Easy Crock-Pot Beef & Broccoli
A wonderfully simple and flavorful take on a classic dish, this Crock-Pot Beef & Broccoli is tailored for a low-carb lifestyle without sacrificing taste. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal!
Ingredients
Main Protein & Vegetable:
- 1 pound 453.59g boneless beef sirloin, lean, trimmed of excess fat, sliced thinly
- 6 ounces 170g frozen broccoli florets
Sauce Marinade & Aromatics:
- 1/2 cup 120ml, approx. 122g beef broth, low-sodium, no added sugar
- 1/4 cup 60ml, approx. 64g low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 2 Tablespoons approx. 24g brown sugar substitute (erythritol-based, measures 1:1 like brown sugar)
- 1 ½ teaspoons 7.5ml, approx. 6.9g sesame oil
- 2 small cloves fresh garlic minced (approx. 6g)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced (approx. 2.5g)
Thickening Slurry:
- 2 Tablespoons approx. 16g cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons 30ml cold water
Instructions
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: In the removable insert of a 3-quart or larger slow cooker, pour in the beef broth and low-sodium soy sauce. Add the brown sugar substitute, sesame oil, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Whisk thoroughly until all sauce components are well blended.
- Add and Coat Beef: Introduce the thinly sliced beef to the sauce in the slow cooker. Stir gently to ensure each piece of beef is fully coated with the marinade.
- Slow Cook the Beef: Place the lid securely on the slow cooker. Set the appliance to the LOW heat setting and allow the beef to cook for 4 to 5 hours. The beef should be fork-tender when done. Note that cooking duration can vary slightly based on your slow cooker model and beef thickness.
- Prepare Thickener and Add Broccoli: Approximately 30 minutes before the beef's cooking cycle is finished, create the cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with the cold water, whisking until completely smooth and free of lumps.
- Thicken Sauce and Cook Broccoli: Pour the prepared cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker, stirring it gently into the beef and sauce. Distribute the frozen broccoli florets evenly over the beef. Replace the lid and continue to cook on LOW for an additional 30 minutes. This period allows the broccoli to cook to a tender-crisp texture while the sauce thickens.
- Serve and Enjoy: After the final 30 minutes, the broccoli will be vibrant and the sauce lusciously thickened. Turn off the slow cooker. Serve your Easy Crock-Pot Beef & Broccoli hot. For a complete low-carb meal, pair it with cauliflower rice, shirataki noodles, or your favorite steamed non-starchy vegetables.
Notes
Detailed Estimated Nutritional Information (per serving, approximately 1/3 of the recipe, excluding optional serving suggestions):
- Calories: 284 kcal
- Protein: 34.6g
- Fat (Total): 10.6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.4g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.3g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 4.6g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Carbohydrates (Total): 19.1g
- Dietary Fiber: 1.8g
- Total Sugars: 1.6g (from natural sources like broccoli, garlic, ginger; does not include sugar alcohols)
- Sugar Alcohols (from Erythritol substitute): 8g (These are typically subtracted for net carb counts by those following low-carb diets)
- Net Carbohydrates (Total Carbs - Fiber - Sugar Alcohols): 9.3g
- Sodium: 475mg (This value is highly dependent on the specific brands of beef broth and soy sauce used, even when "low-sodium" versions are chosen)
- Potassium: 630mg
- Iron: 3.2mg
- Calcium: 35mg
- Vitamin C: 16mg (Primarily from broccoli; levels can be affected by cooking)
- Vitamin A: 25 mcg RAE (Retinol Activity Equivalents)