Crockpot Beef and Broccoli: 7 Takeout‑Style Wins at Home

Crockpot Beef And Broccoli tastes like your favorite takeout, but you don’t have to change outta your fuzzy slippers. Ever opened your fridge, realized you’ve got, like, one sad carrot and a pack of beef, and wondered what now? I hear you. Honestly, this meal just rescues my weeknight blues every time. Plus, for those wondering about other hearty one-pot winners, you should definitely check out my post on slow cooker meals (it’s seriously a goldmine!).

Why You’ll Love Crockpot Beef And Broccoli

Look, I love takeout, but sometimes it just isn’t in the budget (or let’s be real, my will to put on pants is at zero). This dish checks all the boxes: easy, comforting, cheap, and did I say easy? Your kitchen smells like a five-star restaurant, but you’re literally binging reruns in the next room. No joke, it basically cooks itself. Oh, plus super tender beef you barely need a fork for. Kids, picky spouses, roommates… all seem to come running for this dinner. Bottom line? Crockpot Beef And Broccoli is my kind of weeknight win.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1½ to 2 lbs beef flank steak (I sometimes use stew meat, no one ever complains!)
• 2 cups broccoli florets (use fresh or, let’s be honest, frozen works in a pinch)
• ¾ cup beef broth (or just water and bouillon cube)
• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce (don’t skip the low-sodium trust me)
• ⅓ cup brown sugar (light or dark, whatevs)
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced (I use a LOT)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (plus a splash of water to mix)
• Rice or noodles, for serving

You could toss in some red pepper flakes if you like heat, but totally optional.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Right, just telling you, you don’t have to be all fancy here. Just follow these steps:

First, slice the beef thin against the grain (as best you can, it’s fine if it looks rough). Dump it straight into the crockpot. Sprinkle the garlic over the beef. Mix up the beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil in a cup. Pour that over everything. Cover it up and set your crockpot on low for about 4-5 hours.

Go do… whatever. When the time’s up, whisk the cornstarch with a splash of water, then stir that into the beef mixture. Toss the broccoli in now (don’t be shy, pile it on). Crank the pot to high and cook for 30 minutes just til the sauce thickens and broccoli’s tender but not mushy. Serve it over your rice or noodles and, I mean, come on, look at that.

Pro Tips & Sweet Variations

Here’s where I get kinda fired up: just do what works, ya know? Don’t have flank steak? Use stew beef. Sauce too thin? Add a little extra cornstarch slurry. Want veggies hiding in there? Grab some snap peas, carrots, or even bell peppers, chop ‘em, and toss ‘em in when you add broccoli. If you’re all about that garlic, add more. Like spicy? Sriracha is your new best friend here.

If you want this extra hearty, double up the broccoli! Quick tip don’t add your broccoli at the start or you’ll get some sort of green mushy nonsense. Trust me, learned that one the hard way. And honestly, leftovers? Better the next day.

Perfect Pairings & Serving Ideas

Let’s keep this simple. Here’re a few ways to make Crockpot Beef And Broccoli the main event:

• Pile it over a big bowl of fluffy white rice (my fave)
• Add a fried egg on top for a protein boost
• Scoop over noodles for noodle takeout vibes
• Serve with a side of homemade dumplings for a full DIY feast

Guaranteed, whatever combo you go for, people will fight for the leftovers.

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips for Crockpot Beef And Broccoli

Storing this dish is just as easy as making it, honestly. Once everything cools off, stick the leftovers in an airtight container fridge for up to 4 days, or the freezer works for a few months if you’re into batch-cooking. If you know you’re short on time during the week, you can slice the beef and whip up the sauce the night before, then just dump it all into your crockpot in the morning. It also reheats pretty well on the stove or microwave… no weird textures. Blows my mind how forgiving it is.

FAQs About Crockpot Beef And Broccoli

Nutrition Notes

Crockpot Beef And Broccoli is honestly better for you than regular takeout. Usually less oil, less salt (especially when you use low-sodium soy sauce), and packed with protein from the beef. Plus, you’re getting some sneaky veggies in there. Sure, there’s sugar in the sauce, but if you want to swap in a little honey, go for it. If you’re tracking calories, use leaner beef and more broccoli. It’s one of those meals that lets you tweak things based on what you like and what you need, which I totally appreciate.

The Ultimate Comfort, Right in Your Kitchen

So, there you have it Crockpot Beef And Broccoli that’s ridiculously easy, flexible, and seriously restaurant-worthy. No more bland weeknight dinners or throwing money at takeout menus (unless you want to, I won’t judge). Trust me, just grab a slow cooker, that beef in your fridge, and get cooking.

If you want even more tips, check out Crockpot Beef and Broccoli – I Heart Naptime for another spin on this classic, or browse more comfort food favorites from well-known food blogs. Give this a shot, and don’t forget to savor those leftovers if there’s any left when you’re done!

Crockpot Beef And Broccoli

Ethan Walker

A comforting and easy dish that replicates your favorite takeout without leaving your home. Perfect for weeknight dinners.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total Time 5 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Comfort Food

Servings 4 servings

Calories 250 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Main ingredients

• 1.5 to 2 lbs beef flank steak can substitute with stew meat
• 2 cups broccoli florets fresh or frozen
• ¾ cup beef broth or water with a bouillon cube
• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce don’t skip the low-sodium
• ⅓ cup brown sugar light or dark
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced use more for a garlicky flavor
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch plus a splash of water to mix

For serving

• Rice or noodles for serving

Optional additional ingredients

• Red pepper flakes for heat (optional)

Instructions

 

Preparation

• Slice the beef thin against the grain and place it in the crockpot.
• Sprinkle the minced garlic over the beef.
• In a cup, mix the beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil together.
• Pour the mixture over the beef and garlic in the crockpot.
• Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours.

Cooking

• After cooking, whisk the cornstarch with a splash of water and stir it into the beef mixture.
• Add the broccoli to the mixture.
• Switch the crockpot to high and cook for an additional 30 minutes until the sauce thickens and the broccoli is tender but not mushy.

Serving

• Serve over rice or noodles.

Notes

Storing leftovers is easy; place them in an airtight container. Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days or can be frozen for a few months. You can slice the beef and prepare the sauce ahead of time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 23gFat: 10gSodium: 500mgFiber: 2g

Keyword Beef and Broccoli, Crockpot Recipe, easy dinner, Slow Cooker Meal, Weeknight Dinner

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