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A slow-cooked crockpot beef and broccoli dish, ready to serve over rice.

Umami-Rich Crockpot Beef and Broccoli

This slow-cooked beef and broccoli dish brings a rich umami flavor with tender beef and crisp-tender broccoli, perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 pounds chuck roast or stew beef cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 4-5 cups fresh broccoli florets
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 cup low sodium beef broth
  • 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
Other Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water for cornstarch slurry
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for searing
Optional Garnish
  • Sesame seeds Optional for garnish
  • chopped green onions Optional for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Slow cooker
  • Medium bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the beef dry and sear in olive oil in a skillet until browned on all sides, then transfer to a slow cooker.
Cooking
  1. Whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, and fish sauce, then pour over the beef in the slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
  3. About 30-45 minutes before serving, stir in the broccoli florets and continue cooking until crisp-tender.
Thickening and Serving
  1. Create a cornstarch slurry with water; remove 1 cup of hot sauce from the slow cooker and whisk into the slurry, then pour back into the slow cooker.
  2. Cook for another 15-20 minutes on high until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
  3. Ladle over steamed rice or noodles and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, if desired.

Notes

For best results, do not overcrowd the skillet when searing the beef; sear in batches if necessary. Adjust the amount of brown sugar and soy sauce to your taste, if desired. Serve immediately with rice or noodles.