How to Make Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

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Looking for a comforting dinner that practically cooks itself? This slow cooker beef and broccoli is the perfect throw-and-go meal for busy weeknights. Tender chunks of beef, crisp broccoli, and a rich, savory sauce come together in your crockpot with almost no effort. It’s healthier—and more affordable—than takeout, and your whole family will love it!

My slow cooker is how I survive as a homeschool mama. This is an easy and healthy recipe. What I love about it most is you can easily swap rice for cauliflower rice to keep it low carb. You can also swap out for arrowroot powder and a gluten free soy sauce to make this gluen free!

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

• Hands-off cooking – Just toss everything in the crock and walk away.
• Flavor-packed – Savory soy, garlic, honey, and sesame oil infuse every bite.
• Better than takeout – Real ingredients, less sodium, and more protein.
• Meal-prep friendly – Makes great leftovers for lunch the next day.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

• 1½ lbs. beef stew meat, cut into chunks
• 1½ cups beef stock
• 3–4 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot or cornstarch
• 1 (14 oz.) bag frozen broccoli florets
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into short, thin strips
• 3 cups brown rice, cooked
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

1. Add beef to the crockpot. Place beef stew chunks into a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Make the sauce. In a bowl, whisk together beef stock, garlic, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Pour over the beef.
3. Slow cook. Cover and cook on High for 3–4 hours or Low for 6–7 hours until the beef is tender.
4. Thicken the sauce. To make a slurry, mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot (or cornstarch) with ¼ cup of cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Set aside.
5. Add vegetables. About 15–20 minutes before serving, stir in the slurry, broccoli florets, and red bell pepper. Cover and finish cooking.
6. Serve and enjoy! Scoop over cooked brown rice and drizzle with extra sauce from the slow cooker. Top with toasted sesame seeds if desired.

Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

• Want extra veggies? Add carrots, snap peas, or mushrooms.
• Prefer low carb? Serve over cauliflower rice or on its own.
• Make it sweeter or spicier. Add more honey or a squeeze of sriracha!

One Bite and You’ll Forget About Takeout

This slow cooker beef and broccoli is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner—perfect for meal planning, family dinners, or tossing together before a busy day. If you’re craving takeout flavors with homemade nutrition, this recipe is going to be a regular in your rotation!

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

This tasty beef broccoli recipe can be pulled together quickly for a fast and easy weeknight meal.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs

Servings: 4 to 6

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1½ lbs. beef stew meat cut into chunks
• 1½ cups beef stock
• 3 –4 cloves garlic finely minced
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot or cornstarch
• 1 14 oz. bag frozen broccoli florets
• 1 red bell pepper cut into short, thin strips
• 3 cups brown rice cooked
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds optional

Method

 

1. Place beef stew chunks into a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, whisk together beef stock, garlic, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. Pour over the beef.
3. Cover and cook on High for 3–4 hours or Low for 6–7 hours until the beef is tender.
4. Thicken the sauce. To make a slurry, mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot (or cornstarch) with ¼ cup of cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Set aside.
5. Add vegetables. About 15–20 minutes before serving, stir in the slurry, broccoli florets, and red bell pepper. Cover and finish cooking.
6. Serve and enjoy! Scoop over cooked brown rice and drizzle with extra sauce from the slow cooker. Top with toasted sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

To avoid mushy vegetables, don’t add them until 15 to 20 minutes before this dish is done cooking. Adding the vegetables 15-20 minutes before done cooking will yield crisp-tender results. Cook longer for softer veggies.

The frozen broccoli doesn’t need to be defrosted prior to cooking, so feel free to add them directly from the bag into your slow cooker. Actual cooking times will varying by individual unit, so be sure to watch closely the first time you prepare this recipe to achieve desired results.