seeds if desired.
Video
Notes
Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 5-7 minutes. Be careful not to over cook.
I cannot get enough of this recipe. This is my go-to for my HUBBY!