This Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli Rivals Takeout
Crockpot beef and broccoli is guaranteed to become a family favorite you will make again, and again because it’s SO good and SO easy! It takes less than 15 minutes to prep, is made with pantry friendly ingredients, is healthier than takeout, reheats like a dream, is wonderfully versatile – and the SAUCE! The buttery tender beef cooks low and slow in a dynamic, savory, salty, soy, ginger, garlic sauce infused with toasted sesame oil and chili sauce that is so intoxicatingly delicious you will be licking the crockpot – or strongly tempted to. The rich, umami sauce is complimented by crisp-tender broccoli that cook directly in the slow cooker and a big bowl of hot steaming rice (or go low carb with cauliflower rice). You can even add homemade egg rolls, crab rangoons, and cream cheese wontons for a complete Chinese feast!
I love using my crockpot all year round because it creates the richest, complex flavor profiles and the juiciest chicken, beef or pork with hardly any effort. Some of my favorite Asian crockpot meals include my Mongolian Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Honey Soy Chicken, Honey Garlic Chicken, Cashew Chicken and now this Crockpot Beef and Broccoli!
Watch How to Make Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
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This Crockpot Beef and Broccoli is a Classic
Beef and broccoli is the epitome of Chinese food in my book and now everyone can make it at home with this easy crockpot beef and broccoli recipe! This recipe is a must make now recipe. My husband declared it in his “top 10 recipes” of all time, and I couldn’t put my chopsticks down.
This slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe is mostly dump and simmer – most of the prep is simply slicing the beef! Cooking the beef and broccoli in the slow cooker eliminates the marinade, the searing, the oil, and most of the hands-on cooking time. This means healthier and easier beef and broccoli that is melt-in-you-mouth tender and dripping with flavor.
The epic sauce for this slow cooker beef and broccoli is based off of my readers’ favorite Beef and Broccoli stir fry with hundreds of rave reviews. It makes this recipe. It is rich, umami, slightly sweet, mostly savory, and 100% addictive. All of the ingredients get whisked together directly in the slow cooker, then tossed with the beef. The beef bathes in the aromatic sauce for 3-4 hours while your home fills with the seductive aroma of tender, juicy, beef and broccoli.
The slow cooker beef and broccoli sauce is also extraordinary because it’s not sad and watery like most crockpot sauces but is gorgeously glossy thick. This stunning consistency cannot be achieved with a cornstarch slurry, so the sauce is simmered on the stove at the end of cooking while the broccoli is added to the beef. The resulting sauce is everything you want in the perfect beef and broccoli. Of course, you are welcome to serve the sauce as is and skip the simmering if you like.
As far as ingredients, you should have all of the ingredients to make this slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe if you do much Asian cooking at all, and if you don’t, the ingredients are easy to find at your grocery store. So, stock up because this crockpot beef and broccoli is going to be a repeat family favorite, and maybe even one of your “top 10 recipes of all time.”
Now, I’m going to break down this crockpot beef and broccoli recipe and try and answer all your questions as well as offer some tips and tricks. You can use my “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page to skip straight to the recipe.
What Does Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli Taste Like?
Beef and broccoli boasts a dynamic layering of umami rich flavors. Salty soy sauce, salty- sweet oyster sauce, garlic, ginger and sesame oil create a complex, savory sauce with a touch of sweetness from brown sugar that envelops every nook and cranny of the buttery beef. We also like to make beef and broccoli with a splash of chili sauce for a subtle kick of heat.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEEF & BROCCOLI, MONGOLIAN BEEF, AND SZECHUAN BEEF?
If you’re like me, you love Chinese food and hopefully have tried many of my Chinese steak recipes. So, you might be wondering how they are different and if you need to try them all – the answer is YES and they differentiate in:
•BEEF AND BROCCOLI VS MONGOLIAN BEEF: Beef and Broccoli has more of an umami taste whereas Mongolian Beef is more mildly-sweet. Both recipes use some of the same ingredients such as soy sauce and brown sugar but broccoli beef replaces the sweeter hoisin sauce with more savory oyster sauce.
•BEEF AND BROCCOLI VS PEPPER STEAK: Beef and Broccoli and Pepper Steak share a similar flavor profile. They use man of the same sauce ingredients but pepper steak replaces some of the oyster sauce with soy sauce for a less robust umami flavor. Steak and peppers also obviously uses peppers and beef and broccoli uses broccoli.
•BEEF AND BROCCOLI VS SZECHUAN BEEF: Both recipes begin with a similar stir fry sauce but Szechuan Beef contains Szechuan peppercorns that adds the unique, complex flavor notes and a tingly sensation that sets it apart. Szechuan Beef also contains chili peppers which makes its spicier.
Beef and Broccoli Crockpot Ingredients
The BEST slow cooker beef and broccoli needs the best sauce! It’s made with beef broth, oyster sauce, Japanese rice wine, brown sugar, Asian chili sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and cornstarch. Once you have everything stocked (if you don’t already), you’ll be ready to make this recipe again and again – AND all of my other Asian recipes!
The Best Meat For This Beef and Broccoli Crockpot Recipe
I recommend top sirloin steak for crockpot beef and broccoli. Top sirloin is a cut of beef from the primal loin, or the upper (“top”) portion of the cow that runs just under the backbone. It provides naturally tender, flavorful cuts of beef, including the top sirloin, T-bone, strip steak, porterhouse steak, and tenderloin. Top sirloin steaks are made by removing the tenderloin and bottom round muscles.
Top sirloin is a favorite for everyday cooking because it’s fairly affordable, relatively lean yet tender even without a marinade and boats beefy flavor. It is comprised of exquisite finely marbled fat which results in great flavor, generally second only to the ribeye. Here’s the breakdown:
•Finely marbled: the finely marbled fat melts during cooking, resulting in superior flavor and juicy tenderness.
•Little connective tissue: this means the muscles have done very little work so they aren’t tough. The lack of tough connective tissue keeps your steak melt-in-your-mouth through and though without chewy pockets.
•Affordable: you reap the juicy, beefy tenderness of a more expensive cut of beef without paying the extra $$.
Can I use flank steak?
I do not recommend flank steak or skirt steak for this recipe. Cheaper cuts will yield tougher and chewier results and only should be used if marinated first.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
For the best texture, I recommend using fresh broccoli versus frozen broccoli; frozen broccoli will be more mushy. If you aren’t big on texture, you may swap the fresh broccoli for one 12 oz. bag frozen broccoli florets. If you are using frozen broccoli florets, you don’t need to defrost them prior to adding to the slow cooker. Add them at the same point in the recipe that calls for fresh broccoli and cook closer to 30 minutes. Also, please note the frozen broccoli will release more water and produce a watery sauce.
WHERE DO I BUY RICE WINE?
I use “Kikkoman Aji-Mirin: Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning” which is commonly found in the Asian section of most grocery stores or you can Amazon it. I highly suggest you google image before you head off to the grocery store so you know exactly what you are looking for. The best substitute for rice wine is pale dry sherry.
What if I’m allergic to shellfish?
If you’re allergic to shellfish, use LEE KUM KEE Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce instead of oyster sauce.
Can I Omit the Sugar in This Recipe?
As written, the sugar balances the beef broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce and aromatics. You may slightly reduce the sugar but it will change the balance of flavors. You cannot omit the sugar in this recipe and expect it to taste delicious.
How spicy is this recipe?
Beef and broccoli isn’t meant to be spicy but does boast a combination of peppery zing and a kick of heat from the garlic, ginger and chili sauce. If you would like a mild broccoli beef, omit the chili sauce; you’ll still enjoy a little kick form the ginger and garlic but it won’t be “spicy.” For a medium crockpot beef and broccoli, use 1-2 teaspoons chili sauce. For a spicier broccoli beef, use 1 tablespoon chili sauce.
Beef and Broccoli Crockpot Recipe Variations
While this beef and broccoli is just right for us, you can adjust it to make it just right for YOU and your family’s personal tastes:
WHAT other VEGETABLES CAN I ADD?
This slow cooker beef and broccoli is delectable in its simplicity or you can mix and match the veggies based on what’s in your fridge, your favorites, what’s in season or what’s on sale. You will want to equally swap the broccoli for the other veggies to maintain the veggie/sauce ratio. Most vegetables (with the exception of carrots), will only need 20-30 minutes to cook in the crockpot. Don’t cook them from start with the beef or they’ll become soft, or worse, mushy.
Here are a few vegetable add-in ideas for crockpot beef and broccoli:
•Carrots
•Mushrooms
•Bell Peppers
•Snow Peas
•Snap Peas
•Zucchini
•Celery
•Asparagus
•Baby corn
•Edamame
•Spinach
•Bok choy
IS THIS RECIPE GLUTEN FREE?
As written, this recipe is not gluten free – but almost! To make gluten free, use gluten free soy sauce or tamari. You will also want to double check that your oyster sauce and chili sauce are gluten free. The rest of the ingredients are gluten free.
How to Make Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
This slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe is very simple with mostly hands of low and slow cooking. Here’s how to make it:
• Add sauce and beef to crockpot. Add all of the sauce ingredients to the crockpot and whisk to combine. Make sure to whisk thoroughly until the cornstarch dissolves. Add the beef and stir to combine.
- Cook beef until tender. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, until the meat has cooked through and is very tender.
- Thicken sauce. The sauce will be slightly thickened after the beef is cooked but will thin once you add the broccoli. You can choose to add the broccoli and not thicken the sauce any more, or if you prefer a luxuriously thick sauce, you’ll need to thicken it on the stove. To do so, tilt the slow cooker to the side and ladle out as much sauce as possible into a saucepan. Simmer the sauce on the stove until quite thick. You want it thicker than the final desired consistency because it will thin when combined with the broccoli in the slow cooker.
- Steam broccoli. Meanwhile, add broccoli to the top of the beef in the crockpot and cover (don’t stir it in, we want the broccoli to steam). Cook for 20-30 minutes longer, or until broccoli reaches desired crisp-tenderness.
- Stir in thickened sauce. Transfer thickened sauce to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Serve with rice and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
How to Thicken the Crockpot Beef and Broccoli Sauce
The only way to make truly gorgeously thick, glossy beef and broccoli sauce is to thicken the sauce on the stove. Adding a cornstarch slurry to the crockpot will not simmer and reduce to create a thick enough sauce. It can work for thickening soups, but not for Asian Sauces.
• No extra time! The broccoli is added to the crockpot at the same time that you simmer the sauce, so you have to wait for the broccoli to cook anyway, so thickening the sauce on the stove doesn’t add any extra time to the recipe.
• Customize consistency: By thickening the sauce on the stove, you can also control the consistency. For a thicker sauce, simmer longer, for a thinner sauce, simmer for less time. You can also whisk 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 ½ tablespoons water and add it to the simmering sauce to make it even thicker.
When to Add the Broccoli to the Slow Cooker
For best results, wait to add the broccoli until the last 20 minutes of cooking. This will guarantee that your broccoli is crisp-tender, the same texture of stir-fried broccoli. Don’t be tempted to add the broccoli any earlier, or don’t add it the crockpot and forget about it, or you will be left with sad, mushy, watery broccoli instead.
Can I steam broccoli in the microwave?
Absolutely! Instead of adding broccoli directly to the crockpot, you can add it to a microwave safe bowl. Fill the bowl with water to about 1/8-inch up the sides. Cover and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until the broccoli is crisp-tender.
Can I Cook This Recipe on High for Less Time?
I don’t recommend cooking this recipe on high. The meat should be cooked low and slow doing in order to break down the muscle fibers and become buttery tender.
Prepping Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli Ahead of Time
Slow cooker beef and broccoli has a few steps, but you can prep EVERYTHING ahead of time so all that’s left to do at dinnertime is cook! Here’s how:
•Slice Beef: thinly slice beef and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.
•Make sauce: whisk the ingredients together up to 24 hours in advance and store, covered in the refrigerator.
•Chopping: chop broccoli, chop garlic, and grate your ginger 24 hours in advance and store in the refrigerator.
•Cook! Now all that’s left to do is add everything to your crockpot and cook!
Beef and Broccoli Crockpot Recipe Tips and Tricks
This slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe is pretty straightforward, but here is a summary of some tips and tricks to make it a sizzling success:
How to make the beef extra tender
Successful slow cooker beef and broccoli depends on melt-in-your-mouth beef. Here’s how to make your beef extra tender:
- Use the correct beef. As previously discussed, avoid super lean, tough cuts of steak such as flank steak or skirt steak. Top sirloin will deliver tender beef and broccoli every time.
- Slice the beef THINLY across the grain. The beef doesn’t have to be razor thin like Beef Bulgogi, but should be as thin as you can get it. Aim for 1/8-inch thick or thinner. Thin slices help the steak cook more quickly, and emerge buttery tender, seeping with flavor. It is much easier to thinly slice your steak if you freeze it for 30 minutes or so.
- Slice your beef across the grain. You also want to take care to slice the beef ACROSS the grain. You can see the “grain” running through the meat in one direction. The grain is essentially the muscle fibers running through the meat. You want to cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers so they become as short as possible. If you cut it parallel to the grain you will end up with long muscle fibers which make your steak chewier.
- Cook crockpot beef and broccoli on low. Cooking the beef low and slow provides enough time for the protein fibers to break down which results in tender beef. High heat will essentially boil the beef which is always a big no-no because it dries out your the beef.
- Cook beef for long enough. If you’ve followed all the aforementioned steps and your beef isn’t as tender as you like, it just needs more cooking time. Even 30 minutes can make a huge difference, so be patient, and cook on!
How do I Store Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli
•How to store: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How do I reheat Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli
How do I reheat Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli:
•How to reheat in microwave: transfer small portions to a microwave safe dish, heat for one minute, stir then continue to heat at 30 second intervals.
•How to reheat on the stove: for larger portions, rewarm gently in a large skillet, stirring often.
Freezing Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
Beef and broccoli freezes well, just take care to not overcook the beef or broccoli initially. If you want your beef and broccoli to tastes as fresh as when it was made, I suggest freshly stir-fried broccoli or freshly steamed broccoli.
To freeze:
1. Let beef and broccoli cool completely in the refrigerator.
2. Transfer to an airtight container. If using a freezer bag, squeeze out any excess air to prevent freezer burn.
3. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
4. When ready to eat, let beef and broccoli thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
5. Reheat in the microwave for 60 seconds then at 30 second intervals or gently on the stove.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Traditionally, beef and broccoli is served with rice to soak up all the sauce and for a neutral textural component because sauce is SO flavorful.
RICE OPTIONS
SIDE OPTIONS:
IS BEEF AND BROCCOLI RECIPE HEALTHY?
This beef and broccoli recipe is loaded with nutritious protein and broccoli with minimal oil. The broccoli is free of cholesterol and provides many of vitamins and minerals.
Just some of the nutrients in fresh broccoli include vitamins K & C, potassium, folate and dietary fiber. Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure and dietary fiber helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from damaging free radicals. It also builds collagen, which forms body tissue and bone, and helps cuts and wounds heal.
To make you’re recipe even healthier:
•Substitute some beef for vegetables. The more vegetables, the better!
•Serve over cauliflower rice, quinoa, or zucchini noodles instead of rice.
LOOKING FOR MORE CHINESE FAKEOUT TAKEOUT RECIPES?
Mongolian Chicken
Asian Caramel Pulled Pork
Cashew Chicken
Pineapple Ginger Chicken
Coconut Cashew Chicken
Honey Lemon Chicken
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Beef and Broccoli (Slow Cooker)
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Ingredients
Beef and broccoli
- 2 lbs. top sirloin steak sliced into very thin 2” strips
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 cups (12 oz.) broccoli florets chopped into bite size pieces
Sauce
- 1 cup low sodium beef broth
- 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup oyster sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons Japanese rice wine or dry sherry see notes in post
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1-3 teaspoons Asian chili sauce I use sambal oelek
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced (may sub 1 – 1 ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger (may sub 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1/2 tsp EACH pepper, onion powder
Instructions
- While the beef slices are still on the cutting board, pat dry and toss with ½ teaspoon salt; set aside.
- Add all of the sauce ingredients to the slow cooker and whisk until the cornstarch dissolves. Add the beef and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, until the meat is very tender.
- Once the beef is tender, you can thicken the sauce more on the stove (recommended), or leave it alone. Using an oven mitt, tilt the slow cooker to the side and ladle out as much sauce as possible into a saucepan; set aside. Add broccoli to the top of the beef in the slow cooker and cover (don’t stir in, we want the broccoli to steam). Cook for 20-30 additional minutes or until the broccoli reaches desired crisp-tenderness.
- Towards the end of the 20 minutes, simmer the sauce on the stove until quite thick. You want it thicker than the final desired consistency because it will thin when combined with the broccoli in the slow cooker. Transfer thickened sauce to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Serve with rice and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks
- Slice steak thinly. Place the steak in the freezer 30 minutes before cutting. This will help you cut it thinly.
- Oyster sauce substitute. If you’re allergic to shellfish, use LEE KUM KEE Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce instead of oyster sauce.
- Use rice wine and NOT rice wine vinegar. Rice wine is NOT rice vinegar– DO NOT switch them out. I use “Kikkoman Aji-Mirin: Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning” which is commonly found in the Asian section of most grocery stores or you can Amazon it. I highly suggest you google image before you head off to the grocery store so you know exactly what you are looking for. The best substitute for rice wine is pale dry sherry.
- Use quality ingredients. Use QUALITY oyster sauce like Lee Kum Kee or Kikkoman is essential because you can TASTE the difference!
- Steamed broccoli. Instead of adding broccoli directly to the crockpot, you can add the broccoli to a microwave safe bowl. Fill the bowl with water to about 1/8-inch up the sides. Cover and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until the broccoli is crisp-tender.
- Swap veggies. You can substitute the broccoli with your other favorite veggies or you can swap some of the broccoli with other veggies. Most vegetables, aside from carrots) will only need 20-30 minutes in the crockpot.
- Simmering the sauce is optional. The sauce will be slightly thickened after the beef is cooked but will thin once you add the broccoli. You can choose to add the broccoli and not thicken the sauce any more on the stove, or if you prefer a luxuriously thick sauce, you’ll need to thicken it on the stove.
- Don’t overcook broccoli. Take care not to over-cook the broccoli. It should be crisp-tender like in a stir fry and not tender-crisp.
- Cook beef for long enough. If your beef isn’t super tender, it just needs more cooking time. Even 30 minutes can make a huge difference, so be patient, and cook on!
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT
This crockpot beef and broccoli reheats wonderfully for lunches or dinners, just take care to not overcook the broccoli initially.- How to store: store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- How to reheat in microwave: transfer small portions to a microwave safe dish, heat for one minute, stir then continue to heat at 30 second intervals.
- How to reheat on the stove: for larger portions, rewarm gently in a large skillet, stirring often.
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Matthew Santia says
Do you happen to have the nutritional information numbers on this dish? Thanks in advance.
Jen says
Hi Matthew! I don’t have nutritional info but you can calculate it here: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
Colleen says
This was so good! I only used 1 tsp Sambal (I’m a spice wimp), reduced the amount of broccoli then added water chestnuts and baby corn. This will be a regular dish in our house. Thank you!
Jen says
Nothing wrong with that! I’m so glad that it was a hit!
Casie says
Can I use flank steak in this slow cook recipe?
Jen says
Hi Casie, you can use it but it won’t be quite as melty tender.
Olivia says
I’ve never left a review of a recipe because I’m just not that good at cooking so they don’t usually turn out as good as I hope- BUT. This was so easy and tasted delicious! Even my picky toddler ate it! Definitely recommend trying!
Jen says
Yay! I am so thrilled this was a success! Thanks for taking the time to let me know how it went!
Tammy says
Hi I can’t do spicy. Is there a substitute I could use for the chili sauce?
Your recipes are fantastic!
Jen says
Hi Tammy! If you don’t do spicy, then you can just omit the chili sauce. There are ways to lessen the heat of the sauce, adding a little sugar, acid, water or fat from dairy or even peanut butter and I know that there are sweeter chili sauces that are more sweet than spicy but I have not tried those tweaks with this particular recipe. I hope that you love this recipe!
Peggy O says
My grandson is allergic to sesame. Is there a substitute?
Jen says
Hi Peggy! You can use peanut oil or sunflower oil. Light olive oil has a more neutral flavor but could still work if you don’t have those oils. I hope your grandson loves it!