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What You Need to Make Chinese Beef and Broccoli
If you make only one recipe from my blog and are a fan of beef and broccoli… you have GOT to make this. Like go to the store and buy the ingredients and make it ASAP! It is so good that it will be the biggest hit at the dinner table. You will make it again and again, just like we do!
- Beef chuck roast: Boneless and sliced into thin strips before adding to the crockpot.
- Beef consomme or beef broth: Adds flavor and liquid and covers the meat while it cooks.
- Low sodium soy sauce: Adds a great salty flavor.
- Dark brown sugar: I love the sweetness from the rich molasses in the brown sugar.
- Sesame oil: Combine with soy sauce and broth to make the liquid to cook the beef.
- Garlic cloves: Minced garlic will add a pungent spice flavor.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce.
- Frozen Broccoli Florets: About 3 cups (I used one 14 oz bag)
- White or brown rice: This broccoli and beef is amazing served over cooked rice!
Quick and Easy Steps to Make Beef and Broccoli
Making this recipe again today reminded me of how BOMB it is. Wow! The flavor is incredible. There is something about cooking this meat all day in the slow cooker that makes it so tender and melt in your mouth. It cooks perfectly. And the flavor of the sauce is amazing. Just like you would expect in a restaurant.
- Whisk sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the beef consume, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic.
- Add beef to Crockpot: Lay the beef strips in the crockpot and pour the sauce over, tossing the strips to coat.
- Cook: Turn the crockpot on low and cook for about 6 hours. Mine was ready at 5. You don’t want to cook the beef too long or it will start to shred.
- Make a slurry and add to crockpot: When it is just about done, take 4 Tbsp of the sauce and whisk it in a small bowl with the cornstarch. Slowly stir this into the crockpot.
- Add in broccoli and continue to cook: I added the broccoli right after the slurry so that it could get heated through. You want to let it cook an additional 30 minutes so that the sauce can thicken and frozen broccoli can cook. You don’t want to add the broccoli until the very end or it will be mushy.
- Serve: It is great alone or over white rice. Enjoy!!
Do I Need To Thaw the Broccoli if I Am Using Frozen?
You do not need to thaw it. Add it directly to the crock pot after you add in the cornstarch mixture and allow it to heat up for about 30 minutes.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead?
This recipe can be made ahead! Allow it to cool completely before storing and do not leave out at room temperature longer than 2 hours. It will keep well if properly stored in an airtight container for 2-4 days in the refrigerator or 2-4 months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then use within 3-4 days of thawing. If you thaw in the microwave, eat immediately then discard.
More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
Slow cooking beef is one of the best ways to get incredibly tender beef every time. It allows the fibers to break down tenderizing the meat. Adding sauces and flavorings and then slow cooking them over time infuses the meat with flavor. Slow cooking beef is still one of the best ways to cook it. Give these tried and true favorites a try tonight!
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pound beef chuck roast boneless, sliced into thin strips
- 1 cup beef consomme or beef broth
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Frozen Broccoli Florets about 3 cups (I used one 14 oz bag)
- White or brown rice cooked
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the beef consume, soy sauce, dark brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic.
- Lay the beef strips in the crockpot and pour the sauce over, tossing the strips to coat.
- Turn the crockpot on low and cook for about 6 hours. Mine was ready at 5. You don't want to cook the beef too long or it will start to shred.
- About an hour before it is done, take ¼ cup of the sauce and whisk it in a small bowl with the cornstarch. Slowly stir this into the crockpot. Add in the broccoli the last 30 minutes and let the broccoli cook through. You don't want to add the broccoli until the very end or it will be mushy.
- Serve over white rice and enjoy!!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Serves: 6
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
I’ve just made this today and followed the instructions with two exceptions. I used fresh broccoli which a still added at the end and I also used button mushrooms added at the beginning. This is my first time ever making beef and broccoli and I’m surprised how easy yet delicious this came out. I’ve been cooking in my crockpot for years and this is my new favorite. I can’t begin to say how wonderful my house smells! And believe her when she says after hour 5 your meat will start to fall apart but that’s ok. I think next time I’ll listen to her and add the broccoli and corn starch at hour 4. Thanks for an amazing easy recipe!
Loved I added water chestnuts with broccoli forna little crunch! Husband went for 2nds!
This recipe is easy and great. I add onion, crushed red pepper and a little more garlic. I also use fresh broccoli. I steam it and toss it into the crock pot towards the end.
Hi Alyssa:
Great recipe. However do have a version of this which uses chicken instead? Thank you
I don’t have another version with chicken at this time. I will keep that in mind when developing recipes.
Question can u use beef for stir fry for this recipe also instead of beef chuck roast cut in strips as the stir fry beef is already cut?
Yes, that will work great too!
This was yummy! Going to add some fresh sliced carrots next time since that’s how our local Chinese restaurant serves it. Agree with the 4 hours until it’s done comment. I didn’t get home as planned and ended up with shredded beef and broccoli instead. I might try stew meat chunks next time also to cheapen the cost per serving.
Recipe was very easy to make and hardly any cleanup. Meat was very tender and my husband loved it!
I am going to try this and I am going to add mushrooms as well
Literally JUST finished making this and I love it!!! I added some fresh ginger at the end and used fresh broccoli like others recommended. Also love the idea of water chestnuts! Thanks for a fabulous fam fave! 🙂
Another great recipe I’m going to try thanks
Sounds amazing I have put some of the ingredients on my grocery list!!
If I made this in an instant pot how long would you say to cook the beef before adding the cornstarch and broccoli?
I have not made it in an instant pot yet. Let me know how it turns out!
I am learning to cook with my crockpot. Thanks for all the good ideas! Do you think this could be made with venison instead of beef?
Thank you!
That sounds delicious! Yes, that will work.
Very tasty but the sauce was quite thick. I needed to add more beef broth to thin it out.