Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Note: This post first appeared on September 12, 2012. The recipe has been edited slightly (to make the recipe easier to understand if you were having issues before) and the photography got a facelift! Enjoy!
Time to break out the slow cookers :) one of the best parts of the cooler weather is being able to breakout the slow cooker to make delicious soups, stews, and cozy dinner meals such as this one!
You all know my obsession with chicken & broccoli, well I’m also obsessed with beef and broccoli so this slow cooker version is right up my alley. I love setting up a meal and just forgetting about it. You have the freedom to do whatever you want while a delicious meal is cooking away. Let me tell you – your whole house will smell AMAZING and the flavors in the sauce are to die for. I probably could’ve dunked all my rice in it, but I needed sauce for the next day as these make great leftovers :)
I can’t wait for all the slow-cooker recipes coming this fall/winter. The only thing that irked me in the past about them was the fact that I had to make them on the weekends cause I have this fear of having the slow cooker on while I was at work. I always worried it’d burn down my house. I found a solution. An electric on/off timer. I bought this and I can now set the time of when I want the slow cooker to start and when to stop. I’ll likely set it only to start because I’ll time it so when I get home, it’ll be done so I can just unplug it :) It’s a great investment and I can’t wait to cook more in my slow cooker! Fear of my house burning down should subside.
Much better than calling take-out; simply whip out your slow cooker and make this beef and broccoli at home!
- 1 lb boneless beef chuck roast, sliced into thin strips
- 1 cup beef consumme or beef broth
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Frozen broccoli florets (as many as desired I believe I used almost 3 cups)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- 4 tbsp of liquid from slow cooker
- Cooked white rice
In the insert of the crockpot, whisk together beef consume or stock, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic.
- Gently place your slices of beef in the liquid and toss to coat.
Turn crockpot on low and cook for 4-6 hours. See notes below.
When done, in a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cooking liquid, pour into crockpot, stir to mix well. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes to thicken up the sauce. Please see notes if your sauce does not thicken.
- Toss in your broccoli florets then serve hot over white rice.
Recipe Video
Note about cooking time: Your crockpot may differ in temperature than mine, I suggest cooking this for 4 hours on your first go-round of this dish. 6 hours in the crockpot seems to be giving a lot of people "shredded" beef instead of slices, so decrease cooking time by 2 hours and go from there. Mine turned out fine with 6 hours.
If you are using frozen broccoli florets, you do NOT need to defrost them prior to putting them in the slow cooker. You add them in at the same time as you add the cornstarch mixture. As stated in the instructions, after you add the cornstarch mixture, you cook for 30 more minutes. This should be more than enough time to cook and defrost your broccoli florets.
If you're using fresh broccoli, you do NOT need to steam them prior to putting them in the crockpot. You add them in at the same time as you add the cornstarch mixture. Since you cook an additional 30 minutes, this will ensure that your fresh broccoli will be cooked through.
Yes, you put the meat in the slow cooker raw, in sliced pieces.
If you find that your mixture is not thickening, simply drain the liquid from the slow cooker and place it in a small pot over the stove over medium-high heat. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir into the liquid. This should thicken the sauce.
*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Photography by Sarah Fennel
Posted on December 24, 2016
Perfect comfort food for a winter night in, and much healthier and inexpensive than takeout!
Hi is there any way i can substitute the sesame oil ?
You can just omit it.
Great thanks for replying. I can’t wait to try this recipe out. Looks so delicious. Blessed day.
This looks delicious! I need to serve this up for dinner soon!
Ahhhh, this looks so good Julie!
This recipe looks wonderful Julie!
I LOVE beef and broccoli and really like the idea of making it while I am out!
Calorie count per serving ?
Unfortunately, no. There are many reasons as to why I don’t post nutritional information on my recipes, one of which is that I simply do not have the time to do this. Also, I’m not a registered dietician or nutritionist so for me to give any sort of nutritional information would be incorrect and inaccurate. There are also many differing factors when it comes to nutritional information and since I do not have the knowledge in this, I do not feel comfortable posting this sort of information. If you must have this information, there are many calculators out there (free and paid) that can help you with calculations. A simple Google search would pull up some of these calculators, but again, I’m not endorsing them as I do not know how accurate they may be.
Yummy and I know exactly what’s in it
!
it sounds lovely but it is a recipe for four, not two and there is just one of me and I’m not much for leftovers.
Hi Kay, in the servings, it says it is for four. I’m sorry that you think this site is just for two servings/two people. If you would like an in-depth reason why my blog is named Table for Two, please read the FAQs section. Happy New Year!
I’m confused too. I was looking for recipes to serve 2 using a small slow cooker. Saw the heading “table for two” and assumed, naturally, that there would be recipes to feed 2 people. Disappointed.
Made this tonight! It was so good my husband and I both went back for seconds. OK maybe thirds lol. Who’s counting? Thanks for the recipe!
Hi!
I’d love to try this out but do you think it could be cooked on high for around 2.5-3 hours with the same result? Thanks!
Hi, I think it would work, yes!
Hello I’m interested in preparing this meal and was trying to see if I can use flour instead of cornstarch? And do u have to have oil?
Yes, you can use flour instead. You don’t have to use the sesame oil but it would give it a lot more flavor.
I want to make this tonight, but I didn’t have time to set it up in the crockpot this morning. Is there a way I can prepare it stovetop?
Yes, you likely could. Just sear the beef strips then pour the sauce on top and let it thicken in the skillet.
Just put this in my slow cooker — can’t wait to try it tonight!! THANKS!!!
Hi Juli,
Can I use chicken instead of beef in the recipe, or would that alter the preparation too much?
You can but the chicken might turn out slightly dry unless you use chicken thighs.
Just put this in the crock pot. Here’s hoping tripling everything works well, as i had a 3+ lb roast. I also subbed 1 tbsp molasses for the 1/3 cup brown sugar, as i didnt have brown sugar. I also put in a couple shakes of red pepper flakes.
I hope it worked out for you!
So how large of a crock pot did you use when tripling the recipe, and how long did you cook it?
Cooked 6 hrs and meat fell apart. Only cook for a max of 4 and 1/2 hrs..
This is a new favorite at our house. I made 1.5 times the recipe for my husband, myself, and 4-and-6-year-old boys. Only had enough left for me for lunch the next day! It smells HEAVENLY while cooking; we were all hungry at dinnertime!
I have tried this recipe and now it is one of my family’s favorite dinner. The kids love it too. It is so easy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe! 😊
I added sambal oelek and freshly squeezed orange juice. Yum, yum!
I’m not sure if someone else commented on this, but you probably don’t want to use that timer for delayed start time if you are using meat. Meat sitting out at room temperature for several hours may not be safe. I believe it can grow bacteria that won’t be destroyed during cooking.
Made this tonight. It is delicious. Sauce was a little thin so next time I’ll double the corn starch mixture.
The recipe’s absolutely delicious. We bought already pre-cut beef stew meat from the grocery store. The food melts in your mouth.
This seems delicious. Looking forward to trying this recipe over the weekend!
Can I use fresh broccoli instead of frozen?
Yes, please see recipe notes.
We love this recipe in our house. I’ve made it many times. I use a London Broil cut as it makes thin slicing so easy (and I can usually find one on sale!) I typically omit the sesame oil and it’s still delicious. The only downside – There are never leftovers!
Hi! This looks delicious. I’m going to make it tomorrow. However, I am deathly allergic to sesame. What other oil do you think would work? Thanks a bunch.
Hi! You can omit it.
Hello. How long does it cook after adding frozen broccoli?
Hi, about 20-30 minutes longer. Just enough to heat it all through and for the mixture to get thick.
This is one of my favorite recipes! My son looooves Asian inspired dishes but we live in the boondocks so this is our go-to dish! It’s super easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing it!! ❤️ Ps I don’t even slice the beef…I just throw the whole chunk in the crock and let it shred if it happens. It’s yummy either way and it helps when I forget to thaw the beef! 😜
Sorry if this is a repeat question. What is the difference between dark, and light brown sugar? Is it just the flavor?
It’s simply the amount of molasses it contains. Brown sugar is made with mixing white granulated sugar with molasses. It changes the flavor ever so slightly but in this recipe, you will be fine to use whichever you have on hand.
Can I sub peanut oil for sesame oil and just add some toasted sesame seeds?
You could, sure. I just don’t know what it will taste like. Peanut oil may give it a different flavor.
Can you substitute peanut oil for sesame oil?
Sure! it might change the flavor a tad but not by much.
I’m out of beef broth. We’re having a bit of an ice storm and can’t go out. Can I just use water?
Yep, that’s fine!
I just got a 1 1/2 quart slow cooker and don’t know what to do with it,
This recipe is amazing! So quick and easy! I didn’t have sesame oil, so I just omitted that and added some diced onions. My husband LOVED it! Yay! Thank you for a super easy and delicious meal!
This looks delicious!! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the recipe!
Hi thanks for the recipe! I’m trying it today! I bought too much meat so I’m doubling the recipe…can I freeze some of the meat???
Yes, definitely
Does the nutrition information include the rice?
It does not!
What can you can you use instead of sugar. Not supposed to have it.
coconut sugar? or can you not use ANY sugar?
I’m trying to figure out recipes that I can put together and then put in the freezer. I’m going out of town, and my mother-in-law is watching the kids. She’s not much of a cook and I just want to make things easy for her. I’ve made this recipe so many times and we all love it, I would like to put everything in a freezer bag, except the broccoli cornstarch and water, and then have her be able to just put it all in the crock pot. What’s your opinion on that? Do you think it would work?
Ah yes, that’s smart! Definitely tell her to add the broccoli last or even blanched (you could blanch it, if using fresh, and then just tell her to add it in at the end to warm it up in the slow cooker) and definitely the cornstarch and water last too :) I think it would work!