Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Ingredients

• 2 lb stir-fry beef (Thinly sliced beef suitable for stir-frying)
• 2 yellow onions (Chopped)
• 1 packet P.F. Chang's Beef & Broccoli cooking sauce (Use the entire packet; package size may vary)
• 3 tbsp minced garlic (The creator adds several generous spoonfuls)
• 1 tbsp ground ginger (Add a generous amount, or adjust to taste)
• 1 cup beef broth (Use enough to loosen the sauce without making it watery)
• 1 lb broccoli florets (Add during the final 30 minutes and press into the sauce)
• 1 cup cooked rice (The creator used five-minute rice; prepare according to package directions)

Steps

1. 1

   Place the stir-fry beef in a large slow cooker, such as a 9-quart crockpot, and spread it into an even layer.

2. 2

   Add the chopped yellow onions over and around the beef.

3. 3

   Pour in the entire packet of P.F. Chang's Beef & Broccoli cooking sauce.

4. 4

   Add the minced garlic and ground ginger. Use a generous amount of both, adjusting the ginger to taste.

5. 5

   Pour in approximately 1 cup of beef broth. The sauce is already substantial, so do not add more broth than needed to coat and loosen the mixture.

6. 6

   Stir thoroughly so the beef, onions, garlic, ginger, broth, and sauce are evenly combined and the meat is well coated.

7. 7

   Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for approximately 3 to 4 hours, until the beef is tender and the onions are translucent and softened.

8. 8

   Add the broccoli florets to the slow cooker and press them down into the sauce so they can cook evenly.

9. 9

   Cover and continue cooking on high for 30 minutes, stirring once during this final cooking period if needed, until the broccoli is tender but not falling apart.

10. 10

    Prepare the rice according to its package directions. For five-minute rice, cook it as directed while the beef and broccoli finish.

11. 11

    Spoon the beef, broccoli, onions, and plenty of sauce over the cooked rice. If a thicker sauce is desired, make a slurry with a little cornstarch and cold water and stir it into the hot sauce before serving.

Notes

Optional substitutions mentioned by the creator include mushrooms in place of onions or bell peppers as an additional vegetable. The sauce can be thickened with a cornstarch-and-water slurry, although the creator served it without thickening.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• slow-cooker
• crockpot
• Asian-inspired
• beef
• broccoli
• weeknight dinner
• family-friendly