If you love beef and broccoli takeout, this slow cooker beef and broccoli is a must try. It takes about 10 minutes to toss together, the crock pot does the rest, and the round steak comes out so tender. Even my kids who aren’t fans of broccoli gobble this up, and they don’t ask for takeout anymore since I started making it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Freezer meal friendly. Bag the beef and sauce ahead of time and you’ve got dinner ready to go on your busiest day.
10 minutes of prep. Whisk the sauce, pour it over the beef, and the crock pot does the rest.
Budget-friendly beef. We use round steak, one of the cheapest cuts at the store. It slow cooks until it’s tender, so no one can tell you saved money.
Picky eater approved. The sweet garlic soy sauce wins over kids who normally push their broccoli around the plate.
For another delicious idea, try our sweet and savory pineapple chicken.
Do You Have to Brown the Beef First?
Nope! I love that you can toss the raw steak right in the crock pot, so there’s no extra pan to wash. If you have an extra 5 minutes and want a deeper, richer flavor, you can quickly sear the beef in a hot skillet before adding it. It’s totally optional, but the dump-and-go version is the one my family eats most.
Best Beef to Use (and How to Slice It)
We use round steak because it’s one of the most affordable cuts, and the low, slow cooking makes it tender. Slice it against the grain into thin, bite-size strips about ÂĽ inch thick. Thin slices cook up tender in the slow cooker.
Tip: Pop the steak in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing. It firms up and is much easier to cut thin with a regular kitchen knife.
Chuck roast, sirloin, and flank steak all work too — they just cost a little more per pound.
Ingredients:
- Round Steak – It’s one of the cheapest cuts at the store, and slow cooking makes it tender. Chuck roast, sirloin, or flank steak are great substitutes, but they just cost more.
- Beef Broth – This is the base of the sauce. Regular or low-sodium both work.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – Low sodium keeps the sauce from getting too salty as it cooks down.
- Minced Garlic – Jarred minced garlic saves time, or use fresh cloves.
- Brown Sugar – This gives the sauce that sweet takeout flavor. If your family likes it less sweet, cut it back to ¼ cup.
- Sesame Oil – A little goes a long way and gives it that classic beef and broccoli taste. Look for it near the soy sauce at the store.
- Cornstarch and Cold Water – These are used to thicken the sauce at the end.
- Fresh Broccoli Florets – About 4 cups, or 1 large crown. Frozen works too.
- Sesame Seeds and Green Onions – These are optional and for topping only.
How to cook Beef and Broccoli in Crockpot:
- Prepare Broth Mixture – Place the steak in a slow cooker. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, minced garlic, brown sugar and sesame oil.
- Pour mixture in crockpot – Pour this mixture on top of the steak in the crock pot.
- Cook Beef in Crock Pot – Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. The beef is ready when a piece pulls apart easily with a fork. Slow cookers run hot or cool, so start checking at the low end of the time — round steak is lean and can get dry if it cooks too long.
- Prepare Cornstarch Mixture – Whisk the cornstarch and cold water together until completely smooth with no lumps, then stir it into the slow cooker.
- Add in Broccoli – Then stir in the broccoli and cook on low for about 30 minutes or until sauce is thickened and broccoli is cooked through.
- Serve and Enjoy – Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately over rice.
Sauce Too Thin?
After the cornstarch goes in, the sauce should turn glossy and coat the back of a spoon in about 30 minutes. If it’s still thin, turn the crock pot to high, whisk another 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water, and stir it in. Give it 10 to 15 more minutes to thicken.
Fresh or Frozen Broccoli: When to Add It
Fresh broccoli: Stir it in with the cornstarch mixture during the last 30 minutes of cooking. It comes out crisp-tender.
Frozen broccoli: Add it during the last 10 to 15 minutes, just long enough to heat through. Frozen broccoli is already partly cooked, so if it goes in too early, it turns mushy.
Want bright green broccoli? Steam or microwave it separately and stir it in right before serving.
Our family prefers fresh broccoli, but frozen is a great budget and time saver. I love using frozen because my picky kids like the broccoli softer and there is no chopping needed.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli Tips:
- Prep it the night before – Put the steak and sauce in the crock pot insert, cover, and refrigerate overnight (leave the broccoli and cornstarch out). In the morning, let the insert sit out briefly so it isn’t ice cold before you turn it on (a cold stoneware insert can crack if it heats up too fast). Then cook as directed.
- Freezer Friendly – Add the raw steak and sauce to a gallon freezer bag and freeze flat for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, then cook as directed. Keep the cornstarch and broccoli out of the bag and add them at the end. See the full freezer meal directions below.
Make It a Freezer Meal
This is one of my favorite crock pot recipes to prep ahead, because the beef and sauce freeze perfectly together. Spend 10 minutes now and you’ve got dinner ready for your busiest night.
What goes in the bag
- The sliced round steak
- The beef broth, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and sesame oil
What waits until cooking day
- The cornstarch, cold water, and broccoli — these don’t freeze well in the bag and get added at the end.
How to do it
- Label a gallon freezer bag with the recipe name, the date, and “Add cornstarch + broccoli at the end.”
- Add the steak and sauce, squeeze out the air, and freeze flat for up to 3 months.
- The night before, move the bag to the fridge to thaw.
- Dump it in the crock pot and cook as directed, adding the cornstarch mixture and broccoli in the last 30 minutes.
Make two at once: Slicing extra steak takes only a few extra minutes. Cook one tonight and freeze the other.
Variation Ideas:
- Use a different beef – Round steak is our budget pick, but chuck roast, sirloin, flank steak, or stew meat all work.
- Less sweet – Cut the brown sugar down to ¼ cup if your family likes a more savory sauce.
- Soy sauce swap – Use coconut aminos for a lower-carb option, or add a splash of oyster sauce for a richer flavor.
- Add more veggies – Stir in thinly sliced carrots or snap peas with the broccoli to stretch the meal.
- Add ginger – A teaspoon of grated fresh ginger in the sauce gives it more of that takeout flavor.
- Make it spicy – Add red pepper flakes to the sauce for some heat.
- Instant Pot – Short on time? Try our Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli for dinner in under 30 minutes.
What to serve with Crockpot Beef and Broccoli?
Serving it over a big pot of rice is the easiest way to stretch this meal for a crowd. A bag of rice costs just a few dollars and turns 2 pounds of beef into dinner for the whole family.
How to Store and Reheat Beef and Broccoli:
- Fridge – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer – Freeze cooked beef and broccoli for up to 3 months. The broccoli will be softer after thawing, so for the best texture, freeze the beef and sauce only and add fresh broccoli when you reheat.
- Reheat – Warm it in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, or in the microwave in 1-minute bursts, stirring in between.
Beef and Broccoli FAQ
Usually the slices were too thick or the beef needed more time. Thin slices against the grain are key. If it’s still chewy, give it another 30 to 60 minutes on low.
Yes, about 3 hours on high works. Low is a little more forgiving if you’ll be gone all day.
Not as written, because regular soy sauce contains wheat. Swap in tamari or coconut aminos and check that your beef broth is gluten-free.
Yes. Use a 6-quart or larger crock pot and keep the beef in an even layer. The cook time stays about the same, but start checking at the low end.
Easy Crock pot Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds round steak (cut into bite size pieces)
- 1 cup beef broth
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- â…“ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Sesame oil
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons cold water
- 1 Broccoli Crown (cut into bite size pieces)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Place the steak in a slow cooker. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the beef broth, soy sauce, minced garlic, brown sugar and sesame oil. Pour this mixture on top of the steak in the crock pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3 hours until the beef is tender.
- Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water in a small mixing bowl. Stir this mixture into the slow cooker.
- Then stir in the broccoli and cook on low for about 30 minutes or until sauce is thickened and broccoli is cooked through.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately over rice.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Slice the steak against the grain into thin strips about ÂĽ inch thick for the most tender beef.
- Using frozen broccoli? Add it during the last 10 to 15 minutes so it doesn’t get mushy.
- Freezer meal: Freeze the raw steak and sauce in a gallon bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Try these other crock pot beef recipes:
- Easy Crock Pot Beef Tips Recipe
- 4 Ingredient Crock Pot Beef Teriyaki Recipe
- Crock pot Beef Curry Recipe
- Crock Pot Shredded Beef Recipe
Skip the takeout and make dinner at home! Find more easy crockpot beef recipes here.
So easy and so delicious! No mods necessary!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I love hearing that the recipe turned out great just as written. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Excellent…recipe. My first time making it and it was wonderful. I did blanch the fresh broccoli however, then added it to the crockpot for about 20 minutes. The broccoli was perfect. Not mush to overcooked.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your tip about blanching the broccoli and adding it near the end. So happy the texture turned out just how you like it!
Wow!! Made this for the first time tonight… fantastic!! Only added the suggested minced ginger, red pepper flakes and frozen rather than fresh broccoli. Microwaved some minute rice and voila, everyone loved it!! Easy and delicious, what more could you want?? Thanks Carrie!!
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled everyone loved it! I love that you added the ginger and red pepper flakes, and frozen broccoli is a great time-saving option. Thanks for sharing your tips and for taking the time to leave such a kind review! ?
Hi Carrie last week you posted a picture of a group of dishes you can make in the crock pot. Thought I saved the recipes but apparently I deleted them accidentally. I would love to have them maybe one was a burrito casserole. Think some you could make ahead. Would love to have them if you remember them. Thanks.
Hey Brenda – I’m not sure which one your referencing to as I like to post a lot of slow cooker recipes. You can find all my crock pot recipes here. I hope you check them out and try out a few that looks good to you!
I made this a couple times before my son went to college. Now that he’s home, it’s one of the first meals he’s requesting. This is a great, cozy, delicious meal at home! Thank you!
Oh wow! That’s wonderful! Thanks for letting me know!
Oh my!! I cannot believe how simple this was to make. And the taste is incredibly delicious!
We have our new way of making delicious broccoli beef.
**I used honey instead of brown sugar.
Joan – Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
It was my first time making it and it came out delicious totally recommended.
I love hearing that Romona. Thank you so much for sharing and for the positive review of the recipe! I appreciate it!
My family really liked this recipe. I used beef stew meat I had on hand, added sliced water chestnuts and did add some crushed red pepper flakes. The directions were spot on.
Kim – Wahoo! You made my day. Thanks so much!
Can I use a cup of chicken broth instead?
My beef broths are missing.
This recipe looks fabulous! Quick question…if pressed for time can i put everything together in the crock pot (except broccoli) the night before, then take it out of fridge at 12:30 lunchtime and cook for 5-6 hours to be ready for 6:30-7pm dinner?
Marie – Yes, this should work great! I have done this many times and I just make sure that the crock pot or the crock pot insert comes to room temperature before cooking in the crock pot so that it doesn’t damage the crock pot. I hope you try it out and let me know what you think!
Wonderful recipe that can easily be adapted to “what you have on hand”. Be creative! I added Chinese 5 Spice powder and grated fresh ginger. I took the advice of another reviewer and added julianed carrot sticks to color and texture. The “low and slow” process made the beef so tender, and chopsticks were the utensil of choice.
Chuck – I’m so glad that you tried it. Thanks for commenting and I love your creative variations!
This is a good recipe. The meat turned out very tender it paired well with white rice. I would add mushrooms and onions. The only drawback was it was a bit too sweet.
Holly – So glad you liked the recipe and found it easy to customize. Thanks for letting us know!
Will this freeze okay? Otherwise we’ll be eating it all week haha
Yes, It should freeze great!
I have a 2 qt crock pot. How would I adjust the ingredients?
Liz – I would half the recipe and ingredients and it should work well in a small crock pot.
Delicious
Sue – I’m so glad you loved it! We think it’s delicious too.
Hi, thanks for sharing. This recipes was great! One of the things I liked about it was that you didn’t have to cook the beef separately or prepare something first. I prefer a “throw and go” type of recipe best. My fussy eaters loved it and so did I. Made exactly as written and served with white rice. We enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the next day with Ramen noodles instead of rice. Will be making again shortly.
Thank you so much Lucy! I love a good dump and go recipe too! I’m so glad that even your picky eaters loved this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!
SO good and so easy!!
Thank you so much Cathleen for sharing and thank you for the positive review!
Amazing!!!
Thank you so much!
Love this recipe. Better than the Chinese restaurant. I used top chuck steak and frozen broccoli. Came out delicious ?. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Laura! Thank you for sharing and thank you so much for the positive review!
I made this exactly as the recipe called for but it just didn’t have enough flavor. What can I add to it?
Oh I’m so sorry to hear this. Start with adding more salt and some red pepper flakes and I’ll think it will really amp of the flavor.
1st time trying this recipe. I couldn’t get it to thickened. What did I do wrong. Great favor but runny.
I’m thinking that your crock pot probably doesn’t get as hot as ours does. Next time, cook on high once the cornstarch slurry is added and hopefully it’ll thicken in your crock pot.
I have never left a review before but I had to on this one. I usually look through every review before I make a new recipe to find common edits to make it better, but this one had such good reviews I didn’t, and it is seriously so good!! My dad lived in China for a few years and he loves it! I made it on the stove top because I didn’t have time for the slow cooker. I reduced the sauce a little bit then cooked the meat in it, took the meat out, cooked the broccoli in the rest of the sauce then put it all together. I had to make an extra half batch of the sauce because I really like things saucy with the rice but this is going to be a regular now. It’s an extra bonus that it’s gluten free (with gf soy sauce), my picky brother has celiac and he loves it too!
I followed the recipe exactly and it came out very nice! My only complaint is that the cook time seems to be too long. 5-6 hours in the crockpot caused my meat to shred, so it ended up more like a pot roast meat ?
Other than that, i enjoyed it!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
I don’t comment often on recipes, but I absolutely had to for this one! This was SO easy and SOOOOO delicious!! It’s hard to find recipes that call for round steak, that isn’t Swiss Steak. I will be making this often! Thank you for sharing this!!
Oh my gosh! I sure didn’t expect this to be good but I gave it a try. It was wonderful. (I added the slurry for the last hour like Carrie recommended to thiicken the liquid.) I served it over white rice and steamed a crown of broccoli. This recipe is a definite keeper!
BTW, I was pressed for time so I used precut stew beef, cooked it on high for 3 hours and the meat was very tender.
So glad you loved it!
This was delicious!. My stew meat ended up stredding bc it was so tender. Could I use a different cut, like an eye round?
Yes you can.
If I want to halve this recipe, should I reduce the cook time? Looks delicious! Thanks in advance ?
If you half the cook time, I recommend using the lower end of the cook time to ensure that the beef and broccoli does not get over cooked.
I just made this. It was really good. Very easy as well. The only thing was I followed the recipe but the sauce didn’t thicken. Nora big deal. Served it in a bowl with sauce on the white rice. Will definitely make it again
Beef and broccoli is a favorite of my families but takes awhile to cook. So I found this recipe and Followed the directions precisely but my meat ended up shredding ?? might need to use a different type of cut than something thin like round steak and a little less brown sugar (my daughter said it was too sweet). Otherwise, it was really good and there are no leftovers
Does this have a teriyaki flavor? Hubby doesn’t care much for teriyaki so I thought about eliminating or reducing the brown sugar. What are your thoughts on that?
This turned out great. I added the broccoli a little sooner because I like the broccoli a little more done. I’ve made it twice and even made for my inlaws who loved it.
If I wanted to do this up for a freezer meal to be used later, what would go in the freezer bag?
Barbara- I would put everything in the freezer bag except the cornstarch, broccoli and beef broth.