Slow Cooker Beef And Broccoli

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli is a delicious and easy recipe to add to your list of favorite crock pot meals.

When your day is busy, a delicious meal of tender beef and broccoli florets in a tasty Asian sauce will be simmering away in the crockpot, waiting for you when you get home for dinner!

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli was one of the very first recipes I ever published here! I’ve made a few tweaks, taken some fresh photos, and am ready to share all of my best tips for making the most delicious Chinese Beef and Broccoli in your trusty Crock Pot.

This recipe is similar to my stovetop version of Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, but also very different.

When you use the slow cooker to cook beef, you’ll find that it comes out super tender, almost falling apart in your mouth.

We’ll be sure to add the fresh broccoli florets during only the last 15 minutes of cooking or so. This way the veggies will be perfectly steamed and still keep their freshness.

Need more easy slow cooker meals? Everyone loves my Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken, and classic Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers.

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli Recipe Highlights

• It’s Packed with Flavor – The sliced beef and broccoli soak up all of the delicious savory and umami flavors from the brown sauce, which is packed with garlic, soy, and toasted sesame oil.
• SO Easy to Make – You’ll need about 10 minutes to prep this meal for the crock pot. When you’re finished chopping and slicing, just throw everything in the pot and let the slow cooker do all of the work. 
• Simple Ingredients – You can make restaurant-quality Chinese food at home without any fancy sauces or seasonings. This recipe uses only ingredients that are easy to find at most large grocery stores, and you might already have them all on hand!

Ingredients in Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli:

Here is everything you need:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Beef: The best type of beef to use in this recipe is flank steak. This cut is quite fibrous and is really made better by the low, slow, cooking method here. You can also try this recipe with beef chuck roast if you prefer. Slice the beef into thin strips, going against the muscle grain.
• Broccoli: I prefer to use fresh broccoli, but in a pinch, you could make this with frozen broccoli florets as well.
• Beef Stock: This is the liquid that the beef will cook in, and the base of our delicious brown sauce. Beef broth works too.
• For the Sauce: You’ll need soy sauce, fresh garlic, vinegar, sugar, toasted sesame oil, and some ground white pepper. Together these flavorful ingredients create the most amazing, balanced sauce for beef and broccoli.
• Corn Starch: To thicken the sauce, we’ll add a cornstarch slurry to the crockpot shortly before serving.

How To Make Beef and Broccoli in a Slow Cooker

Recipe Tips

• Slicing the beef: It’s very important to slice the beef against the grain. This simple step will ensure that each piece is tender and easy to chew.
• Any vinegar works. I like to use apple cider vinegar, but you can also use regular white vinegar or rice vinegar.
• The same goes for sugar. Granulated sugar can be replaced by the same amount of brown sugar, dark brown sugar, or honey. I don’t suggest that you skip the sugar in this recipe, the sweetness is key to a balanced sauce.
• For even more flavor, stir in 1 or 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger. You can also add a splash of Oyster sauce or a bit of heat from red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce.
• To use frozen broccoli, add it to the crockpot according to the directions. It may take a bit longer than 15 minutes to fully cook though, so you might consider adding frozen broccoli 10 or 15 minutes sooner than indicated.
• Thickening the Sauce: A mixture of cornstarch and cooking liquid thickens the sauce at the end and is the same method used in your favorite Chinese restaurant. For a thicker sauce, simply use more cornstarch.
• Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos in place of the low-sodium soy sauce.

Storing Tips

• Be sure to cool the dish completely before putting it away.
• Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• Freezer Prep: Prepare this meal (minus the broccoli) and freeze it in an airtight container, uncooked. Thaw overnight, then place in the crockpot to cook according to the instructions. Add fresh broccoli.
• Freezer Storage: You can also cook this meal and freeze the leftovers! Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stove over medium heat.

What To Serve With Beef and Broccoli

We like to enjoy this meal with a side of steamed white rice, or cauliflower rice for a low carb option.

You can also try my easy recipe for Instant Pot Fried Rice, or delicious Thai Pineapple Fried Rice.

If you want to try some other Chinese takeout style recipes, check out how I make cream cheese rangoons, egg drop soup, and kung pao shrimp!

Don’t forget a tasty garnish! Top your plates with sliced green onions or sesame seeds.

Recipe FAQs

What type of beef to use for beef and broccoli?

When I’m making beef and broccoli on the stove, I like to use a tender cut like Sirloin steak, but for the crockpot, you can really use any budget-friendly cut of meat. Try this recipe with chuck roast or flank steak.

How Long Does Broccoli Take in the Crock Pot?

When added to an already hot dish, fresh broccoli florets take about 15 minutes to cook in the crock pot. Frozen broccoli takes between 15-30 minutes.

Can I make this in the Instant Pot?

Sure! I suggest that you follow my Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli recipe. It’s delicious.

I know your whole crew is going to love this simple crock pot recipe for beef and broccoli! Be sure to Pin the recipe, and save it for the next time you need a really easy dinner idea.