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Kid-Approved Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli: Easy 4-Ingredient Dinner

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A simple, 4-ingredient slow cooker beef and broccoli recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights. The beef becomes fall-apart tender in a sweet-savory sauce, and the broccoli soaks up all the flavor, making it a hit with even the pickiest eaters.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast or stew meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 1 large head)
  • 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil (optional)
  • Cooked white or brown rice, for serving (about 2 cups uncooked rice)

Instructions

  1. Prep the beef: Pat the beef chuck roast dry with paper towels. Cut into bite-sized chunks, about 1 to 1.5 inches. Trim off large pieces of fat, leaving some for flavor.
  2. Optional searing step: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon oil. Sear beef pieces in batches for about 2 minutes per side until browned. This adds depth of flavor but can be skipped.
  3. Mix the sauce: In the slow cooker, whisk together low-sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until sugar is mostly dissolved.
  4. Add the beef: Place beef pieces into the slow cooker and stir to coat evenly with the sauce. Nestle them down so they’re mostly submerged.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until beef is fork-tender.
  6. Add the broccoli: About 30 minutes before serving, add broccoli florets to the slow cooker. Stir gently into the sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 30 minutes until tender but still bright green.
  7. Thicken the sauce: In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water until smooth. Stir into the sauce and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy.
  8. Finish and serve: Drizzle sesame oil over the top if using, and give a final gentle stir. Serve immediately over steamed rice, spooning extra sauce on top.

Notes

For best results, don’t skip trimming the beef to avoid greasy sauce. Add broccoli at the right time to prevent mushiness. For thicker sauce, leave the lid off for the last 15 minutes. Let beef rest in sauce for 10 minutes before serving for better flavor. Avoid lifting the lid too often during cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef and broccoli, easy beef and broccoli, 4-ingredient dinner, kid-friendly dinner, weeknight dinner, Chinese takeout style

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/kid-approved-slow-cooker-beef-and-broccoli-easy-4-ingredient-dinner/