This Crockpot Beef and Broccoli recipe is an easy Chinese recipe prepared in 10 minutes. Just add everything to the crockpot and get cooking!
I'm making this beef and broccoli with stew meat because we always have on hand. Chuck roast, cut into pieces works well too!
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
This is probably the easiest Beef and Broccoli recipe I’ve made. Y’all know that I love an easy to make meal that the entire family will enjoy.
Well this slow cooker beef recipe is the one you’ve been looking for!
Bites of tender beef and hearty broccoli come together in an Asian-style sauce that will have you singing dinner praises.
Easy crockpot beef and broccoli is simple, it’s low stress and - wait for it - it’s a dump and go crock pot meal.
I know you love those words - dump and go!!!!
That’s right. You don’t have to pre-cook anything! There’s no saute, searing - heck, you don’t even have to wash and cut broccoli.
That, my friends, is a win, especially for those of us who don’t particularly care for the inevitable dishwashing side of cooking.
So the next time you’re craving this from the local food joint, know that you have this beef and broccoli takeout alternative in your back pocket!
Beef and Broccoli Ingredients
Here’s what’s in my slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe:
- beef stew meat - chuck roast can be substituted
- low sodium beef broth or beef stock
- minced garlic
- gluten-free soy sauce - you can also use tamari or coconut aminos
- honey - I'm using honey as a healthier option to brown sugar, but either will work
- toasted sesame oil
- frozen broccoli florets
- red bell pepper
- toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- arrowroot or cornstarch - for thickening
- cooked brown rice
That’s what you need to get started. I’ll cover alternative ingredients coming up.
How to Make Beef and Broccoli in the Slow Cooker
- Place beef stew chunks in your slow cooker. I recommend a 5-6 quart slow cooker for this recipe.
- In a medium bowl, make the sauce. Whisk together beef broth, garlic, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil to combine. Pour mixture on top of beef. Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.
- To create a thicker sauce - which you’ll probably want to do, create a slurry by combining arrowroot and ¼ cup of liquid from the slow cooker. Set aside.
- 15-20 minutes before you’re ready to devour, remove the lid from the slow cooker and add the slurry you made (this is the arrowroot and liquid). Add the frozen broccoli (no need to thaw) and the red bell pepper. Cover and finish cooking until the broccoli has become tender.
- Serve with cooked brown rice and a drizzle of sauce from the slow cooker. Garnish with some toasted sesame seeds it you’d like!
When to Add the Broccoli to the Slow Cooker
We’re waiting until the very end to add the broccoli so it stays crisp tender and doesn’t turn to mush.
Since it’s already been partially cooked before heading to your supermarket’s freezer section, there’s no work for you to do!
If you have a head of fresh broccoli you’re dying to use (hello, garden friends!) then just wash it, chop it and add it to the cooker about 30 minutes before serving.
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Tips for the Best Beef and Broccoli
I generally use stew meat for this recipe but sirloin steak or beef chuck roast works great as a substitute. Both are lean and will cook nicely.
Let’s talk about other substitutions, while we’re add it.
To keep this gluten free, you can use gluten free soy sauce or tamari. If that’s not a concern for you and you have regular soy sauce, go with that. Want to use coconut aminos to keep the carbs down? That works too!
I like to use the jarred, pre-minced garlic because it saves so much time and wasted garlic cloves. Your call.
Arrowroot can be used as the thickener, but you could also use cornstarch.
If you don’t already have toasted sesame oil in your kitchen toolbox, I highly suggest you add it to your next shopping list.
It’s used in many Asian type recipes and adds a very nice flavor!
Oh, and I like to top my healthy slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe with a dash or two of Sriracha!
Serve over rice, brown rice, white rice or cauliflower rice.
Other shortcuts to consider
If you’re in a rush, you can totally prep the beef and the sauce the night before. Then, add all the combined ingredients into the slow cooker and get cooking.
One of my favorite things to do is make a recipe like this as a freezer meal.
This just means you combine most of the ingredients without cooking it. Thaw it the night before and you’ll be ready to rock and roll!
I have more detailed ingredients in the recipe card below to make this healthy crockpot beef and broccoli recipe as a freezer meal!
Other Chinese Recipes
- Easy Pork Stir Fry
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Sweet and Sour Pork Meatballs with Pineapple
- Keto Pork Tenderloin Stir Fry with Cashews
- Keto Cauliflower Fried Rice
More slow cooker recipes you'll enjoy:
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef (also a slow cooker recipe)
Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs beef stew meat cut into chunks
- 1½ cup beef stock
- 3 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup gluten-free soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 14 oz bag frozen broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper cut in short, thin strips
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds optional
- 2 Tbsp. arrowroot needed at cooking time
- 3 cups brown rice cooked (needed at cooking time)
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Instructions
TO MAKE FRESH
- Add beef stew chunks to 5 or 6-quart slow cooker.
- In a medium whisk beef stock, garlic, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil to combine. Pour mixture on top of beef. Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.
- To create a thicker sauce, create a slurry by combing 2 tablespoons of arrowroot with ¼ cup of liquid from the slow cooker. Set aside.
- 15-20 minutes before done cooking, remove lid and stir in the arrowroot slurry, then the frozen broccoli and red bell pepper. Cover and finish cooking.
- Serve immediately with cooked brown rice and a drizzle of sauce from the slow cooker. Garnish with some toasted sesame seeds before serving, if desired.
TO MAKE AS A FREEZER MEAL
- Label a gallon sized freezer bag. Place the beef in the gallon sized bag. Add beef stock, garlic, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Remove excess air and lay flat to freeze.
TO COOK FROM A FREEZER MEAL
- Thaw. Place contents of bag into the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low
- To create a thicker sauce, create a slurry by combing 2 tablespoons of arrowroot with ¼ cup of liquid from the slow cooker. Set aside. 15-20 minutes before done cooking, remove lid and stir in the arrowroot slurry, then the frozen broccoli and red bell pepper. Cover and finish cooking.
- Serve immediately with cooked brown rice and a drizzle of sauce from the slow cooker. Garnish with some toasted sesame seeds before serving, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Shared on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck
