Description
A forgiving, simple, and foolproof slow cooker recipe that produces tender flank steak and sticky ginger sauce without the effort of stir-frying. Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs flank steak, sliced against the grain into thin strips
- 3–4 cups broccoli florets
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced (white parts for pot, green parts for garnish)
- ½ cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce (optional)
- ¼ cup beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Slice the flank steak against the grain into thin strips and place in the slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, dark soy sauce, beef broth, apple cider vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, brown sugar, and sesame oil until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the beef in the slow cooker and stir to coat evenly.
- Add the broccoli florets to the slow cooker on top of the beef and sauce.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 4-5 hours, until beef is tender and broccoli is tender-crisp.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to create a smooth slurry.
- Stir the slurry into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on HIGH for an additional 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Stir in half of the sliced green onions. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve hot over steamed rice, topped with remaining green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
Cut the beef against the grain to ensure tenderness. Do not skip the cornstarch slurry step, as it is essential for the sticky sauce texture. Fresh ginger is recommended over jarred for better flavor. This dish freezes poorly; the broccoli becomes mushy. It stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1.5 cu
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: slow cooker, beef and broccoli, one pot dinner, easy dinner, chinese takeout copycat, flank steak, ginger sauce, meal prep