Description
Savory slow cooker beef and broccoli blends tender meat with crisp green florets in a rich, umami-packed sauce. Rich Asian-inspired flavors meld perfectly, creating a simple yet satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) beef flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Vegetables:
- 1 large head fresh broccoli, cut into florets
Serving Options:
- Cooked white rice
- Cooked noodles
Instructions
- Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch mixture in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Cut flank steak into thin, diagonal strips against the meat’s natural grain to maximize tenderness.
- Transfer beef strips directly into the slow cooker, thoroughly coating each piece with the prepared marinade sauce.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature and allow meat to simmer gently for 5-6 hours, developing rich, deep flavors and creating exceptionally soft protein.
- Approximately 30 minutes before serving, introduce fresh broccoli florets into the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution throughout the meat mixture.
- Continue cooking until broccoli transforms into a vibrant green color and reaches a crisp-tender consistency.
- Plate the savory beef and broccoli mixture over steamed white rice or tender noodles, generously drizzling remaining sauce across the dish for enhanced taste and moisture.
Notes
- Slice beef against the grain for maximum tenderness, ensuring each piece is thin and uniform to absorb marinade evenly.
- For gluten-free version, replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain rich umami flavor without wheat.
- Reduce cooking time to 4-5 hours if using leaner cuts like sirloin to prevent meat from becoming tough and dry.
- Add a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or chopped green onions just before serving to elevate presentation and introduce extra texture and freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours (or 6 hours)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg