Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
3 hrs
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Total Time
3 hrs 10 mins
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Servings
4 as a main
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Calories
354 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Dinner
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Cuisine
Chinese
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Description
The Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli recipe centers on thinly sliced chuck steak cooked gently in a sauce of soy sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, cooking wine, and seasonings. Cornflour mixed with water thickens the sauce during the slow cooking process. The beef cooks on high for three hours, becoming tender and infused with the savory, slightly sweet and umami sauce. Separately steamed broccoli is tossed into the sauce and beef at the end to retain its bright green color and crispness, adding freshness and texture contrast.
Cooking in a slow cooker frees hands and gently breaks down the beef fibers, while the balance of salty soy sauce and aromatic ginger enriches the dish. The broccoli's quick steaming ensures it is tender but not soggy.
This dish is typically served over rice, absorbing the flavorful sauce well. It works well for a comforting dinner with minimal preparation effort while delivering a satisfying mix of textures and flavors.
Adjust the water amount based on your slow cooker's moisture retention to ensure the sauce reaches the desired consistency. The recipe is flexible with beef cuts but trimming excess fat helps keep it from being greasy. You can prepare the beef and sauce ahead, blanch and cool the broccoli for freezing, and gently reheat later, taking care to avoid overcooking the broccoli during reheating.
Ingredients
- 500 g / 16 oz chuck steak or other beef cut suitable for slow cooking
- 300 g / 16 oz broccoli about 6 cups, 1 giant broccoli or 2 medium, florets
- 2 tbsp cornflour corn starch
- 1 cup water (see note 2)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 2 tbsp finely sliced fresh ginger (note 1)
- 3 tbsp soy sauce (normal dark soy sauce)
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 4 tsp Chinese cooking wine (rice wine) or dry sherry (note 5)
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 4 white pepper dashes
Instructions
- Cut the beef into thin slices against the grain (which means at 90 degrees to the direction of the fibres in the meat).
- Place beef in slow cooker.
- Mix the corn flour with the water, then add to the slow cooker.
- Add the Sauce ingredients to the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours (or pressure cook on high for 40 minutes).
To Serve Immediately
- Steam or boil broccoli until "tender crisp" (just cooked, still bright green and still crisp).
- Add to beef and sauce, toss to combine. Serve over rice.
To Make Ahead to Freeze (2 months) or Refrigerate (2 days)
- Let the beef and sauce cool.
- Meanwhile, blanch the broccoli very briefly, then run under cold water or plunge into ice water to stop from cooking further.
- Drain broccoli, then combine with the beef and sauce.
- Place into ziplock bags or airtight containers and freeze or refrigerate.
- To cook, thaw then reheat in the microwave, covered. Be careful not to heat for too long because otherwise the broccoli will overcook.
- Serve with rice.
Notes
- Fresh ginger with thin skin can be used without peeling for a fresher flavor.
- Adjust water quantity depending on your slow cooker's moisture loss to keep the sauce from drying out.
- Lean or trimmed beef works best to avoid excess fat; if using fatty cuts, reduce added oil accordingly.
- Cook rice ahead of time and freeze it wrapped; it reheats well and pairs nicely with this dish.
- Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry enhances the sauce; mirin is an alternative but omit sugar in that case.
- When reheating frozen meals, thaw completely and reheat gently to maintain broccoli texture.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4as a main
Amount Per Serving
Calories 354 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 232g | |
| Calories | 354cal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 14.2g | 5% |
| Protein | 20g | 40% |
| Fat | 24.6g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 7.5g | 38% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 842mg | 35% |
| Potassium | 459mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 2.7g | 11% |
| Sugar | 3.9g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 450IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 92.4mg | 103% |
| Calcium | 50mg | 5% |
| Iron | 3.2mg | 18% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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